Board revokes license of teacher who showed students test

By Emily Richmond (contact)

Monday, May 10, 2004 | 9:45 a.m.

A former Desert Pines High School teacher had his licensed revoked Saturday by the State Board of Education for providing his students with an advance look at questions on the math portion of the state's high school proficiency test.

Testimony provided to the board stated Ronald J. Williamson gave at least two of his students a handwritten study sheet prior to their taking the math proficiency test on April 8, 2003. A copy of the study sheet, found later by school staff in a backpack left in a classroom, contained 51 math questions in the identical order that they appeared on the state test.

Williamson had access to the state test because he had proctored an earlier sitting in November, said Nevada Deputy Attorney General Bill Irvin, who advises the state education board on legal matters.

Williamson was absent Saturday and repeated attempts to serve him with notices of the pending hearing were unsuccessful, Irvin said.

Williamson is believed to have left the state and to be living in Florida, but attempts to reach him by certified mail failed, Irvin said.

Williamson knew he was under investigation when he left his job at the Clark County School District, Irvin said.

"If you're a teacher and you leave and can't be found, there's probably something wrong," Irvin told the board.

There are avenues for Williamson to pursue should be choose to appeal the revocations at a later date, Irvin said.

State Board of Education President Gary Waters asked whether Irvin would be notifying Florida education officials about the revocation.

The state board also voted Saturday to hand down a five-day suspension of Richard Keelan, a third grade teacher in the Churchill County School District. During state testing in May 2003, Keelan provided his students with unapproved materials -- including copies of multiplication tables. Keelan's suspension was part of a negotiated settlement of the charges, Irvin said.

Keelan also told his students they could come to him during the test and he would answer any questions they had about the test, such as unfamiliar words, Irvin said.

Of the 19 students in the class, 13 children told investigators they talked to Keelan during the test, Irvin said.

Attempts to reach Keelan were unsuccessful.