Research

New York State Education Department Office of School District Employer-Employee Relations Tenured Teacher Disciplinary Case Hearing Transcripts and Exhibits

Held by the New York State Archives


Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives

New York State Education Department

Cultural Education Center

Albany, NY 12230

Summary:
This series consists of transcripts and accompanying exhibits produced during tenured teacher disciplinary hearings. These case files often include graphic testimony about teacher performance, classroom situations, and education administration (particularly teacher supervision and efforts to identify and remove incompetent teachers). Transcripts provide information about workplace relations and working conditions, and on "social" labor relations in an adversarial context. Exhibits may include lesson plans, observation reports, and audio or videotapes of teachers in the classroom. Records are restricted for 75 years.
Creator:
Title:
Quantity:
401 cubic feet
Inclusive Dates:
1970-1994, 2001-2005, undated
Series Number:
15946

Arrangement

15946-99, 15946-13: Chronological by closure date.

Scope and Content Note

The series consists of typewritten or photocopied (ribbon/carbon copy) transcripts and accompanying exhibits produced during tenured teacher disciplinary hearings. Full transcripts often include graphic testimony about teacher performance, classroom situations, and education administration (particularly teacher supervision). Many cases provide evidence of efforts by district administrators to identify and remove teachers they considered incompetent. Transcripts provide information about workplace relations and working conditions in the state's public schools, and on "social" labor relations in an adversarial context (i.e., dialogue, confrontations, and psychological factors).

Transcripts contain opening statements by the hearing panel chairperson and attorneys for the plaintiff and respondent, and a record of testimony including cross examinations of the employee, other teachers, supervisor, administrator, and sometimes school pupils.

Exhibits for the board of education and the employee include a copy of the charges preferred against the tenured employee and documentary exhibits in support of testimony. These may include memoranda and correspondence; teacher observation reports; photocopies of reported court cases; lesson plan books or photocopies; and other documents. In a few cases exhibits include audio and videotapes of the teacher in the classroom, and (rarely) physical objects (e.g., a door lock or a piece of jewelry).

Use of Records

Access Restrictions

Restricted pursuant to Freedom of Information Law, Sect. 87.2(g); 75 years.

Related Information

Other finding aids

15946-13: Partial container list is available at the repository.

15946-14: Transfer list is available at the repository.

15946-15: Partial folder list is available at the repository.

Custodial History

15946-99: At the time of accessioning in 1999, five boxes from the original transfer were missing and presumed lost.

15946-13: At the time of accessioning in 2013, four boxes from the original transfer list were missing and presumed lost.

Acquistion Information

15946-99: This accretion includes records from transfer lists 910051, 940051, and 940050.

15946-13: This accretion includes records from transfer lists 94-52, 04-01, 04-16, and 05-11.

15946-14: This accretion includes records from transfer list 080048.

15946-15: This accretion includes records from transfer lists 970041, 010010, 010011, 010012, and 030059.

Access Terms

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