Cheyenne coach removed from post

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 | 5:58 p.m.

Perryn Hale is optimistic he will be back coaching the Cheyenne High football team on Nov. 6 when they play Bishop Gorman in the Sunset Regional quarterfinals.

Hale, who is also a math teacher at the North Las Vegas school, was removed Monday as the Desert Shields coach because he hadn’t completed the requirements needed for a teaching license, he said.

He said he had until Oct. 22 to finish two education units needed to complete his Clark County School District-sponsored Alternative Routes to Licensure program. The program allows prospective teachers with college degrees in areas outside of education to become certified.

Hale was informed he’d have to leave the team during an afternoon meeting with Principal April Key. Key didn’t return phone calls seeking comment.

“She told me my information was incomplete,” Hale said. “She took my keys and removed me from the classroom.”

Hale spent most of Tuesday at the main offices of the District trying to figure out what he needed to do to get his job back. He said the process has been confusing and said the Nevada State Board of Education at one point last spring said he was 22 credits short.

“But that was impossible since I was taking classes for two years,” he said.

Upon realizing he was short this fall, Hale submitted paperwork to be licensed as a substitute teacher. He learned today that paperwork was never received, he said.

“So, now I am out of work and unemployed,” he said.

He said the background check to be a substitute could take six to eight weeks. He appointed defensive line coach Sam Norris to run the team the remainder of the season — Cheyenne plays Basic Thursday in a non-league game before its opens the playoffs against Gorman.

He remains optimistic even though it appears his season is over.

“I went down there today hoping they had found my paperwork and I could be back for this week’s game,” he said.

He said Key told him the football coaching position would still be his once he is licensed.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com.