Utica recommended dismissed educator
UTICA – Jeffrey Poulton worked as the Utica High School assistant principal and athletic director for less than a month in 2013 before his contract was rescinded — essentially firing him.
Yet an administrator within the district wrote a rave review for Poulton on an application for a job he landed in another state less than a month later.
Poulton was let go by the North Fork Local School District less than 24 hours after the board of education approved his contract in August 2013. The reason: Poulton's past discipline he received while working as an educator with Columbus City Schools came to light.
Poulton was fired from Columbus in February 2013, five months before he was hired in Utica. He was found to have had a relationship with a fellow teacher and accused of using school email and students to courier messages back and forth. He also reportedly failed to end the relationship after he was told to do so by school officials.
Utica High School Principal Mark Bowman provided a recommendation to Poulton in September 2013 when Poulton was applying for a job in Cheatham County, Tennessee, near Nashville, according to records obtained by The Advocate from the Tennessee school district.
Poulton was eventually hired and worked in the Tennessee district until February, when he was suspended pending an investigation into an alleged inappropriate conversation with a student. He resigned a day later from his position as a history and criminal justice teacher.
The Tennessean reported last month that Poulton allegedly made remarks about a student's appearance and suggested she wear certain clothes to school. Cheatham County Sheriff Mike Breedlove's department investigated the case, the paper reported.
Bowman rated Poulton above average in every category on the recommendation form, giving him a check plus in several of them, including overall effectiveness, despite Poulton not working a single day while school was in session. When asked whether he would hire Poulton again, Bowman checked yes.
"Great to be around — a plus in any system," Bowman wrote.
When The Advocate originally requested documents from the Cheatham County school district where Poulton applied, the name of the person giving the recommendation was redacted. A separate records request was made to obtain a non-redacted copy of the document.
The recommendation provided by Bowman listed the reason for Poulton's departure from the district as being from a "RIF" or reduction in force.
Because North Fork contracted with the Licking County Educational Service Center to hire the person for Poulton's position, when the district terminated Poulton's contract, it was classified as a reduction in force.
The Advocate left multiple messages over several days with Bowman and district Superintendent Scott Hartley to ask questions about why the recommendation was provided. No response was received from either by Friday afternoon.
The Ohio Department of Education has been investigating Poulton since 2012 as well, with a public hearing held in December 2014.
In documents from the December public hearing, a person identified as "Student 1" testified to having a relationship with Poulton while a student at Columbus West High School in 2009. The allegations were reportedly disclosed to the ODE in October 2013 after she found out about another student Poulton possibly had involvement with around the same time.
Although the ODE's website still lists Poulton's license as active, ODE officials confirmed Friday that the State Board of Education voted to permanently revoke his license at a meeting early this week.
The phone number The Advocate has for Poulton rang busy when attempting to reach him for comment on this report.
Timeline
February 2013 : Jeffrey Poulton is fired from Columbus City Schools after being accused of failing to end a relationship with another employee at direction of school district
Late July, early August 2013 : Poulton is offered assistant principal and athletic director job with North Fork Local Schools
Aug. 13, 2013 : Poulton's contract through Licking County Educational Service Center is approved by North Fork school board
Aug. 14, 2013 : Poulton's contract through LCESC was terminated, firing Poulton
Sept. 9, 2013 : Utica High School Principal Mark Bowman signs recommendation for Poulton
December 2014 : Ohio Department of Education hearing regarding allegations against Poulton
February 2015 : Cheatham County schools suspend Poulton pending investigation. He resigns one day later.