Yakima teacher acquitted in sex case gets license suspended for year

Published 11:34 pm Monday, November 28, 2011

YAKIMA — A Yakima teacher who was acquitted of sexual misconduct charges will keep her teaching certificate, but it’s been suspended for a year.

The state Office of Public Instruction revoked Michele Taylor’s teaching license in June, but she appealed that decision to a state teacher conduct board.

The board reduced the penalty to a one-year suspension. Taylor’s lawyer told KAPP-TV on Monday that she may appeal the suspension as well.

The physical education teacher, 31, was acquitted last June of criminal charges that she had sex with a 16-year-old student and sent inappropriate text messages to him and a 15-year-old.

Taylor has been on paid leave since June 2009.