Nothing legal stands in the way of Tonya Craft teaching again.
A state panel has ruled that there was “no probable cause” to revoke the teaching certificate for the former kindergarten teacher, who was acquitted in May on 22 counts involving child molestation.
The Georgia Professional Standards Commission, which certifies teachers statewide, had said there was probable cause for Ms. Craft’s certificate to be revoked. But after she was found not guilty on all charges, the commission changed its mind and dismissed the case, leaving her certificate intact.
Immediately after the trial, Ms. Craft said she would not teach again even if given the chance.
Multiple attempts to reach Scott King, Ms. Craft’s lawyer, were unsuccessful Tuesday.
Originally, a complaint against Ms. Craft was filed by someone in the Chickamauga school system after she was arrested and charged, said Gary Walker, director of the Standards Commission’s ethics division.
The commission sent its own investigator to examine the complaint, Mr. Walker said, and based on that investigation, decided there was probable cause to revoke her license.
Ms. Craft appealed the decision and it was forwarded to the state attorney general’s office.
The commission had some questions with the allegations and the investigation report, so it asked the attorney general’s office to wait until Ms. Craft’s criminal case was finished before advancing with her appeal, Mr. Walker said.
Once a Catoosa County Superior Court jury ruled in Ms. Craft’s favor, the attorney general’s office recommended that the commission drop all charges and close the case, Mr. Walker said.