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View Full Version : Will my felonies prevent me from a teaching career


Whitefox
Feb 23, 2012, 07:53 PM
I recently have been charged with 2 counts of distribution. I have a 20 year sentence-suspended / 5 years probation.
I've been going to school to obtain bachelors in mathematics for education/ early childhood to become a math teacher.
Of course there are A lot of circumstances I'm not going into, about how I received these charges. I've never been in any other trouble.
My passion is to become a teacher, and has been since I was a little girl. Will my dream career only be just that-- a dream?

Fr_Chuck
Feb 23, 2012, 08:48 PM
I would not count on it for many years if ever. Esp working in any elementary or high school.
Perhaps at a college level latter ( know of some felons there) But the other issue now, there are perhaps 20 or 30 applications for any one opening, I would say, that for now, you would not even get called in for an interview. Perhaps in 10 or 15 years of no other trouble, you would have better chances.

For example in GA, the first rule is

Standard 1: Criminal Acts - An educator should abide by federal, state, and local laws and statutes. Unethical conduct includes but is not
Limited to the commission or conviction of a felony or of any crime involving moral turpitude. As used herein, conviction includes a finding or
Verdict of guilty, or a plea of nolo contendere, regardless of whether an appeal of the conviction has been sought; a situation where first offender
Treatment without adjudication of guilt pursuant to the charge was granted; and a situation where an adjudication of guilt or

ballengerb1
Feb 23, 2012, 08:56 PM
Depends on which state, in Illinois you are out of the running. Illinois code quote "Illinois law requires that all certified teachers be of "good character." Certain types of criminal convictions are viewed as indicators that the individuals lack good character, thus prohibiting them from receiving a teaching certificate and working in Illinois. Felony convictions involving sex, narcotics and drugs automatically disqualify a person from obtaining a teaching certificate. Any teacher convicted of a felony related to one of these crimes will have her teaching certificate revoked."