THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, D I LLA RD and M ERCI ER,

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

M ar ch 11, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A2 29 6

. DUKES-W ALTON v

. ATLA N TA INDEPENDENT

SCHOOL SYSTEM

.

E LLI N G T O N , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

Sel en a Du k es -W al t o n, fo l l o w i n g o u r g ran t o f h er ap p l i cat i o n fo r d i s cret i o n ary

rev i ew, ap p eal s fro m t h e o rd er o f th e Su p eri o r Co u rt o f Fu l t o n Co u n t y affi rm i n g t h e

d eci s i o n o f t h e G e o r g i a Bo ard o f Ed u cat i o n u p h o l di n g th e t erm i n at i o n o f Du k es

W al t o n ’ s em

p lo y m en t co n t ract b y th e At l an t a Bo ard o f Ed u cat io n (“ Lo cal Bo ard ”).

Du k es -W al t o n co n ten d s th at t h e s u p eri o r co u rt erred b ecau s e t h e ev i d en ce was

i n s u ffi ci en t to s u pp o rt t h e ch arg es ag ai n s t h er. Sh e al s o co n ten d s t h at t h e s u p eri o r

co u rt erred b ecau s e t h e d eci s i o n o f t h e Lo cal Bo ard was arb i t rary an d cap ri ci o u s

,

b as ed on i n ad m i s s i bl e ev i d en ce, an d v i o l at ed h er ri g h t t o d u e p ro ces s

. W e affi rm fo r

t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h b el o w.Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at b y l et t er d at ed M arch 2 9

, 2 0 1 2

, t h e s u p eri n t en d en t o f t h e

At l an t a In d ep en d en t Sch o o l Sy s t em (“ APS”) n o t i fi ed D u k es -W al t o n u n d er t h e Fai r

Di s m i s s al A ct o f Geo rg i a, OCGA § 2 0 -2 -9 4 0 et s eq

., t h at h e was reco m m en d i n g t h at

t h e L o cal Bo ard term in at e h er em p l o y m en t co n t r a ct o n t h e s t at u t o ry gro u n d s o f

wi l l fu l n eg l ect o f d u t i es

, i m m o ral i t y

, an d o t h er go o d an d s u ffi ci en t cau s e, as wel l as

o t h er g ro u n d s

. 1 APS c h a r g ed th at Du kes -W al t on fai led h er d u t i es as p ri n ci p al an d

k n ew o r s h ou l d h av e kn o wn ab o u t t es t i n g im p ro p ri et i es d u ri n g t h e ad m i n i s t rat i o n o f

t h e Sp ri n g 2 0 0 9 Cri t eri o n Referen ced Co m p et en cy Tes t (“ CRCT”), an d t h at

, am o n g

1 Th e ei g h t gro un d s u p o n wh i ch th e c o n t r a c t o f em p l o y m en t o f a t each er,

p ri n ci p al

, o r o th er em

p lo y ee h av i n g a co n t ract fo r a d efi n it e t erm m ay b e t erm i n at ed

b y a l o cal b o ard o f ed u cat io n u n d er OCGA § 2 0 -2 -9 40 (a) are:

(1 ) In co m p et en cy ; (2 ) In s u b o rd i n at io n ; (3 ) W i l l fu l n eg l ect o f du t i es ; (4 )

Im m o ral i t y ; (5 ) In ci t in g

, en co u rag i n g

, o r co u ns el i n g s t u d en t s t o v i o l at e

an y v al i d s t at e l aw, m

u ni ci p al o r d i n an ce, o r p o li cy o r ru l e of t h e l ocal

b o ard o f ed u cat i o n ; (6 ) To red u ce s t aff d u e t o l o s s of st ud en t s o r

can cel l at i on o f p ro g ram s

. . . .; (7 ) Fai l u re t o s ecu re an d m ai n t ai n

n eces s ary ed u cat i o n al t rai n i n g ; o r (8 ) A n y o th er g o o d an d su ffi ci en t

cau s e.

OCGA § 2 0 -2 -9 4 0 (b ) “ req u i res t h at th e t each er, p ri n ci pal

, o r ot h er em p l o y ee

u n d er co nt ract fo r a d efi n i t e t erm b e g i v en wri t t en n o t ice o f t h e ch arg es , al o n g wi th

cert ai n i n fo rm at i o n t o en ab l e p rep arat i o n o f a d efen s e. Su b s ect i o n (e) req u i res a

h eari n g b efo re t h e l o cal b o ard o r a b o ard -d es i g n at ed t ri b u nal

. Un d er s u b s ect i o n (f),

ap p eal s fro m t h e d eci si o n o f t h e l o cal b o ard m ay b e t ak en t o th e St at e Bo ard in

acco rd an ce wi th OCGA § 2 0 -2 -1 1 6 0

. ” M o u l der v. B ar t o w Co u nt

y B d. o f Ed

. , 2 6 7 Ga.

