Educator given two-year suspension for failure to make timely report of suspected sexual abuse.

Topic: Educators, Decided by: Judge Walker 
Docket Number: ***** , Decision Date: June 3, 2015 
Attachment: Click here to download the decision. 

Petitioner, a school counselor, received information that a student had attempted suicide because her stepfather was sexually abusing her.  The student acknowledged the suicide attempt and later made comments during a conference that gave rise to reasonable cause for the counselor to believe that the student had been the victim of sexual abuse.  The counselor’s failure to report possible sexual abuse until approximately 48 hours later warranted the suspension of her teaching certificate, though this suspension was administered retroactively in light of the fact that the counselor had promptly discussed the allegations with the student, informed the principal about the allegations, monitored the student’s attendance, and eventually filed a report with the authorities.

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