Why am I receiving this investigation notice now from the Ohio Department of Education, Office of Professional Conduct?

The timing of your notice of investigation is not necessarily indicative of anything other than the Office of Professional Conduct’s case volume. It is not uncommon for teachers, administrators, and coaches to receive a notice of investigation from the Ohio Department of Education many months or even years after a report about alleged misconduct is made. This time lapse can be due to a number of things, including but not limited to delayed response times by the Office of Professional Conduct due to large case volumes or to intentional delay awaiting the outcome of related employment and/or criminal matters.

I resolved this issue with my district, so why is Ohio Department of Education, Office of Professional Conduct involved?

The Ohio Department of Education, Office of Professional Conduct is not bound by the results and outcome of your employment matter. In other words, even if your employment matter resolves either with continued employment, an agreed upon resignation, or a termination, the Department of Education may conduct its own separate investigation, and seek to discipline you separate and apart from the outcome of your employment matter. This is because your employer and the Ohio Department of Education are two separate entities; your employer has a contractual and policy interest in supervising your employment, and the Ohio Department of Education has a statutory interest in supervising your privilege to maintain credentials issued by its department.

I received a letter from the Ohio Department of Education, Office of Professional Conduct that I am being investigated; what do I do now?

Retain an experienced education attorney at Albeit Masters, LLC as soon as possible. Although, you can certainly proceed through the investigation process without an attorney, we can not only advise you regarding effective defense and presentation of any relevant mitigation, but where applicable, we can help negotiate the most favorable outcome possible, and/or advise and represent you in a hearing against the Ohio Department of Education. The potential consequences of an investigation can be as serious as permanent revocation of your ability to ever hold any credential issued by the Ohio Department of Education, so it is crucial that you seek experienced advice as soon as possible. 

The Ohio Department of Education, Office of Professional Conduct investigator offered me an interview. Should I do it?

The answer to this question depends on the specific facts of your case. An experienced education attorney will evaluate the facts of your case, and be able to advise you regarding an interview or a potential alternative.

Should I tell my employer that I am under investigation by the Ohio Department of Education, Office of Professional Conduct?

Investigations conducted by The Ohio Department of Investigation, Office of Professional Conduct are confidential. Whether or not you nevertheless disclose the existence of this confidential investigation to your employer depends significantly on your particular case, as there is no one-size-fits-all answer. An experienced attorney from Albeit Masters can review the facts of your case and give you sound advice regarding disclosure or nondisclosure.