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Will a School Hire a Teacher With Two DUI Convictions

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  • 01-22-2015, 05:48 AM
    teachmeplease
    Will a School Hire a Teacher With Two DUI Convictions
    My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: California and Nevada

    Can I teach with 2 DUIs on my record?

    Hello everyone, I hope you are well.

    Here is what I am going through right now.

    I received a DUI 7 years ago. And another one about 4 months ago.

    I feel horrible, so please spare me the "soap box" comments. Long story short, I have completely renounced alcohol from my life (even though I rarely drank). In both cases, I was the only one involved, and the BAC was low. Really low.

    Now, do you think it at all possible that I might find a teaching job? I plan to work with inner city children. I still have yet to get my credential/masters, and I currently substitute teach. I do have several years of experience working as an instructional assistant as well. I have a strong passion for teaching and I truly enjoy doing what I do. Does anyone know if TeachForAmerica will hire someone with two duis?

    I appreciate your feedback. Thank you in advance.
  • 01-22-2015, 06:06 AM
    BooRennie
    Re: Can I Teach with 2 Duis
    You'll need to contact the agencies in question and ask them.
  • 01-22-2015, 09:59 AM
    AdamK
    Re: Can I Teach with 2 Duis
    You should expect that any employer who will put you in a room with children is going to conduct a background check and find convictions for DUI.

    You may be able to expunge the older DUI and get that out of a background check (at least for some employers). Talk to a criminal defense attorney about that.

    Otherwise you are stuck with what you have in your background. I'd suggest taking up other positive activities (e.g. volunteer work) to show you are overall a good person who made a couple bad decisions. I'd also carefully think about how to explain around the DUIs.
  • 01-22-2015, 11:41 PM
    teachmeplease
    Re: Can I Teach with 2 Duis
    Thank you AdamK. I really appreciate your feedback.

    I plan on being completely honest during the application process. I know a background check is inevitable, and rightfully so.

    I have been volunteering for a while now at several NGOs and non-profits. I have excellent LORs, and over 3 years of teaching under my belt, as both Substitute Teaching and Instructional Aid positions. In both cases, I blew a .09. I wish I can take it back, but what is done is done.

    Do you think it would be easier as time passes? I'm thinking that by the time I get my credential/masters, it won't be judged as harshly. I just finished my masters in a non-related degree, but I'm thinking about getting my masters in education as well.

    Also, are you aware of any teachers with DUIs? I know there are many teachers with DUIs, but not sure if there are a lot of them with more than one.

    Thanks again for your input, AND most of all, thank you for not dishing out your judgment on me - it is greatly appreciated. Best wishes.
  • 01-23-2015, 12:10 AM
    cdwjava
    Re: Can I Teach with 2 Duis
    In CA the fingerprint check should only return disqualifying convictions, not a complete rap sheet. DUI is not a disqualifying conviction for a teacher. As such, I don't think the DUIs will appear here. If the district also checks public records, they might discover this and it MIGHT be an issue for them ... maybe. But, I have arrested a few teachers over the decades for DUI and other offenses (including marijuana sales) and all of them are still teaching. So, I wouldn't worry too much.
  • 01-23-2015, 02:21 PM
    teachmeplease
    Re: Can I Teach with 2 Duis
    Thank you for your post, it really boosts my hopes up, and it really helps - more than you can imagine.

    I know a DUI is a serious crime, and I really wish I could have a do-over. I also know that there are other serious offenses that seem to NOT be taken as seriously as a DUI when it comes to a hiring committee for a school.

    You're right though, there are tons of teachers with DUIs. I've been reading up on several cases, and it seems to be hit and miss. The underlying reasons that most of them were let-go (it seems), were because they were involved in accidents, or had several "hidden" DUIs in different states. This is not the case for me. I'm sure I will have to explain myself in front of a committee eventually. I am also pretty sure non-violent Misdemeanors are not reasons for automatic denial of a teaching certificate (schools will take my money)- landing a job however, might be a different story.

    I am pretty sure it will show on my background check. They usually do an FBI check, and that shows everything - except minor traffic violations. Hopefully they will consider my crime as a victimless crime. We shall see.

    Thanks again everyone, this helps more than you can imagine...

    I'll keep yo posted.

    Best Wishes
  • 01-23-2015, 07:03 PM
    cdwjava
    Re: Can I Teach with 2 Duis
    The FBI check may not include the DUIs - they are spotty. And, again, even the FBI return is not likely to include a copy of a rap sheet, only disqualifying convictions as it is also disseminated through the CA DOJ.
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