Teacher dismissed after students uncover past through Google search
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (FOX 35 ORLANDO) - Students busted their teacher at a charter school in Orange County.
The Florida Charter School Alliance (FCSA) says that's how Cornerstone Charter Academy found out its new teacher, Chris Dalland, had a past. The FCSA says he resigned from Cornerstone after students Googled him and found "pertinent information" that he "failed to disclose" on his job application.
Dalland has faced several disciplinary problems as a teacher over the years. He was working at Lake Brantley High School in 2012 when Seminole County Public Schools found evidence he was involved in a prostitution ring. He left the district but was never charged. Before that, the Department of Education put him on probation for using a school laptop to access porn.
Because he was never charged, he passed the background check for Cornerstone. Parents of students at Cornerstone stand by their school.
"I feel like they look out for their kids all around, so I trust them," said parent Jennifer Nogueras.
The Department of Education says Dalland's teacher certificate expired in 2015. But the Florida Charter School Alliance says his certification cleared, and he passed his subject area exam. When asked why the school didn't Google him before hiring, they told FOX 35 Google searches are not part of standard recruitment efforts.
"I'm not too concerned with that. I feel that cornerstone does what they can to take care of their kids and safety of their kids so I'm okay," said Nogueras.
FOX 35 reached out to the school and principal several times but have not heard back.