Ap p . 3 3 9 , 3 4 0 (5 9 9 SE2 d 4 9 5 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

2o t h er t h i n g s

, h er act i o n s an d i n act i o n s res u l t ed i n t he m i s rep res en t at i o n o f t h e

ev al u at i on o f h er s t ud en t s t o t h e Geo rg i a Dep art m en t o f Ed ucat i o n as t o th e res u l t s

o f t h e 2 0 0 9 CRCT. A h eari n g o n t h e ch arg es was h el d b efo re a t ri b u n al

, wh i ch

, b y a

p rep o n d eran ce o f t he ev i d en ce, fo u n d t h e ch arg ed v io l at i o n s o f im m oral i t y an d o t h er

g o o d an d s u ffi ci en t cau s e. Th e t ri b u n al d i d n o t fi n d t h at Du k es -W al t o n co m m i t t ed t h e

ch arg ed v i o lat i o n o f wi l l fu l n eg l ect o f d u t ies

. Th e t ri b u n al affi rm ed t h e

reco m m en d at i o n b y t he s u p eri n t en d en t t h at Du k es -W al t o n ’ s em p lo y m en t co n t ract b e

t erm i n at ed

.

Th e L o cal Bo ard ad o p ted t h e t ri b u nal ’ s fi n d i n g s o f fact an d t erm i n at ed Du k es

W al t o n ’ s em

p l o y m en t

. Th e G e o r gia B oa r d of Ed ucat i o n (“ St at e Bo ard ”) affi rm ed t h at

d eci s i o n o n ap peal

. Du k es -W al t o n a p p eal ed t h e deci s i o n of t h e St at e Bo ard t o t h e

s u p eri o r co u rt

, wh i ch affi rm ed

.

Th e s u p eri o r c o u r t an d t h e St at e Bo ard

, i n rev i ewi ng a deci s i o n o f a l o cal

b o ard

, act as ap p el l at e b o d i es ap p l y i n g an “ an y ev i den ce” ru l e t o t h e fact s o f t h e cas e.

See Mo u l d

er v. Ba r t ow Co u n t

y Bd

. o f Ed

., 2 6 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 3 9

, 3 4 0 ( 5 5 9 SE2 d 4 9 5 )

(2 0 0 4). “ [T] h e s u p eri o r co u rt s h o u l d n o t i nt erfere wi t h a l ocal b o ard ’ s ad m i n i s t rat i o n

o f i ts s ch o o l s u nl es s t h e bo ard h as g ro s s l y ab u s ed i t s di s cret i on o r act ed arb i trari l y o r

co n trary t o l aw.” (Fo o t n o te o m i t t e d .) C l i n ch Co u nt y Bd

. o f Ed

. v. Hi n s o n

, 2 4 7 Ga.

3Ap p . 3 3 , 3 6 (1 ) (5 4 3 SE2 d 9 1 ) (2 0 0 0 ). L i k e t h e St at e Bo ard an d t h e s u p eri o r co u rt

,

t h i s Co u rt “ ap p l i es t h e ‘ an y ev i den ce’ st an d ard o f rev iew t o t h e reco rd su p p o rt i n g t h e

i n i t i al d eci s i o n o f [a] Lo cal Bo ard .” (Ci t at i o n s om i t t ed .) Ch a t to o ga Co un t y B d

. o f Ed

.

v. S ea r el s

, 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 1, 7 3 2 (6 9 1 SE2 d 62 9 ) (2 0 1 0 ). W e p res u m e, ab s en t cl ear

ev i d en ce t o t h e co n trary

, t h at t h e act s o f a l o cal b o ard are no t arb i t rary an d cap ri ci o u s

.

See Ki n g v. W o r t h Co u n t

y Bd . o f Ed

. , 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p . 2 0 8 (7 4 9 SE2 d 7 9 1 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

Vi ewed in t he l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e Lo cal Bo ard ’ s d eci si on

, 2 t h e ev i d en ce

s h o ws t h at Du k es -W al t o n was t h e p ri nci p al o f Sl at er El em en tary Sch oo l d uri n g t h e

ad m i n is t rat i o n o f t h e 20 0 9 CRCT. Th e CRCT i s a st an d ard ized t es t g i v en t o Geo rg i a

s t ud en t s i n t he fi rs t t h ro u g h t h e ei g h t h g rad es

. Th e tes t i s d es ig n ed t o m eas u re h o w

wel l st u d en t s at each grad e l ev el h ad acq u i red k n o wl ed g e an d s k i l ls wi t h i n t h e s t at e’ s

cu rri cu l um

. Th e Go v ern o r’ s O ffi ce o f St ud en t Ach i ev em en t (“ GOSA”) co n d u ct ed a

s t at e-wi de an al y s is o f eras u res o n t h e an s wer s h eet s us ed i n t h e 2 0 0 9 CRCT an d

“ fl ag g ed ” t h o s e cl as s ro o m s i n w h i ch t h e n u m b er o f an s w ers ch an g ed fro m wro n g to

ri gh t w a s u n u su al l y h i g h

. Th e GOSA rep o rt fl ag g ed 3 0 .3 p ercen t o f t h e cl as s es at

Sl at er El em en tary

.

2 See Ch a tt o o g a Co u n ty Bd . o f Ed . v. S ea r el s , 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p . at 7 3 2

.

4At t he t ri b u n al h eari n g

, A P S o ffered ex p ert t es t i m o n y fro m an ap p l i ed

s t at i s t i ci an , M ary

Bet h W al k er, wh o h ad rev i ewed t h e s t at i s t i cal t ech n i q ues u s ed i n

G OSA’ s eras u re rep o rt

. W al k er t es t i fi ed t h at t h e G OSA rep o rt u s ed a co ns erv at i v e

m eas u re t h at fl ag g ed o n l y t h o s e cl as s ro o m s i n wh i ch t he ch an ce t h at t h e n u m b er o f

wro ng -t o-ri g ht eras u res o ccu rred wi t h o u t ad u l t in terv en t i o n w as 1 i n 1 0 0 0. W al k er

o p i n ed t h at t here was n o cre d i b l e ex p lan at i on o t h er t han t h at ch eat i n g o ccu rred at

Sl at er El em en tary

.

