Accused Teachers’ Licenses Revoked By Board

CENTRAL OHIO—The State Board of Education voted Tuesday to revoke the licenses of four teachers, including two Central Ohio teachers.

In 2007, there were 81 cases of sex offenses committed by licensed educators investigated by the State Board of Education.

That was eight more than in 2006 thanks to stricter rules put in place to stop inappropriate behavior in the classroom and more reporting on those inappropriate behaviors.

NBC 4’s Tanya Hutchins GOT ANSWERS on what was being done to ensure teachers have clean records when it comes to sexual misconduct.

The board took action to revoke the licenses of two local teachers who were accused of having inappropriate relationships with their students.

The vote permanently revoked the high-school teaching license of Nathan Koerper and the one-year substitute teaching license of Marlana Long.

Koerper resigned last September as a math teacher at West Jefferson High School.

Long resigned from the Circleville Juvenile Correctional Facility in November 2008 after an investigation by the Ohio Department of Youth Services.

“As a result of the investigation, it was determined, substantiated, that Marlana Long was having an inappropriate relationship with the youth at the facility and that ranged from actually acknowledging and admitting that she did have romantic feelings for the youth,“ the department’s Andrea Kruse said.

The DYS report showed that on three occasions the youth kissed Long on the cheek and on one occasion, he grabbed Long’s buttocks.

Another youth later admitted that he saw Long performing oral sex, Hutchins reported.

DYS said it tries to prevent incidents such as this with thorough background checks.

“And we send a zero-tolerance policy that we do not tolerate any type of inappropriate behavior—whatever it is—the staff or the youth, and if there’s any allegation it’s investigated immediately,“ Kruse said.

Hutchins’ call to Jefferson Local School District’s superintendent wasn’t returned immediately.

Once the state board of education files the necessary paperwork, the licenses of both teachers will be revoked and neither will be able to teach in the state of Ohio again.

For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail .
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video