BEFORE THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

In the Matter of the
Disciplinary Action of the
Educator Certificate of
Elizabeth A. O'Nan

-Certificate
- - - 214457
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CONSENT ORDER OF
PUBLIC REPRIMAND

SUMMARY OF THE CASE

The South Carolina State Board of Education (State Board) considered this matter
on March 12, 2019. On February 1, 2019, the South Carolina Department of Education
(SCDE) sent Elizabeth A. O'Nan a notice letter by certified mail, return receipt, restricted
delivery, and regular mail, regarding possible action against his educator certificate. After
receiving the notice letter, Ms. O'Nan's legal counsel contacted the SCDE and advised that
she desired to waive her right to a hearing and pursue an alternative resolution in this ~ - - ~
matter. After considering the evidence presented, the State Board voted to accept this
Consent Order of Public Reprimand.

Elizabeth

A. O'Nan
214457

FINDINGS OF FACT

Ms. O'Nan holds a valid South Carolina professional educator certificate. She has
over twenty-one years of educator experience and has no prior record of disciplinary action
with the State Board.
Ms. O'Nan was employed by the Beaufort County School District (District) as
principal of Hilton Head Island High School (School). In August of 2016, the SCDE
learned of allegations Ms. O'Nan may have engaged in inappropriate conduct on School
grounds after hours. Ms. O'Nan denied the allegations and the SCDE closed the
investigation as there was no supporting evidence submitted to the SCDE at that time.
On January 8, 2019, the SCDE learned that evidence exists of published
information that may support the allegations. In answer to a second subpoena, the District
also provided evidence that was not made available to the SCDE during the 2016
investigation. In the resolution of this case, Ms. O'Nan hereby acknowledges that she
placed herself in a sensitive position by meeting an individual for reasons unrelated to

9f5]1q
Date

 Elizabeth A. O'Nan, Certificate 214457
Consent Order of Public Reprimand
March 12, 2019
Page2
School business on School grounds after hours. She acknowledges the serious nature of
her lapse of judgement but contends there was no detrimental impact on the School.
Ms. O'Nan has agreed to waive her right to a hearing and resolve this disciplinary
matter by entering into this Consent Order of Public Reprimand, subject to the following
terms: (1) a Public Reprimand shall be issued by the State Board, (2) the Public Reprimand
shall be reported to the NASDTEC Clearinghouse and all South Carolina school districts
within thirty days from the date of this order, and (3) the Consent Order of Public
Reprimand shall be posted on the SCDE's website and shall be maintained as a public

Elizabeth

record in the OGC. After considering the evidence presented, the State Board voted to

A.O'Nan
214457

accept the Consent Order of Public Reprimand with the terms set forth above.

tiO.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

"The South Carolina Board of Education may, for just cause, either revoke or
suspend the certificate of any person." S.C. Code Ann. § 59-25-150 (2017); S.C. Code
Ann. § 59-25-160 (2017). Just cause includes unprofessional conduct. S.C. Code Ann. §
59-25-160 (2017); 24 S.C. Code Regs. 43-58 (2017). The State Board finds that the
evidence presented by the District would not support a conclusion that just cause exists to
suspend or revoke the educator certificate of Elizabeth A. O'Nan; however, the evidence
that would be presented would support a conclusion that Ms. O'Nan engaged in
unprofessional conduct as a result of inappropriate conduct. The State Board further finds
that just cause exists for the issuance of a Public Reprimand to Ms. O'Nan by the State
Board.
Now, therefore, it is ordered that the State Board hereby issues a Public Reprimand
to Elizabeth A. O'Nan, certificate 214457. The Public Reprimand shall be reported to the
NASDTEC Clearinghouse and all South Carolina school districts within thirty days from
the date of this order with the grounds listed as "unprofessional conduct." This Consent
Order of Public Reprimand shall be posted on the SCDE's web site and shall be maintained
as a public record in the SCDE's Office of General Counsel.

Initial

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 Elizabeth A. O'Nan, Certificate 214457
Consent Order of Public Reprimand
March 12, 2019
Page 3

AND IT IS SO ORDERED.

South Carolina State Board of Education

~Gff<_
Columbia, South Carolina
March 12, 2019

I, Elizabeth A. O'Nan, S.C. Educator Certificate 214457, understand there has been an
investigation concerning alleged violations of the laws and regulations governing the
practice of educator certificate holders and that I have waived my right to a hearing in this
matter. I understand that the terms set forth in this Consent Order of Public Reprimand are
not subject to reconsideration, collateral attack or judicial review. I have read the Consent
Order of Public Reprimand, consisting of three pages, and I freely and voluntarily agree to
the terms set forth therein. I understand that this Order will be presented to the South
Carolina State Board of Education for approval on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. I understand
this Consent Order will not become effective until approved by the State Board and, if not
approved, it shall not constitute an admission against interest in this proceeding or
prejudice the right of the State Board to adjudicate this matter. If approved by the State
Board, I give the SCDE permission to use my electronic signature in the style of"/S/ name"
for required website publication.

~~ A. O'Nan 7b{k;uv

Date