DOTHAN, Ala. — Newly obtained court records from Florida reveal that former Dothan City Schools employee Johnny Mark Dunaway was previously disciplined by education officials decades before his arrest in Houston County on child-related charges.
Wiregrass Daily News reached out to Dothan City Schools Attorney Dustin Fowler for an update regarding the status of Dunaway’s Alabama teaching certificate and whether action had been taken to suspend or revoke his credentials.
According to court records reviewed by WDNews, Dunaway was teaching fourth grade in the Palm Beach County School District when the allegations arose during the 1996-1997 school year.
Court documents reviewed by WDNews indicate that during the 1996-1997 school year, Dunaway engaged in inappropriate conduct involving students. The allegations included purchasing gifts for students, becoming inappropriately familiar with students by rubbing their backs and shoulders, lying next to students during a school bus trip, and rubbing the leg of a minor female student.
The complaint was filed July 14, 1998. Records show Dunaway’s teaching contract was not renewed for the following school year.
According to the administrative order, Dunaway ultimately resolved the case by not contesting the allegations and accepting disciplinary sanctions. Those sanctions included a letter of reprimand, a requirement to obtain a written evaluation from a professional approved by Florida’s Recovery Network Program before future employment or certification, a three-year probationary period, completion of a college-level course in Professional Responsibility, compliance with all school district rules and regulations, annual probation monitoring fees, and notification requirements if he sought employment in Florida’s education system.
Dunaway currently faces 10 counts of Enticing a Child for Immoral Purposes, one count of Interference with Custody, and one count of Sexual Abuse of a Child Less Than 12 in Houston County.
Fowler told WDNews that he contacted the Alabama State Department of Education on behalf of Dothan City Schools to determine whether Dunaway’s teaching certificate had been suspended and whether any action had been taken to prevent him from obtaining future employment in Alabama schools.
According to Fowler, he was advised that Alabama State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey is the only individual with authority to issue an emergency suspension or revocation of a teaching certificate.
Fowler said he also asked whether Dunaway had been blocked from obtaining future employment in Alabama since his teaching certificate had not been suspended.
“The response I received from the state was that the school board can only take action to terminate Mr. Dunaway and make reports to the Alabama State Department of Education,” Fowler said. “I was advised that only the State Superintendent’s office can act in a manner that will block future employment in Alabama.”
When asked whether Dunaway’s recent arrest and the prior administrative order in Florida met the requirements for an emergency suspension, Fowler said he was informed that the circumstances do meet the criteria.
Fowler stated that documentation concerning Dunaway’s disciplinary history in Florida was not received until after his arrest in Alabama.
He further stated that Dunaway never disclosed the Florida disciplinary action and administrative order to the Alabama State Department of Education.
Fowler said he is continuing to work with state officials to ensure any actions regarding Dunaway’s teaching certificate are handled properly and through the appropriate process.
The criminal charges against Dunaway remain pending in Houston County Circuit Court.
