| This was a purposeful, qualitative, historical and document-based research study that investigated the trends, issues, and outcomes of the legal issues relating to the revocation or suspension of a teacher's teaching certificate. The data produced 81 cases; however, there were 5 cases that included more than one plaintiff bringing the total number in the study to 88. The study included cases spanning from 1853-2015. Federal and state level law cases were researched to determine the ruling of courts as they applied the law and state statutes. Twelve guiding principles were developed for school leaders to consider when confronted with teacher misconduct issues which involved the revocation or suspension of teaching certificates.;The review of the literature provides affirmation that the revocation or suspension of a teacher's certificate is an area of extreme concern for school administrators. A vast amount of researchers was provided to explain the trends and patterns that have developed through case law and court decisions concerning the suspension and revocation of teachers' certificates. While the revocation and suspension of teaching certificates has been a process practiced for over a century, the court decisions and judicial opinions continue to reshape the reasons certificates may be legally revoked or suspended.;In this study, nine categories emerged as a result of the analysis. The categories included: immorality/moral turpitude, unprofessional/unbecoming conduct, unfitness to teach, certification issues, unlawful acts, just cause, incompetence, insubordination, and religious dress. Of these nine categories, six categories immorality/moral turpitude, unprofessional/unbecoming conduct, unfitness to teach, certification issues, unlawful acts, and just cause emerged as main categories and are discussed in detail in the analysis. |
