Ex-justice deciding fate of teacher accused of inappropriate interaction with student

Published 12:01 am Friday, October 26, 2007

PORT ANGELES – A personnel hearing ended Thursday on a Port Angeles School District attempt to fire a teacher it says had an inappropriate relationship with a student.

The district says that Linda Capo, 62, a special education teacher who has been on non-disciplinary administrative leave since January, had shown “boundary invasion” behaviors with a student who is now 16, extremely poor professional judgment and serious insubordination.

A decision from retired state Supreme Court Justice Faith Ireland, who presided over the hearing at the Lincoln Center in Port Angeles, is expected next week.

The three-day hearing was not a court hearing.

Capo had requested an appeal of the district’s decision to terminate her 10-year employment after she received a letter of probable cause for termination in August.

Capo requested the hearing be public, according to hearing documents.

Capo’s attorney, Jon Rosen of Seattle, said she had acted as a mentor to the student, and had done nothing improper.

Rosen also said no clear district or state policy states limits – or “boundaries” – on relationships with students.