APS al s o o ffered d i rect ev i d en ce o f ch eat i ng

. Th e part i es st i pu l at ed t h at El l en

Gran t

, wh o t au g ht at Sl at er El em en t ary du ri n g t he 2 0 08 -2 0 0 9 s ch o o l y ear, ch eat ed o n

2 0 0 9 CRCT b y al l o wi n g s t ud en t s t o co rrect t h ei r an s wers t h e fo l l o wi ng d ay an d b y

ch an gi n g s tu d en t an s w ers h ers el f. Net t i e W al k er, al so a teach er at Sl at er E l em en t ary

d u ri n g t h e 2 0 08 -2 0 0 9 s ch o o l y ear, t es ti fi ed t h at s h e eras ed wro ng an s wers an d

rep l aced t h em w i t h co rrect an s wers

. Acco rd i n g t o W al ker, s he ch eat ed o n t h e CRCT

b ecau s e s h e was u n d er a l o t o f p res s u re.

A t h ird teach er, K at ri n a Co l em an

, t es ti fi ed th at

, p ri o r t o t h e ad m i ni s t rat i o n o f

t h e 2 0 0 9 CRCT, s he w a s gi v en wri t t en targ et s as t o h o w m an y s t u d en t s i n h er

cl as s ro o m h ad t o p a s s t h e t es t

. Sh e w as g i v en t h es e t arg et s at t h e b eg i n n i n g o f t h e

s em es t er, an d l at er i n an i nd i v i d u al co n feren ce wi t h D u k es -W al t o n

. Th e s am e s h eet

5o f p ap er co n t ai n in g her cl as sro o m t arg et s was al s o in cl u d ed wi t h th e CRCT tes t

b o o k l et s

, an s w e r d o cu m en t s

, an d o t h er t es t i n g m at eri al s

. At t hat t i m e, Co l em an

t es t i fi ed

, t h ere was n ot hi n g th at s h e co u l d leg i t i m at el y d o t o en s ure t h at h er cl as s m et

t h o s e g oal s

. Acco rd i n g t o Co l em a n

, Du kes -W al t o n act ed “ v ery l i k e a di ct at o r” an d

creat ed a h o s t i le wo rk en v iro nm en t at Sl at er El em en t ary

, an d s h e d id n o t feel t h at s h e

co u ld h av e ap p ro ach ed Du k es -W al t o n w i t h an y co n cern s reg ard i n g t h e 2 0 0 9 CRCT.

APS al s o p res en t ed the te stim ony of f or m e r S la te r El em en t ary teach er Sch aju an

J o n es

. J o n es t es t i fi ed t hat t each ers were t o l d at facu l t y m eet in g s h o w m an y s t u d en t s

i n each grad e lev el co u l d fai l t h e 2 0 09 CRCT. Ei t h er t h e Fri d ay b efo re, o r o n t h e

m o rn i n g o f, t h e ex am

, Du k es -W al t o n cal l ed t h e fi ft h -g rad e t each ers i n t o t h e h al l way

,

an d s h e s ai d t h at Jo n es “ h ad on e p ers o n t h at co u l d fai l

, [an o t her fi ft h g rad e t each er]

h ad o n e p ers o n t o fai l

, [a t h i rd fi ft h g rad e t each er] had o n e p ers o n t o fai l an d t h at [a

fo u rt h fi ft h g rad e t each er] co u l d n ’ t h av e an y t o fai l .” J o n es t es t i fi ed th at

, o t h er t h an

ch eat i n g

, t h ere was no t h i n g sh e co u l d h av e d o n e t h e Fri day befo re, or o n t h e m o rn i n g

o f, t h e CRCT t o affect th e o u tco m e o f t h e t es t

. Jo n es al s o t es t i fi ed t h at

, i m m ed i at el y

aft er t h e ad m i n i s t rat i o n o f t h e CRCT i n 2 00 7

, s he s aw Gran t s i tt i n g at a t ab l e i n t h e

m ed i a cen t er eras i n g wh o l e s ect i o n s o f an s w er s h eet s an d th en “ b u b b l i n g i n ” t h e

an s wers . J o n es i m

m ed i at el y rep o rt ed t h e i n ci d en t t o Van es s a J ack so n

, wh o was t h e

6t es t i n g co o r d i n a t o r at Sl at er El em en tary an d th e pers o n d es i g n at ed fo r recei v i n g

rep o rt s o f i rreg u l ari t i es

.

J ack so n ap p aren t l y d i d no t rep o rt t h e 2 0 0 7 i nci d en t t o Du k es -W al t o n

, w h o

t es t i fi ed t h at s h e was n o t aware o f an y i rreg u l ari t i es or ch eat i n g o n t h e CRCT b efo re

t h e 20 0 8-2 0 0 9 s ch o o l y ear. Th e t ri b u n al fo u n d D u k es -W al to n ’ s t es t i m o n y t o b e

cred i b l e in s o far as it co n cl u d ed t h at s h e d i d no t h av e act ual k n o wl ed g e o f ch eat i n g.

