Idaho’s Professional Standards Commission (PSC) took action Thursday against four teachers who violated the state’s Code of Ethics for public educators.
The standards commission is an 18-member volunteer board made up of teachers, school administrators and higher education officials, who have the authority to approve, suspend and revoke teaching and administrative licenses in Idaho.
The commission revoked and suspended licenses for a range of violations. Below are summaries of the complaints against the educators and the commission’s final disciplinary decisions.
Ronald Stone — Coeur d’Alene School District
Ronald Stone was convicted in 2022 of two counts of lewd conduct with a minor under the age of 16. He is serving life in prison at Idaho Correctional Institution in Orofino. He held an expired teaching certificate with all subjects endorsement and a pupil service certificate with a school counselor endorsement.
The PSC permanently revoked his certifications “so that he can never come back,” according to a member of the PSC.
Eric M. McDermott — Boise School District
Eric M. McDermott was convicted of sexual battery of a minor child between the ages of 16-17. He was convicted last year. He held a teaching certificate with English, social studies and history endorsements. He was employed by the Boise school district during the 2022-23 school year.
The PSC permanently revoked his certifications, according to the administrative complaint.
Cory Gaylor — Kuna School District
Cory Gaylor pleaded guilty to lewd conduct with a child under the age of 16 and “children-enticing” over the internet. He was convicted in 2023. He held a teaching certificate with world language and Spanish endorsements.
The PSC permanently revoked his certifications, according to the administrative complaint.
Donald B. Young — COSSA Schools
Donald B. Young made inappropriate comments to colleagues and students, such as a desire to have sex with colleagues and commenting on female students’ bodies. He holds an occupational specialist teaching certificate with auto maintenance and light repair endorsements. He was employed by COSSA Schools — Parma, Notus, Wilder and Marsing schools districts – during the 2022-23 school year.
The PSC suspended his teaching certifications until he completes ethics, boundaries and classroom management courses. Evidence of completion must be provided to the commission prior to consideration for reinstatement, according to the administrative complaint.
Executive committee recommendations
The PSC’s executive committee went into an extended executive session Thursday to review 12 educator cases for probable cause determinations. The following is a summary of the committee’s recommendations: one educator was recommended for reinstatement; one case was placed on hold; three certifications should be revoked; one educator will receive a letter of reprimand; one educator’s certificate should be suspended; and five cases were found to have no probable cause.
In open session, committee members did not use names but case file numbers. Through a public records request, Idaho Education News was able to obtain the stipulation file against Lisa Carriere. There are no public records for the other 11 cases, according to Maggie Reynolds, public information officer for the Idaho Department of Education.
The committee voted to recommend Carriere’s teaching certificate be reinstated. She previously worked as a speech language pathologist for the Vallivue School District. Her certification was revoked in 2016 and she was barred from re-applying for two years. She entered a guilty plea for misdemeanor injury to a child in 2016. She slapped or otherwise made physical contact with a student’s face, according to a PSC document.
The committee found no probable cause for cases 22407, 22403, 22405, 22404 and 22400. They held over case 22406 until more information can be gathered from the district — staffing for the dual immersion program, master contract and the signed contract for the educator involved in the case.
They voted to recommend certification revocation for case 22402 (apparently a virtual teacher), case 22328 (which received no comments) and case 22408, an educator who needs to receive rehabilitation “with those inclinations,” said Ramona Lee, the PSC’s vice chairperson and a West Ada special education administrator.
In case 22316, they agreed to issue a letter of reprimand with a condition requiring the educator to receive de-escalation training.
Case 22401 involves a breach of contract that occurred in October of 2023. The committee made an original motion to issue a letter of reprimand, which failed. On a second motion, they unanimously voted to issue stronger disciplinary action. The educator’s certificate will receive a fixed suspension for nine months, beginning on Oct. 4, 2023. The educator was well aware of the classroom impact his decision would have, a committee member said.
