Farris v. Burke County Board of Education

EDMUNDS, Justice.

Petitioner Linda Farris (petitioner) was employed by respondent Burke County Board of Education (respondent), teaching educable mentally handicapped children in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. Petitioner began her employment with respondent in 1970 and thereafter attained tenured status as a teacher.

The record indicates that petitioner’s teaching methods and skills were considered acceptable and unremarkable through most of her career. However, in 1998, doubts arose. On 12 June 1998, Dr. Tony M. Stewart (Stewart), respondent’s superintendent, wrote petitioner to inform…