Ministry of Education suspends nine teachers

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OKLAHOMA CITY — A principal is facing charges for inappropriately touching boys at a middle school. A teacher is accused of sending sexual images to a student. Another is charged with possession of child pornography.

These and other stories make up the list of nine teachers whose teaching licenses the Oklahoma State Board of Education revoked on Thursday. The board has initiated disbarment proceedings against nine others, most of them on similar charges.

Minister of State Ryan Walters said his government was addressing these cases expeditiously.

The state board has suspended or initiated revocation proceedings against about 35 teachers since January. However, critics say the Oklahoma State Department of Education has still been too slow to respond.

Walters said the state board could vote on additional suspensions and revocations in the coming months.

“If we find evidence of sexual misconduct by a teacher and find that teachers are violating the code of conduct, we will not wait for a conviction,” he said after Thursday’s board meeting. “We will absolutely take action at that time.”

New state Education Department regulations currently under review by the state legislature would allow schools to fire teachers accused of sexual misconduct and could penalize districts that continue to employ teachers under investigation if they are ultimately convicted or disbarred.

But Walters’ administration has come under fire for not taking quicker action against educators and coaches accused of abuse. Meanwhile, he has initiated disbarment proceedings against former Norman High School teacher Summer Boismier, whom he criticized for her liberal political views.

The state Board of Education again postponed a vote until June 27 on whether to revoke Boismier’s teaching license. The former English teacher had posted a link to an online catalog of banned books in her classroom.

Boismier differs from other people on the State Committee’s agenda because he has never been suspended, fired or prosecuted.

Among the teachers whose teaching credentials were suspended Thursday are Stephen Gainor, who was fired from Oklahoma City Public Schools after allegedly improperly restraining an 11-year-old student, and Tyler Patrick McGrew, a Sapulpa teacher who was charged with distributing fentanyl, according to court records.

Donald Holt, a former Stigler High School teacher, has been charged with possession and distribution of child pornography. Former Lexington High School teacher Vernon Tyler Thetford also faces criminal charges after being accused of sending sexual images of himself to a student.

Their certifications are now suspended pending a hearing on their revocation.

Cody Barlow, principal of Wewoka Middle School, had his teaching license suspended for more than a year after being charged with two counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child under 16 and four counts of lewd or indecent solicitation of a minor.

The state board suspended his license on Thursday, setting the stage for a hearing that could potentially lead to permanent revocation of his license.

Barlow has denied any wrongdoing. Charges are still pending in Seminole County District Court.

This month, Wewoka Public Schools agreed to pay $1.95 million to settle a lawsuit brought by four boys who claimed Barlow abused them.

Cameron Spradling, an attorney representing the four students, said the affected families had to wait far too long for the state Department of Education to take action against Barlow’s teaching license.

“They feel like they have been abandoned for 18 months,” Spradling said.

Spradling said he is still waiting for Walters to take similar action against Ringling High School principal and football coach Phil Koons and others in the southern Oklahoma district. Nine current or former football players have sued the coach, the school district and other members of the Koons family, claiming they were subjected to bullying, harassment and abuse.

Koons is facing charges of public decency for allegedly treating players.

But “nothing happened” to his license to work in public schools, said Spradling, who represents the plaintiffs in the civil case.

“What is (Walters’) definition of when he’s going to prosecute someone?” Spradling asked. “When I’ve already won the case? When the person is about to go to prison? When does he touch that?”

Walters said the state Department of Education is hiring more investigators to review complaints the agency receives. He said the number of reports and evidence on various issues is “through the roof.”

“We want information; please send it to us,” Walters said. “If not, we have to wait for charges, for things to come forward from local law enforcement. But if you have evidence and can send it to us, we can suspend certificates and start that process.”