Investigate - GaPSC

Georgia Professional Standards Commission
Code of Ethics Presentation
Macon, November 27, 2010

Gary Walker
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New and Improved Gary Walker
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News
We have moved! Twin Towers-West
200 Piedmont Avenue-Suite 1702
New Clearance Certificates
New Ethics Database-this is a big deal.
We have the flexibility and ability to
generate reports for school systems
Three new commissioners began in
September –Scott Justus, Kamie Luigs,
and Sheryl Stalvey
PSC has changed position on 4

Status of APS Cases
182 educators were reported to the PSC
144 case summaries have been presented
to the PSC for probable cause
determination
38 cases are still under investigation
The PSC is waiting for the Fulton County
DA to release their investigative files

Status of Dougherty County Cases
The PSC has received approximately 47
cases from the Governor’s Special
Investigators
The PSC voted to investigate the
allegations at the September meeting.
The staff is working to present the
Dougherty Co. cases to the PSC in
November and December

Probable Cause Results
Year Denied Revoked Voluntary Total
Surrender
FY 2001 15 58 14 87
FY 2002 20 44 16 80
FY 2003 31 62 21 114
FY 2004 26 57 20 103
FY 2005 25 93 22 140
FY 2006 42 72 17 131
FY 2007 23 76 26 125
FY 2008 33 54 16 103
FY 2009 25 71 27 123
FY 2010 13 67 28 108
FY 2011 18 58 20 96

Sanctions-October, 2011-
Legal compliance-42
October, 2012
Conduct with Students-57
Alcohol and Drugs-19
Honesty-56
Public Funds and Property-24
Remunerative Conduct-1
Confidential Information-0
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Sanctions
Abandonment of Contract-3
Required Reports-12
Professional Conduct-30
Testing-174
Total-418
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PSC Process Used When
Complaint Filed
Entered into database
Meet as group to discuss merits
Possibly make phone calls and other
inquiries
Present to Commission at monthly
meeting a recommendation to investigate
or not investigate-depending on
circumstances and school system action
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No Probable Cause
The PSC determines the Code of Ethics
has not been violated or that the conduct
does not rise to a certificate level - NPC
Commission may choose to Remand a
complaint to the school system for
investigation. If the system determines
that a violation of Code of Ethics has
occurred, the case should be resubmitted
for the PSC to consider.
Remanded cases are an open record. 11

Probable Cause - Investigate
Case assigned to investigator
Information gathered through interviews,
collect & review available evidence, etc.
Investigator writes detailed investigative
summary of investigation.
Ethics Division reviews summary and
discusses options
The staff advises PSC of sanctions issued
for similar conduct in order for the PSC
sanctions to be consistent.
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Sanction
Should a certificate be revoked, it is the
responsibility of the Superintendent that
the Educator not be allowed on a school
campus or work with students for the
duration of the sanction.
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Mandated Reporting
Requirements
An oral report must be made to DFACS or
Law Enforcement within 24 hours when
there is suspicion of child abuse.
Any person making report shall be
immune from liability if report is made in
good faith
Failure to make report shall be considered
a misdemeanor which could result in jail
time and sanction of certificate by PSC

Mandated Reporting
Child Abuse-24 hours to DFACS
Student having weapon on school grounds
or at a school function
Student involved with a controlled
substance
PSC-Up to 90 days for most violations but
encouraged to file as soon as possible
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Paul A. Shaw
Contact information
paul.shaw@gapsc.com
404-232-2635
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