A science teacher at a Canyon County middle school resigned Monday, in the wake of a USA Today investigation of teacher misconduct complaints.
James Verity’s story was chronicled in a national USA Today investigation. Verity and other teachers have been able to move from state to state, USA Today reporter Steve Reilly wrote, because of a “fractured system for tracking teachers with histories of misconduct.”
Verity lost his teaching license in Oregon in 2006, amidst allegations of a sexual relationship involving an 18-year-old student. He received his Idaho teaching certificate in 2009, and taught in the Caldwell School District from 2010 to 2014. Most recently, he taught in the Vallivue School District’s Sage Valley Middle School.
“On Monday, Verity resigned following journalists’ questions to him, his school districts and state officials about his career in Oregon and Idaho,” Reilly wrote. “Verity is one of at least three teachers who have left or been removed from teaching positions in recent weeks after past misconduct was brought to light by the USA TODAY NETWORK investigation.”
Here’s a link to the full story, with reporting by John Tierney at KGW in Portland and Tami Tremblay at KTVB in Boise.