Tennessee State Board Of Education Suspends License Of Former Blount County Teacher Convicted Of “Offensive Touching” Of Students

Image Credit: Blount County Sheriff’s Office & Canva

The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

The state board of education voted last week to suspend the teaching license of an ex-Blount County teacher for three years after the educator pleaded guilty to improper touching of students.

During their August 15 meeting, the Tennessee State Board of Education considered a recommendation from board counsel to suspend the teaching license of Joseph Dalton, a former PE teacher at several elementary schools within the district, for six months.

This suspension would run concurrent with the supervised probation that Dalton is currently serving after he pleaded guilty to five counts of misdemeanor assault by “offensive touching” of several students. 

According to arrest records, Dalton was caught on camera five different times, at both Walland Elementary School and Friendsville Elementary School, behaving inappropriately towards children. These ranged from tickling to close hugging to pulling one student “intimately close to his person” and putting his face on hers.

Investigators said it appeared that Dalton tried to kiss the student on the forehead before she “violently threw his hand off of her shoulder quickly.” 

The final incident that was recorded involved Dalton pulling a girl close to his body and “bouncing and shaking his body” against her.

Dalton’s employee records also showed five additional accusations made between 2005 and 2019, all of which were investigated and closed for various reasons. 

The suggested six-month suspension was considered without a vote, but then the board moved on to consider a complete revocation of his license.

That motion failed in a 5-4 vote, however, the board ultimately voted to approve a three-year suspension with additional requirements to regain his licensure.

If Dalton chooses to seek reinstatement of his teaching license, he is required to complete 50 hours of training on “in-classroom behaviors,” complete an assessment by a licensed clinical provider, and appear before the State Board at that time, where they will then vote on whether or not to allow him to return to teaching.

During their discussion, Board members noted that Dalton’s guilty plea stipulated that he be required to disclose his conviction to all future potential employers. Additionally, any suspension would be documented in a national “clearing house” that would be visible to potential out-of-state employers.

Blount County residents expressed outrage after Dalton’s sentencing, specifically the fact that the judge granted Dalton’s request for a judicial diversion, allowing Dalton to potentially have his record expunged if he successfully completes his probation.