Facts: SS received two complaints within days of each other regarding two separate incidents that both occurred years ago when she was employed with a school district. The first complaint related to a student who she evaluated and who was eventually denied certain requested services. The second complaint was from the school district itself for failure to complete reports and failure to give proper notice of resignation.
Outcome: SS hired the firm to respond to both complaints and was eventually asked to report for an informal conference. Prior to the conference the firm provided a written response detailing that SS only evaluated the student one-time and that she was not the deciding factor on whether he received certain services or not. The firm also provided evidence that the student was evaluated privately several times and by another school district who all came to the same conclusions as SS. Next, we provided evidence to show that although SS did not complete some reports prior to her resignation, she was never required to complete reports by a certain deadline and that all therapists were overburdened with an impossible workload. She completed all she could prior to her resignation and the school had all her work product in order to complete any remaining formal report. Further, it was disclosed during the conference that SS did provide a partial notice of her resignation in March prior to the school year ending in May. However, she did admit that she provided her final notice only a few weeks before school began.
Due to the evidence provided the Board dismissed the first complaint. The Board did issue an order for the second complaint as under the code SS was required to give 45 days notice for her resignation. However, the order only required SS to complete 6 hours of continuing education and did not impede her ability to practice in any capacity.
