Database Search Result Details

First Name Sherri
Last Name Shumate
Decision Date 2/17/2026
Docket Number 2025-0677-RalED
ALJ BTC
Respondent Raleigh County Board of Education
Employment Type PROF
Job Title Teacher
Topics Suspension/Disciplinary
Primary Issues Whether Respondent can prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the disciplinary action was justified? Whether Grievant can prove that her due process rights were violated?
Outcome DENIED
Statutes W.Va. Code St. R. § 156-1-3, W.Va. Code § 18A-2-8, W.Va. Code St. R. § 126-162-4.2,
Related Cases Leichliter v. W. Va. Dep't of Health & Human Res. , Docket No. 92-HHR-486 (May 17, 1993); Parham v. Raleigh County Bd. of Educ. , 192 W. Va. 540, 453 S.E.2d 374 (1994); Syl. Pt. 3, Beverlin v. Bd. of Educ ., 158 W. Va. 1067, 216 S.E.2d 554 (1975); Bell v. Kanawha County Bd. of Educ ., Docket No. 91-20-005 (Apr. 16, 1991); Gunnells v. Logan County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 97-23-055 (Dec. 9, 1997); Sinsel v. Harrison County Bd. of Educ. , Docket No. 96-17-219 (Dec. 31, 1996); Seddon v. W. Va. Dep't of Health/Kanawha-Charleston Health Dep't , Docket No. 90-H-115 (June 8, 1990); Jones v. W. Va. Dep’t of Health & Human Res. , Docket No. 96-HHR-371 (Oct. 30, 1996); Young v. Div. of Natural Res ., Docket No. 2009-0540-DOC (Nov. 13, 2009); See also Clarke v. W. Va. Bd. of Regents , 166 W. Va. 702, 279 S.E.2d 169 (1981); Burchell v. Bd. of Trustees, Marshall Univ. , Docket No. 97-BOT-011 (Aug. 29, 1997); Butts v. Higher Educ. Interim Governing Bd./Shepherd Coll. , 212 W. Va. 209, 212, 569 S.E.2d 456, 459 (2002) (per curiam ); Sexton v. Marshall Univ. , Docket No. BOR2-88-029-4 (May 25, 1988), aff'd , Sexton v. Marshall University , 182 W. Va. 294, 387 S.E.2d 529 (1989); Waite v. Civil Serv. Comm'n , 161 W. Va. 154, 241 S.E.2d 164 (1977), overruled in part on other grounds by W. Va. Dep't of Educ. v. McGraw, 239 W. Va. 192, 201, 800 S.E.2d 230, 239 (2017); Cleveland Bd. of Educ. v. Loudermill , 470 U.S. 532, 542 [84 L. Ed. 2d 494, 105 S. Ct. 1487] (1985); ” Syl. Pt. 3, Fraley v. Civil Service Commission , 177 W.Va. 729, 356 S.E.2d 483 (1987).
Keywords Professional educator, incident, investigation, "inappropriate classroom behavior," foul language, demeaning speech, 504 plan, Staff-Student Relations, hearsay, insubordination, code of conduct, progressive discipline.
Intermediate Court of Appeals
Circuit Court
Supreme Court
Synopsis Grievant is employed by Respondent as a teacher and protests her two-day suspension from employment. Respondent proved the charges against Grievant by a preponderance of the evidence and proved that the disciplinary action taken was justified. Grievant failed to prove that her due process rights were violated. Accordingly, the grievance is denied.

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