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Rabjohn teaching license revoked

Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Clay County Times-Democrat
Matt Rabjohn of Rector was one of six Arkansas teachers penalized following recent investigations into reported violations of Standard 1 of the Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators, adopted last year by the State Board of Education.

The action was the first taken by the state's new Professional Licensure Standards Board, which, along with a Subcommittee on Ethics, is made up of teachers, administrators and university educators. Both were authorized by Act 846 of 2007.

Rabjohn, the former girls basketball and softball coach at Rector, submitted his resignation to the school board Jan. 14 citing health reasons.

According to an article Tuesday in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Rabjohn, along with Nathan Hill of the Lewisville School District, Brock Felton of the Izard County School District and Clint Bousher of the DeWitt School District, had his teaching license revoked for violations of the Code of Ethics.

Two other teachers received less severe disciplinary actions for reported infractions.

According to the Democrat-Gazette story, information presented regarding Rabjohn during the investigation indicated the father of a student said he had "engaged in a sexual relationship" with a student.

Phone calls to Beverly Williams, chairman of the Licensure Standards Board for the Arkansas Board of Education, were not immediately returned Tuesday.

Rabjohn was hired as a coach and teacher at Rector in 2003.

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Finally the truth comes out and is not being covered up. It should not matter who you are or what your name is if you do something wrong the truth should be told and action taken equally.

I say good job Board of Educataion! Please continue to investigate throughly.

-- Posted by cool breeze on Fri, Mar 20, 2009, at 3:37 PM

I don't think the board should stop there. They should also enforce the other standards such as:

5.02 Standard 2: An educator maintains competence regarding skills, knowledge, and dispositions relating to his/her organizational position, subject matter, and/or pedagogical practice.

5.07 Standard 7: An educator refrains from using, possessing and/or being under the influence of alcohol, tobacco, or unauthorized drugs while on school premises or at school-sponsored activities involving students.

Also, lets review the definition of an educator and recognize that it applies to more than just teachers:

Educator is a teacher, school or school system administrator or other education personnel who has been issued a teaching license by the Arkansas State Board of Education. For the purposes of the Code, educator also refers to a licensed student intern,

-- Posted by Mijo on Mon, Mar 30, 2009, at 10:55 AM

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