Jacqueline Hawkins <jacqueline.hawkins@garrettcountyschools.

org>

Re: Interview Questions

1 message

David Yoder <david.yoder@garrettcountyschools.org> Wed, Jul 29, 2020 at 10:22 PM

To: Jacqueline Hawkins <jacqueline.hawkins@garrettcountyschools.org>

1) What is your education and career background?

I received my Bachelor's in Early Childhood/Elem Ed and Master's in Admin and Supervision from FSU.
I also received a Criminal Justice degree from Rappahannock Criminal Justice Academy.
I served as a police officer in Virginia before moving back home to Garrett County.
I taught reading at NMS, math and 5th grade at BF, principal at AC and NMS.

2) When did you complete your Masters in Educational Leadership (A&S)?

I finished my Master's in Admin and Supervision at FSU in 2009.

3) Were you familiar with Riley v. California (2013)?

We studied cases similar to Riley that dealt with what a school principal can and can't search with regards to personal
belongings, lockers and clothing.  School officials are not held to the same standard as law enforcement.  As a principal, if there
is reasonable suspicion to believe a school rule has been violated, we can search a student's locker, backpack, etc... but of
course, those searches are limited to the scope of the allegation.  For example, I could not search the contents of a student's
phone I find in a locker if I suspected the student of having a JUUL in their locker.  We have yearly law updates with an attorney
at the beginning of each school year to discuss cases such as Riley and also what's new in terms of school law.

4) I know that you were a principal at an elementary school before coming to NMS. Were cell phones ever an issue there?
During the time I was a principal at AC, I was fortunate to have only two occasions that involved a cell phone.  The first dealt
with a student using his mom's cell phone while hiding by the coat rack and calling 911 repeatedly.  The 911 operator was able to
call the phone and we found out who had been calling.  The second was quite embarrassing for a parent.  Again, a student took
his mom's cell phone to school and was showing other students some rather inappropriate photos the mom had taken of herself. 
Needless to say, the mom was quite embarrassed.

5) For many of my 14 years teaching in Garrett County the cell phone policy was that they were not allowed. This recently
changed, but they are not allowed at NMS. Why did you make that decision? (I completely agree with it, just making up
questions :-) )
Personally, I feel many of our students at NMS would be just fine and could handle having a cell phone in their possession, while
it would be disastrous if others had that same freedom.  Basically, we just have stuck with the policy that cell phones are turned
off and in lockers during the day.  A few parents have fought it, but I've never really made a big deal about it.  Some instances of
cyber bullying, sexting, etc... have occurred while students had their phones in their possession at school.  If a student breaks a
school rule (not in locker and off) I have the right to take the phone while an investigation occurs.  If a school rule regarding
phones is broken, typically the phone is taken for the day, parent's notified and it's logged in PS.  If a school rule is broken and it
also is  a crime (sending nudes, harassment, etc...) I will take the phone and then contact the SRO.  If I feel at any time a crime
has been committed that deals with a phone, I never "search" the phone. I call the SRO and let them investigate and then deal
with it after they are finished.
 
6) How does dealing with cell phones rank in all of the disciplinary issues that you and Mr. Stevens deal with?
We have been very fortunate at NMS that cellphones haven't been a huge issue.  Most students get themselves in trouble when
they are at home and have free time to use social media, TikTok, SnapChat, etc... and feel free to say and do what they
normally would not do in person.  If a situation off campus causes a disruption to the school environment I can involve myself. 
Typically in those cases I involve the SRO and remind the students about harassment laws and most students get the point and
stop...but some don't get the message.  

7) What challenges do you see when addressing the use of cell phones?
The biggest challenge is that a cell phone is something almost every middle school student has with them at all times when not
in school.  At times I feel our rules are a little harsh and archaic when dealing with cell phones, but yet I see some of the very
serious problems they can cause with one bad decision a student can make.  There are many good reasons to allow cellphone
use, but also some very important reasons to not allow them.  For now, we'll stay with not allowing them in their possession
during the day. 
 
8) Have you dealt with any incidents where a seized cell phone had to be searched either by you or a police officer (SRO or
otherwise)?
Unfortunately, we have to deal with a student, or groups of students, that have made some bad decisions while using their phones.
Some students find it very easy to bully and harass others by using their phones. Most students get the message when spoken to
by the SRO and parents are notified.
If a phone has been seized because of breaking a school rule...for example, bullying another student by sending inappropriate,
threatening, racial, etc... text messages. Typically, I will take the phone and discuss with the student what they are being accused of
and ask them to show me their texts, snaps, etc... that has the message. Almost all students admit to it and show you what they
sent. Again, I would only look in the location of the phone where the messages came from. I could not look in the photos if I knew
the problem was with a text message. If at any point in time something is revealed that is a crime, I immediately stop the
investigation and call the SRO to investigate it first criminally.

The majority of all instances dealing with cellphones at school originates when the student is at home, but most parents of the
"victim" call the school asking for help.

I hope this will be helpful to you. If you have more questions or would like some clarification or more examples, just let me know.
SRO Parks would also be a good person to talk to.

On Mon, Jul 27, 2020 at 7:06 AM Jacqueline Hawkins <jacqueline.hawkins@garrettcountyschools.org> wrote:

Dave,

Here are the interview questions I plan to ask.

1) What is your education and career background?

2) When did you complete your Masters in Educational Leadership (A&S)?
3) Were you familiar with Riley v. California (2013)?
4) I know that you were a principal at an elementary school before coming to NMS. Were cell phones ever an issue there?
5) For many of my 14 years teaching in Garrett County the cell phone policy was that they were not allowed. This recently
changed, but they are not allowed at NMS. Why did you make that decision? (I completely agree with it, just making up
questions :-) )
6) How does dealing with cell phones rank in all of the disciplinary issues that you and Mr. Stevens deal with?
7) What challenges do you see when addressing the use of cell phones?
8) Have you dealt with any incidents where a seized cell phone had to be searched either by you or a police officer (SRO or
otherwise)?

Thank you!

--
Jacqueline Hawkins
Mathematics Teacher
Northern Middle School

--
David Yoder
Principal
Northern Middle School
301-746-8165