Xenia teacher denied licenses after incidents with students involving hot tub, poker parties

A Xenia Community Schools family and consumer sciences teacher was denied his high school teaching and principal licenses following multiple violations including allowing students to use his hot tub and participate in poker parties at his house, according to documents obtained from the state board of education.

"This is an incident that occurred nearly five years ago. The Ohio Department of Education recently revoked his teaching license. Xenia Community Schools immediately placed Mr. Dawson on an unpaid leave of absence,” said Xenia schools spokeswoman Wendy Planicka. “Since the initial occurrence, Mr. Dawson has had satisfactory evaluations and no questionable conduct."

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William Dawson, who is listed on the Xenia school district's 2018-2019 staff directory, had applied to renew his five-year professional high school teaching license and a five-year professional principal license with the state, online records show. He also applied for a renewal of a three-year pupil activity permit, which according to the state allows people to coach student athletes.

According to a resolution filed with the state board of education earlier this month, Dawson "gave numerous students rides in his personal vehicle…had numerous students over to his home where he provided them food and allowed them to use his hot tub; and he had poker parties at his home for former students and he allowed a current student to participate on one occasion."

News Center 7 is working to contact Dawson for comment.

Dawson also loaned a student $2,700 to purchase a car and charged the student an additional $300 in interest, the resolution read.

Additionally, Dawson also added a student to his cell phone plan.

Records show, "Xenia Community Schools imposed disciplinary action and removed him from his coaching duties because the administration did not want him coaching again."

Online records show Dawson also was on a coaching assignment with Fairborn High School this school year.

Fairborn school spokeswoman Pam Gayheart said Dawson was a coach for the district beginning in 2015 and he resigned Tuesday.  Gayheart said she doesn’t know the reason for his resignation.  He had been the head wrestling coach and assistant football coach.

News Center 7 has requested personnel file and disciplinary records for Dawson from both Xenia and Fairborn school districts and are awaiting the districts responses.

Dawson has over 20 years of experience in education, according to state records.

The state ruled that Dawson is ineligible to apply for any teaching or administrative license, permit or certificate issue by the state board of education until he has completed a fitness to teach evaluation by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist. He also must complete 24 hours of training regarding professional boundaries with students.