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Professional Practices Commission

General Information
  • Formal Name:
    Professional Practices Commission
  • Contact Person:
    Kelly Muthersbaugh, ClerkAdministrator of the Commission
  • Purpose:
    The Commission, upon receipt of petitions alleging a violation of standards of professional ethics and practices, filed by Dr. Matthew Blomstedt, Commissioner of Education, holds hearings and receives evidence and testimonies. The Commission members may then issue a private admonishment or warning or publicly reprimand educators or they may make a recommendation to the Nebraska State Board of Education that an educator's certificate be suspended or revoked. The Commission is also charged with advising the Nebraska State Board of Education regarding rules and regulations for standards of professional ethics and practices for holders of public schools certificates. The Commission may make recommendations to educational entities which promote improvement of education and the teaching profession. Other services provided by the ClerkAdministrator of the Professional Practices Commission: outreach through presentations to pre-service teachers at state colleges and universities; workshops and seminars for lay and professional groups; and the publishing of three pamphlets: Code of Ethics Teaching Profession; Standards of Competency Teaching Profession; and, Teacher Aides. The ClerkAdministrator is responsible for all office functions and record-keeping. The ClerkAdministrator informs educational entities and the public of the activities of the Commission.
  • How Many Affectable:
    Varies
  • How Many Served:
    Varies
  • Year Created:
    1967
  • Year Active:
    1970
  • Sunset Date:
    None
Authorization
  • Authorization Citation:
    Section 79-859 through 79-871
  • Parent Agency:
    None
Memberships and Meetings
  • Number Of Members:
    12
  • Who Appoints:
    Governor
  • Legislative Approval:
    Not required
  • Qualifications Of Members:
    Educators must be representative of elementary and secondary classroom teachers, school administrators and post secondary education institution.
  • Per Diem:
    No
  • Expense Reimbursement:
    Yes
  • Term Length:
    3 years
  • Terms Rotate or Expire At Once:
    Terms Rotate
Meetings Required In:
  • Required FY 17-18:
    Four
  • Held FY 17-18:
    Four
  • Required FY 18-19:
    Four
  • Held FY 18-19:
    Four
  • Required FY 19-20:
    Four
  • Held FY 19-20:
    Four
Operations
  • Support Staff:
    Yes
  • Shared or Separate:
    Separate
  • FY 17-18 Budget:
    $137,561
  • FY 18-19 Budget:
    $138,224
  • FY 19-20 Budget:
    $140,486
  • Other Funding Sources:
    Totally cash funded
  • Spending Authority:
    Commission approves proposed budgets
Accomplishments
  • Since July 1, 2016:
    Since the last report in 2016, there have been fifty-two petitions filed with the Commission resulting in the following: Thirty-six recommendations for revocation of a certificate with twelve of those recommended to be permanent. Twelve recommendations for suspension of a certificate. Two petitions were dismissed. Four were granted reinstatement. We currently have three cases pending so those recommendations are not part of this report. This is a decrease of three petitions filed from those filed in the last report in 2016. (Forty-one between 2008-2012 and fifty-five between 2012-2016.)We do offer administrative law training to commissioners at the National Judicial College. The PPC produced, with the assistance of Nebraska Educational Television, a series of six additional training videos that are used to further assist and enhance our outreach program to educate and prevent teacher and administrator violations of standards of professional ethics and practices.A significant number of inquiries from members of the public and teaching profession have been addressed. We continue to provide presentations and staff development to groups regarding the activities of the Commission. Numerous pamphlets have been requested and disseminated.