As Du k es -W al t o n ack n o wl ed ged

, h o wev er, as t h e p ri nci p al s h e h a d t h e u l t i m at e

res p o n s i b i l i t y fo r tes ti n g act i v i t i es at h er s ch o o l an d was res p o ns i b le fo r en s u ri n g t h e

p ro p er en v i ro n m en t fo r ad m i n i s t rat i o n of t h e CRCT, i ncl u d in g an at m o s ph ere wh ere

t each ers k n ew t h at ch eat i ng wo u l d n o t b e t o l erat ed

.

Th e t ri b u n al fo u n d tha t

, a lthough D uke s-W al t o n d i d n o t h av e act u al k n o wl ed g e

o f ch ea t i n g at Sl at er El em en t ary

, s h e s h o u l d h av e had s u ch k n owl ed g e. Fu rt h er, i t

fo u n d t hat s h e cre a t e d a n en v i ro n m en t i n wh ich ch eat i n g co u l d o ccu r an d i n wh i ch

t each ers felt they co ul d n ot ap p ro ach h er t o rep o rt ch eat i n g v i ol at i o n s

. Du kes -W al t o n,

t h e t ri b u n al co n cl u d ed

, “ creat e[d ] a n e n v i ro n m en t t h at al l owed t each ers to v i o l at e

t es t i n g ru l es an d p ro ced ures i n o rd er t o i n creas e st ud en t s co res o n t h e 2 0 0 9 CRCT.”

1

. Du k es -W al t o n co n t en d s t h at t he s up eri o r co u rt erred in affi rm i n g t h e

d eci s i o n o f t h e St at e Bo ard b ecau s e t he St at e Bo ard im p ro p erl y fo u n d ev i d en t i ary an d

7p reced en t i al s u p p o rt fo r t h e ch arg e o f “ an y o t h er g oo d an d s u ffi ci en t cau s e.” Du k es

W al t o n arg u es t h at APS fai l ed t o s h o w t h at s h e en g ag ed i n i nt en t io n al m i s co n d u ct

w h i ch had an ad v ers e im p act on h er ab il i ty t o b e effect i v e. Sh e co n t en d s th at t h ere

was a l ack o f ev id en ce t hat s h e k n ew ab o ut t h e ch eat i n g

, a l ack o f ev id en ce t h at t h e

t each ers ’ d eci s i on s to ch eat were at t ri buta ble t o t h e pres s u re o r cl i m at e Du k es -W al t o n

creat ed at th e s ch o o l

, an d

, gi v en t h at t h e n u m b er of wro ng to ri gh t eras u re s o n t h e

CRCT d ro p p ed m a r k e d l y i n 2 0 1 0

, wh en s h e rem ai n ed th e pri n ci p al at Sl at er

El e m e n t a r y, t h ere w as a l ack o f ev i d en ce t h at h er effect iv en es s as an ed ucat o r h ad

b een ad v ers el y

i m p act ed

.

“ An y o t h e r g o o d an d su ffi ci en t cau s e” i s o n e o f th e g ro un d s un d er t h e Fai r

Di s m i s s al Act p urs u an t t o wh i ch a t each er, ad m i ni s t rat o r, or o th er em p l o y ee h av i n g

a co n t ract fo r a d efi n i t e t e r m m a y b e t erm i n at ed

. See OCGA § 2 0-2 -9 4 0 (8 ). Th e

m ean i n g o f “ an y o t h er go o d an d s u ffi ci en t cau s e,” fo r p u rp o s es o f t h e Fai r D i s m i s s al

Act

, h as n ot b een ex p res s l y d efi n ed i n o u r ap p el l at e d e c i s i o n s

, al th ou g h we h av e

n ev ert h el es s fo u n d ev i d en ce s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt a loc a l boa r d’ s deci s i o n t o t erm i n at e

an ed ucat o r’ s co n tract o n t h i s g ro u n d

. 3

3 See Ch at t o o g a Co u nt

y Bd

. o f Ed

. v. S ea r el s

, 3 0 2 G a. Ap p

. at 7 3 4 -7 3 5 (1 ) (b )

(wh ere a t each er’ s o ral s t at em en t s t o h e r s t u den t s weak en ed h er cred i b i l i t y an d

effect i v en es s as an ed u cat o r, s u ffi ci en t ev id en ce s u p p o rt ed t h e l o cal b oard ’ s fi n d i n g

8Here, t h e St at e Bo ard fo u n d t h at “ g oo d an d s u ffi ci en t cau s e” m u s t b e co n s t ru ed

co n si s t en t l y wi t h t h e o t h er g ro u n d s fo r d i s ci p li n e s et fo rt h i n t h e Fai r Di s m i s s al Act

,

an d

, acco rd i n g l y

, req u ires m o re t h an a s h o w i n g o f m ere n eg l i g en ce. See Bea l -Pa r ker

v. DeKa l b Co u nt

y Bd

. o f Ed

. , Cas e No

. 2 0 0 8 -1 7 (Ga. SBE, Feb

. 20 0 8 ). Fu rt her, “ an y

o t h er g o o d an d s u ffi ci en t cau s e,” t h e St at e Bo ard c o n cl u d ed

