Thread by @APDillon_

The fact our state does not have a uniform system of background checks is just 1 aspect of the problem NC has with teachers being arrested for sexual contact with students.
wect.com/2019/08/19/sti…
#nced #ncga
#THREAD

For years I've tracked teacher arrests at a national level, but then with a focusing on NC. Some arrests are for drugs, DWI or other reasons, but the vast majority are for sexual offenses with kids. I've called this activity the #QuietEpidemic

ladyliberty1885.com/category/educa…
#nced #ncga

I tracked NC arrests reported by media and through tips sent to me by law enforcement.
2016 34 arrests
2017 55 arrests
2018 41 arrests
2019 39 arrests (So far.)
#nced #ncga

One offender I tracked is Michael Kelly who taught in New Hanover Public Schools. He recently plead guilty to 59 charges that span over a decade of victims. The SBI is investigating the district.

ladyliberty1885.com/tag/michael-ke…
#nced #ncga

Another is Charles Naaz, a former CMS teacher who held 'tutoring sessions' at his home where he engaged in sexual activity with minor students.
Naas was eventually convicted.
ladyliberty1885.com/tag/charles-ra…
#nced #ncga

In 2017, Robert Woodard was a teacher in Chatham charged with
8 felony counts of indecent liberties with a student, 7 felony counts of first-degree sexual offense of a child 15 years of age or younger, 18 felony counts of felony sex act with a student.
#nced #ncga

Woodard was eventually convicted on all counts.
He had passed a background check.

Background checks need to be repeated often & fingerprinting is essential for state-to-state sharing of records. Currently, there is no national system or database for these offenses.
#ncga #nced

Loopholes and deals w/ other agencies have kept some offenses off the police radar. Law enforcement is not required to report educator arrests to any state agency.

Read the multi-part series exposing a loophole called "Quiet Epidemic": ladyliberty1885.com/quiet-epidemic/

#nced #ncga

Serial offenders can operate for years as New Hanover's Michael Kelly did.
The Districts often protect themselves by 'passing the trash' - they shuffle problem teachers to other schools or districts.

All of this is known to certain legislators.
#nced #ncga

A colleague and I created a legislative proposal on the issue of teacher crime that included fingerprinting, peer training, a unified, statewide background check system, an interagency reporting system, a tip line and transparency for the public.

It went nowhere.
#nced #ncga

Right now, the NC Teacher licensure discipline records kept by the NC Board of Ed have not been updated since March.
stateboard.ncpublicschools.gov/legal-affairs/…

#nced #ncga

Sources told me that the licensure list has not been updated because of Supt. Johnson, who is allegedly sitting on dozens of licensure case files but has apparently refused to execute them.
Inquiries to DPI on that matter have not been responded to.
#nced #ncga

Meanwhile, NC school children continue to be prayed on.
Here are the most recent cases -- two teach

#nced #ncga #END