Opinion ID: 2509641
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Issues Surrounding Renewal of Teaching Certificate

Text: The Board also asserts that the circuit court erred by awarding Mr. Fulmer damages for the period during which he was not employed due to his own failure to renew his teaching certificate. The evidence presented in the Level IV hearing on this issue indicates that Mr. Fulmer initially filed an application for renewal of his teaching certificate in June 2008. In September 2008, the West Virginia Department of Education informed Mr. Fulmer that he needed to provide additional information in order to procure the renewal. Mr. Fulmer did not immediately provide this additional requested information. Thus, although he was reinstated by the Grievance Board effective October 29, 2008, he did not immediately resume his teaching position based upon his own failure to provide adequate information to the West Virginia Department of Education regarding his certificate renewal request. The application was ultimately processed for renewal on December 5, 2008, and he was reinstated to his teaching position on December 15, 2008. It appears that the Board is correct in its assertion that it should not be required to pay damages for the period of time Mr. Fulmer was not reinstated due to his own failure to renew his teaching certificate, which includes dates from October 29, 2008, to December 15, 2008. However, Mr. Fulmer contends that he could have immediately resumed teaching on a provisional basis prior to final approval of his renewal request, pursuant to West Virginia Code § 18A-3-2 (1990) (Repl.Vol.2007). [4] Consequently, upon remand, the administrative law judge should allow introduction of evidence on that narrow issue and, if necessary, adjust the damages award based upon the evidence submitted by the parties.