, “ is l i m it ed t o act i on s

t ak en (o r n o t t ak en ) b y an em p l o y ee t h at ad v ers el y i m

p act o n t h e em

p l o y ee’ s ab i l i t y

t o b e effect i v e,” an d “ co n t em p l a t e s s o m e i m

p ro p er act io n o n t h e p art o f t h e

em pl o y ee[.] ” See Co op er v. At l a n t a Bd

. o f E d

. , Cas e No

. 2 0 0 5-0 8 (Ga. SBE, No v

. 1 0,

2 0 0 4 ). “ [T] he St at e Bo ard i s t h e g o v ern m en t al ag en cy ch arg e d b y l aw wi th

en fo rcem en t of t h e Fai r Di s m i s s al Act an d

. . . i ts i n t erp ret at i o n o f t h e s t at u t e, t h o u g h

o f “ g o o d an d s u ffi ci en t cau s e” t o t erm i n at e t h e t eac h e r ’ s em p l o y m en t co n t ract );

C l in ch Co u n t

y Bd

. o f Ed

. v. Hi n s o n

, 2 4 7 G a. A p p

. 3 3

, 3 6 (d ) (1 ) (5 4 3 SE2 d 9 1 )

(2 0 0 0) (wh ere a t each er v i d eo tap ed a s tu d en t l o ck er ro om t h e ev i d en ce au t h o ri zed t h e

l o cal b o ard t o fi nd “ g o od an d s u ffi ci en t cau s e” fo r h i s t erm i n at i on ); Ra bo n v. Br ya n

Co u n t y Bd

. of Ed

, 1 7 3 Ga. Ap p

. 5 0 7

, 5 0 8

- 5 0 9 ( 2 ) (3 2 6 SE2 d 57 7 ) (1 9 85 ) (wh ere a

p ri n ci p al i n t i m i d at ed cert ai n t each ers b y m ak in g rem ark s wi t h s ex u al co n no t at i o n s

,

t h e ev i d en ce au th ori zed t h e l o cal b o ard t o fi n d g o o d an d s u ffi ci en t cau s e t o t erm i n at e

h i s em p l o y m en t ). See al s o Pr o

f es s i o n a l St a n d

a rd s Co m mi ss i o n v. Al b er

s on

, 2 7 3 Ga.

Ap p

. 1

, 7 -1 1 (2 ) (6 1 4 SE2 d 13 2 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (fi n d in g Pro fes s i o n al St an d ard s Co m m i s s i o n

et h i cs ru l e au t ho ri zi n g t each er d i s ci pl i ne fo r “ an y o t h er g o o d an d s uffi ci en t c a u s e”

i n t h e Co m

m i ss i o n ’ s d i s cret i o n n ot u n co n s t it u t i o nal l y vag u e; an d reco g n i zi n g “ a

s ch o ol ’ s n eed t o b e ab l e t o i m p o s e d i s ci pl i n ary s an ct i o n s f o r a w i d e ran g e o f

u n an ti ci p at ed co n d u ct d i s ru p t i v e o f t h e ed u cat i o n a l p ro ces s ”) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

9n o t co ncl u s i v e, is en ti t l ed t o g r e a t w e i g h t .” (Fo o t n ot e om i t t ed .) Mo u l d er v. Ba r t o w

Co u n t y Bd . o f Ed

. , 2 6 7 Ga. Ap p . at 3 4 0

.

Ap p ly i n g t h e fo reg o in g s t an d ard

, wh i ch we fi nd t o b e an au t h o ri zed

i n t e r p r e tat i o n of t h e Fai r Di s m i s s al Act

, t h ere was ev i den ce fro m wh i ch th e Lo cal

Bo ard c o u l d s u s t ai n t h e ch arg e t h at Du k es -W al t o n’ s co n d u ct au t h o ri zed t h e

t erm i n at i o n o f h er co n t ract fo r o t h er g o o d an d s u ffi ci en t cau s e. Ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at

Du k es -W al t o n p ers o nal l y t o ld t each ers i n fi ft h g rad e h al lway

, o n ei t h er t he m o rn i n g

o f th e t es t ad m i n i s t rat i o n

, o r t h e Fri d ay b efo re, h o w m an y s t u d en t s co ul d fai l t h e t es t

.

Si m i l ar in fo rm at i o n as t o t es t i n g go al s was d i s t ri b ut ed t o at leas t o n e t each er wi t h in

t h e t es t in g m at eri al s t hem s el v es

. At t h es e t i m es

, t h e Lo cal Bo ard co u l d co n cl u de,

t h ere w as n o t h in g t h at t h o s e t each ers co u l d l eg i ti m at el y d o t o affect t h e o u tco m e o f

t h e t es t

. Th u s , ev en i f Du k es -W al t o n d i d n o t act u al l y di rect t each ers t o ch eat o n t h e

2 0 0 9 CRCT, a tri er o f fact co u l d co n cl u d e th at s h e was res p o n s i b l e fo r creat i n g an

en v iro n m en t i n wh i ch ch eat i n g was im p l i ci t l y en co u rag ed

. It can al s o be reas o n ab l y

i n ferred fro m t h e ev i den ce t h at h er act i o n s i n p res s u ri ng teach ers t o ach i ev e go al s t h at

co u ld n o t t h en b e l eg i t i m at el y ach i ev ed w as m o re t h an n eg l i g en t

, b u t i n t en t i o n al

, an d

weak en ed her cred i b i l i t y an d e f f e ct i v en es s as a p ri nci p al

. An d

, if ci rcu m s t an t i al

, a

t ri er o f fact co u l d al s o co n cl u d e t h at Du k es -W al t o n’ s co nd u ct co n tri b ut ed t o t h e

10m i s rep res en t at i o n o f h e r s t ud en t ’ s acad em i c ab i l i t i es o n t h e rep o rt ed res u lt s o f t h e

2 0 0 9 CRCT. Acco rd in g l y

, t h ere was at l eas t s o m e ev i den ce fro m wh i ch th e Lo cal

Bo ard co u l d co n cl u d e t h at Du k es -W al t o n ’ s co n tract b e term i n at ed fo r o t her g o o d an d

s u ffi ci en t cau s e.

