What should schools do to teachers who get in trouble after school hours?

A question I get asked a lot is: What should schools do to teachers who get in trouble after school hours?

That question has been asked a lot more over the past month or so following the incident involving the teachers at White River Valley High School and Northview High School.

There's no easy answer.

A lot is expected of teachers, both in the classroom and after hours. Most expect them to be role models, and anything they do during their off hours to hurt that "image" ... people are ready to offer their opinions.

We must remember that teachers are regular people, just like everyone else. They make mistakes. Sometimes they make big mistakes, just like everyone else.

I guess it depends on the "mistake."

I do believe teachers are role models. We all have/had teachers we look up to.

Jim Coon was my math teacher and basketball coach in high school, and was the best teacher I ever had -- including college. He made math fun and easy to understand. He instilled some great values as a basketball coach as well.

Students need teachers as role models.

But teachers also need to be allowed to make mistakes like everyone else.

I guess the bottom line is ... what the mistake is, and what kind of message it sends to students.