ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTIONS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL ...

Key Facts: Dr. Carol Graham was suspended for insubordination, willful neglect of duty,
and breach of confidentiality on May 17, 1999. The charges stemmed from an incident on April
2, 1999. On that day, a student ran away from the school but was detained by the principal,
Bruce Faulkner. Faulkner had the boy placed in a classroom with a teacher and called for
Graham, an assistant principal, on the intercom to report to the classroom. Faulkner intended on
having two adults in the room for witness purposes in case anything else happened with the
student. Graham did not report.
Faulkner found Graham in her office in a meeting with a substitute teacher. Graham had
not heard the intercom because it was not operational in her office. However, after explaining the
situation and asking her to go and observe the situation, Graham locked the door and proceeded
on with her meeting. Faulkner then returned, unlocked the door, and asked her again to report to
the classroom. She did this time. It need be noted that Graham’s interactions with Faulkner were
highly insubordinate throughout their exchange. This was verified by the substitute teacher who
witnessed the conversation. After reporting to supervise the student, Graham left the classroom
to find Faulkner and ask why she was needed to watch this boy; he explained that her presence
was needed for witnessing purposes. She returned and remained there until the boy was picked
up by parents.
Ironically, that same night Graham was contacted by a friend requesting help with her
grandson who had just begun attending West Teays Elementary School--Graham’s school of
employment. Through the course of conversation, Graham, without disclosing names, relayed
the incident from that afternoon. The boy that tried to run away was Graham’s friend’s grandson.
Graham’s friend later realized that it was her grandson whom Graham had spoken about after
speaking with her son. The child’s father then contacted Faulkner concerned over confidentiality.
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