2

. Du k es -W al to n al s o co n t en d s th at th e s u peri o r c o u r t e rred i n affi rm i n g t h e

d eci s i o n o f t h e St at e Bo ard as t h ere was a l ack o f ev i den ce t o s u p p o rt t h e ch arg e o f

i m m o ral i t y

. Se e O C G A § 2 0- 2- 94 0 (4 ). Ev en as s u m in g

, w i th o u t d eci d i ng

, th at Du k es

W al t o n s ’s a c ti o n s d i d n o t ri s e to t h e l ev el o f i m m o ral i t y

, th e ev i den ce was

n ev ert h el es s s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t h e d eci s i o n of t h e Lo cal Bo ard t o t erm i n at e h er

em pl o y m en t un d er t h e Fai r Di s m i s sal Act

, as we fo u n d i n Di v is i on 1

, s u p ra, an d t h e

s u p eri o r co u rt d i d n o t err i n affi rm i n g t he d eci s i o n o f t he St at e Bo ard

.

3

. Du kes -W al t o n co n t en d s t h at t h e s u peri or co u rt erred in affi rm i n g th e St at e

Bo ard ’ s d eci s io n b ecau s e t h e h eari n g o f fi cer v i o l at ed h er ri g h t t o d u e p ro ces s by

p erm i t t in g APS to am en d t h e ch arg es ag ai ns t h er i n t h e m i dd l e of th e h eari n g b efo re

t h e t ri b u n al

. Du k es -W al to n co n t en d s t h at

, by perm i t t in g th e am en d m en t

, th e h eari n g

o ffi cer im p ro p erl y al lo wed A PS t o in t ro d u ce ev i d en ce wh i ch wo u l d o th erwi s e h av e

b een in ad m i s s i b l e b ecau s e i t was o u t s i d e t h e s co p e o f t h e ch arg e l et t er.

11Th e reco rd sh o ws t h at t h e t ri b u n al co nv en ed Du k es -W al t o n’ s h eari ng o n M ay

7

, 20 1 2, an d reces s ed t h at d ay wi t h APS hav i n g y et t o res t i t s cas e. Th e heari n g was

s ch ed u l ed t o reco n v en e o n M ay 2 2

, 20 1 2

. O n M a y 1 0, 2 01 2

, t he Pro fes s i o n al

St an d ard s Co m

m i s si o n (“ PSC”) 4 v o t ed to reco m m en d rev o cat i o n o f Du k es -W al t o n ’ s

ed u cat o r’ s cert i fi cat e. APS m o v ed on M ay 1 6

, 2 01 2

, t o i n t ro du ce ev i d en ce reg ard i n g

t h e PSC’ s d eci s i on

. Th e h eari ng o ffi cer det erm in ed t h at t h e PSC’ s deci s i o n t o rev o k e

Du k es -W al t o n ’ s cert ifi cat e i n M ay 20 1 2 co u l d n o t b e o ffered as ev id en t i ary s u p p o rt

fo r APS’ s d eci si o n t o t erm i nat e h er em p l oy m en t un d er t h e p rev i o u sl y i s s ued ch arg e

l et t er, as am en ded

. Bu t

, h e ru l ed

, ev i d en ce of t he PSC’ s d eci si on w ou l d be ad m i s s i b l e

i f APS i s s u ed an am en d ed ch arg e l et t er an d p ro v i ded Du kes -W al t o n wi t h at l eas t 1 0

d ay s ’ n o t i ce o f t h e res ch ed u l ed h eari n g d at e. See OCGA § 2 0 -2 -9 4 0 (b ) (“ Befo re t h e

d i s ch arg e o r s us p en s i o n o f a t each er, ad m i n i s t r a t o r

, o r o t h er em p l o y ee h av i ng a

co n tract o f em

p lo y m en t fo r a d efi n i t e t erm

, w ri t t en n o t i ce o f t h e ch arg es s h al l b e

g i v en a t l e a s t t e n d ay s b efo re t h e d at e s et fo r h eari n g [.] ” Th e n o t i ce m u st

, am o n g

o t h er t h i n g s, st at e “ [t ] h e cau s e or cau s es fo r [t h e em p l o y ee’ s ] d i s ch arg e, su s p en s i o n,

4 Th e PSC i s ch arg ed wi th creat in g an d i m p l em en t i n g “ s t a n d ard s an d

p ro ced ures fo r cert i fy i n g ed u cat i o n al p ers o n n el as q u al i fi ed fo r a cert i fi cat e to

p ract i ce i n t h e p u b l i c s ch o o l s o f Geo rg i a.” OCGA § 2 0 -2 -9 8 4

.

12o r d em o t io n i n s u ffi ci en t d et ai l t o en ab l e h i m o r h er fai rl y t o s h o w an y erro r t h at m ay

ex i s t t h erei n .”).

