Jeffersonville, IN. (WHAS11) - The vision statement of Parkview Middle School is to "prepare each student to succeed" but one 7th grade teacher may have overstepped her bounds.
Social studies teacher Sharon Duncan submitted her notice to retire amid accusations she helped students cheat on the ISTEP.
ISTEP stands for Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus and is an annual testing regimen designed by the Indiana Department of Education to encourage students to master basic language and science skills, particularly reading, writing and mathematics.
"I think that's really wrong. The kids need to know what they need to know to go to school and I mean teachers telling them... that's not helping them at all," said Melissa Snelling, a Parkview Middle School parent.
The Greater Clark County School System's Chief Operating Officer, Marty Bell, couldn't comment about the personnel matter. So WHAS11 went to Duncan's house and called her for her side of the story but has not received a response.
WHAS11 News called the Indiana Department of Education, they're investigating reports that Duncan:
-- listed vocabulary words on the board with definitions and left the information there during the test
-- told students their answers were too vague and to use some of the vocabulary words discussed in class
-- walked around the classroom, during testing, and nodded or made sounds to indicate a right or wrong answer.
Those are just a few of the accusations against Duncan.
Parkview parents don't justify her alleged actions, but say they there's pressure around the ISTEP for both students and teachers to perform well.
"I know the test scores around here have been low for a while. I think that's what they're trying... so they can get the money. I think that's a big big thing with it," said Snelling.
"I think administration is pressuring the teachers who in turn pressure the children," said Katrina Blair.
"I'm sure there's a lot of pressure on the teachers... they look at the classes, the scores from the schools. So I would assume that's why she's done it," said Lisa Bottorff, a Parkview Middle School parent.
The social studies score for her 88 students will not be included in the students' total score for the ISTEP test.
School administrators say their vision hasn't changed and they want students to succeed without cheating.
Once the school system finishes their investigation, they'll pass it to the state and the state could revoke her teaching license.