APS o pt ed t o is s u e an am en d ed ch arg e l et t er. Th e am en d ed let t er, dat ed M ay

2 5

, 2 01 2

, s t at ed t h at t h e PSC’ s reco m m en d at i o n to rev oke D uke s- W a lton’ s e duc a tor ’ s

cert ifi cat e “ fu rt h er im

p act ed ” APS’ s l o s s o f co n fi d en ce i n h er ab il i t y t o di s ch arg e h er

d u t i es as an ed u c a t o r. Th e am en d ed ch arg e l et t er n o t i fi ed D u k es -W al t o n t h at i t

i n t en d ed t o i n t ro d uce ev i d en ce o f t h at d eci si o n an d t h at t h e h eari n g wo u l d reco n v en e

o n Ju n e 1 1

, 2 0 1 2

. W h en t h e heari n g reco m m en ced o n t h at d at e, th e h eari n g o ffi cer

ad m i t t ed ev i d en ce o f t he PSC d eci s i o n

.

Al t h ou g h OCGA § 2 0 -2 -9 4 0 d oes n o t p reci s el y ad d res s t he i ns t an t s i t u at i o n,

i t i s un d i s p u t ed t h at APS p ro v i d ed Du k es -W al t o n w it h at l eas t 1 0 d a ys ’ ad v an ce

n o t i ce th at i t wo u l d b e offeri n g ev i den ce o f t h e PSC d eci s i o n

, an d s h e h ad an

o p p o r t u n i t y t o d efen d an d be h eard co n s is ten t wi t h t h e req u i rem en t s o f t h e s t at u t e.

Du k es -W al t o n h as no t s h o wn t hat s h e was d en ied d u e p ro ces s by APS’ s am en d m en t

o f i ts ch arg e l et t er u n der t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces

. See Bo a t r i gh t v. Gl yn n Co un t

y S ch o ol

Di s t

. , 31 5 Ga. Ap p

. 4 6 8

, 4 7 0 (1 ) (7 2 6 SE2 d 5 9 1 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (d u e p ro ces s i n p u b l i c

13em

pl o y m en t cas es req u i res t h at t he s t at e m u s t g i v e n o ti ce an d an o p p o rt u n i t y t o b e

h eard t o a p ers o n d ep ri v ed o f a p ro p ert y i n t eres t ). 5

4

. D u k es -W al t o n co n t en d s t h at t h e Lo cal Bo ard ’ s d eci s i o n

, as affi rm ed b y t h e

St at e Bo ard an d t h e s u p eri o r co u rt

, was arb i t rary an d cap ri ci o us b ecau s e t h e tri b u na l ’ s

fi nd i ng s

, wh ich t h e Lo cal Bo ard ad o pt ed

, were b as ed on erro n eo u s ev i d en ti ary

ru l i n gs b y t h e heari n g o ffi cer. 6 Sp eci fi cal ly

, s h e arg u es t h at t h e h eari n g o ffi cer erred

i n ad m i t t i n g t h e PSC’ s d eci si o n, wh i ch s h e co n t en d s was i rrel ev an t an d p reju d i ci al

,

an d i n ex cl u di n g “ co m

p arat o r ev i d en ce,” th at is

, ev i d en ce t h at APS d eci d ed to

t erm i n at e h er wh i le ret ai n in g s i m i l arl y s i t u at ed p ri n ci p al s

. 7

5 Cf. W h i s en a n t v. Do u g l a s Co un t y B d

. of E d

. , C a s e No

. 1 9 97 -5 2 (Ga. SBE,

M arch 1 2

, 1 9 9 8 ) (t h e ap p el l an t was d en ied d ue pro ces s b y ad m i s s i o n o f e v i d en ce

“ b ey o n d th e sco p e o f t h e ch arg e l et t er, t h us d en y in g [h i m ] t h e o p p o rt u n i t y t o p ro p erl y

d efen d ag ai n s t s uch ch arg es ”).

6 OCGA § 2 0 -2 -9 40 (e) (4 ) p ro v i d es t h a t “ t h e part i es b y ag reem en t m ay

s t ip u l at e t h at s o m e d is i n teres t ed m em b er o f t h e St at e Bar o f Geo rg i a s h al l d eci d e al l

q u es ti o n s o f ev i d en ce an d o th er l eg al i s s u es ari s i n g b efo re th e l o cal b o a r d o r

t ri b u nal

. ” Th e heari n g t ran s c r i p t s h o ws t h at t h e p ro ceed i n g s were p res i d ed o v er by

a d is i n t eres t ed m em

b er o f St at e Bar o f Geo rg i a w h o

, t h e p art i es ag reed

, wo u l d ru l e

o n q u es t i o n s o f l aw o r ev i d en ce t h at m ig h t ari se d u ri n g t h e co u rs e o f t h e h eari n g

.

7 Un d er OCGA § 20 -2 -9 40 (e) (4 ), ex cep t as o t h erwi s e p ro v i d ed t h erei n

, at t h e

h eari n g “ t h e s am e ru l es go v ern i n g n o n ju ry tri al s i n t h e s u peri o r co u rt s h al l p rev ai l .”

Th e St at e Bo ard h as ap pl i ed t h e Geo rg i a Ru l es o f Ev i den ce i n rev iewi ng ev i d en ti ary

ru l i n gs at a t ri b un al h eari n g

. See, e.g

., Bea l -Pa r ker v. DeKa l b Co u n t

y B d

. o f E d

. , Cas e

No

. 2 0 0 8 -1 7 (Ga. SBE, F e b r u a r y

_ , 20 0 8 ); Du nca n v. Cl a yt o n Co u n t

y B d

. o f Ed

. ,

14As s u m i ng wi t h o ut d eci d i n g t h at th e h eari ng o ffi cer erred i n ad m it t in g t h e PSC

d eci s i o n

, 8 we can n o t co n cl u de, as Du k es -W al t o n a s s ert s, th at t h e d eci s i o n o f t h e

Lo cal Bo ard was co n s eq u en t l y arb i t rary an d cap ri ci o u s. Th e tri b un al ’ s fi n d i n g s

,

wh i ch were ad o p t ed b y t h e Lo cal Bo ard

, co n t ai n ed n u m ero u s s p eci fi c fi n d i n g s o f fact

reg ard i n g D u k es -W al t o n’ s p ro fes s i o n al fai lu res

, b ut t h e t ri b u n al n o t ab ly d i d n ot

i d en t i fy t h e PSC d eci s i o n as su p p o rt fo r i t s fi n d i n gs or e v e n r e f eren ce t h e PSC

d eci s i o n

. Th e ad m i s s i b l e ev i d en ce su p p ort ed t h e L o cal Bo ard ’ s d eci s i o n t o t erm i n at e

Du k es -W al t o n ’ s em

p l o y m en t u n d er t h e s t at u t ory g ro u n d s

, as we fo u n d i n Di v i s i o n

1

, s u p ra. Du k es -W al t o n was n o t h a rm ed b y t h e i m p ro p er ad m is si o n o f t h e PSC

reco m m en d at i o n.

W i t h reg ard t o t h e co m

p arat o r ev i den ce th at t h e heari n g o ffi cer ex cl u d ed

, t h e

reco rd s h o ws t h at Du k es -W al t o n i n t en d ed t o i n t r o d u ce t h e d o cu m en t to s h o w t h at

,

aft er G OSA i s su ed i t s rep o rt fl ag g i n g c l a s s r o o m s fo r h i g h rat es o f wro n g -t o -ri g ht

Cas e No . 1 9 9 6 -1 0 (Ga. SBE, J u l y 1 1 , 1 9 9 6 ).

8 See Ad a ms v. Fu lt o n Co u n t

y Bd

. o f Ed

. , Cas e N o

. 2 0 1 0 -9 1 (Ga. SBE, Oct o b er

_ , 2 01 0 ) (ev i d en ce b efo re t h e l o cal b o ard i n cl u ded a P S C d e ci s i o n t o s u s p en d t h e

t each er’ s cert i fi cat e); Bu l lo ck v. Fu lt o n Co u n ty B d

. o f Ed

. , Cas e No

. 2 01 0 -9 2 (Ga.

SBE, Oct o b er

_ , 2 0 1 0) (s am e); s ee al s o W ya t t v. At l a n t a In d

ep en d en t S ch o o l S ys t em

, Cas e No

. 2 0 1 3 -0 2 (Ga. SBE, N o v em b er 1 4

, 2 0 1 2 ) (ci ti n g Ad

ams an d Bu l l o ck fo r t h e

p ro p os i t i on t h at t h e St at e Bo ard h ad u p h el d t h e d eci s i o n o f a l o cal b o ard wh ere t h ere

was n o o b ject i on t o t h e l o cal b o ard ’ s rel i an ce o n a PSC d eci s io n ).

15eras ures o n t h e 2 0 0 9 CRCT, APS d id no t p l ace o n ad m i n i s t rat i ve l eav e s ev eral

p ri n ci p al s wh o s e s ch o o l s h ad a h i g h p ercen t ag e o f cl as s ro o m s fl ag g ed fo r wro n g -t o

r i ght e r a sur e s. D uke s- W a lton a r gue s t h at APS’ s d eci s io n t o t erm i n at e her em p l o y m en t

was b as ed o n t h e GOSA rep o rt an d n o t o n h er i n di v i d u al co n d uct

. Sh e m ai n t ai n s t h at

d i s p arat e t reat m en t b y APS o f p ri n ci p al s w h o were s i m i l arl y s i t u at ed i n t erm s o f t h e

GOSA rep o rt was rel ev an t t o s ho w t h at A PS act ed arb i t rari l y in s eek i n g t o t erm i n at e

h er. W e co n cl ud e, h o wev er, t h at Du k es -W al t on ’ s arg um en t t h a t A PS’ s d eci s i o n to

t erm i n at e h er em

p l o y m en t was b as ed s o l el y on t h e GOSA rep o rt i s no t s u p p o rt ed by

t h e reco rd . To t h e co n t rary , t he ch arg e l et t er al l eg es

, an d t h e ev i d en ce s h o wed , t h at

APS l o s t co n fi d en ce i n h er ab i l i t y t o carry o u t h e r p r o fes s i o nal du t i es b as ed o n h er

i n d i v i d u al m i s co n d uct

. Th e h eari n g o ffi cer d i d n ot ab u se h i s di s cret io n i n ex cl u d i n g

t h e p ro ffered “ co m

parat o r” ev i d en ce. See Br o wn v. DeKa l b Co un t y Bd

. o f Ed

. , Cas e

No

. 2 0 1 3 -3 7 (Ga. SBE, May 9

, 2 0 1 3 ) (co m parat or ev i d en ce o f m i s co n d u ct b y o t h er

em pl o y ees wh o r e c e i v ed d i fferen t d i s ci p li n e w as n o t rel ev an t an d was p ro p erl y

ex cl u d ed ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Di l l ar d

a n d Mer ci er , JJ., co n cu r

.

16