Dr. X may not really have a doctorate?

[Anonymous]

FCPSAlumnowMom wrote:According to the VADOE website database, there is a teacher at a school my kids used to attend that does not have a doctorate - although she's been calling herself Dr. X for years (6? 7?).

She just renewed her license this past June - it shows a Bachelor's and Master's and endorsement PreK-6.

https://vadoe.mylicense.com/verification/Search.aspx?facility=N

On the one hand, I know schools are so desperate for teachers, and since her job doesn't require a doctorate, it may be a case where, heck, she can call herself whatever she wants!

On the other hand, I feel like it is completely dishonest and disrespectful to those who have actually worked for it and she shouldn't be representing herself this way to students, parents, fellow teachers, etc.

Maybe it's an error with VADOE? I called them a few months ago and they were pretty adamant that the information they showed is accurate -- especially since the license was just renewed.
Maybe she has a doctorate and just doesn't want to get paid for it so hasn't bothered to tell FCPS/VADOE?

Social Media - on Facebook she lists two different schools, what she studied, the years, and then says Studied Education studies at PhD but lists no school or year. On LinkedIn, she lists two totally different schools where she received two different Bachelor's degrees, and lists a school where she got a Master's of Education but lists no PhD.

I've struggled to just drop it - but it really bothers me that someone would do this. I feel like I should share this info -- school? FCPS? School Board?

Holy hell are you out of line.

[Anonymous]

I'll add that I hold a PhD, and have several times been questioned about my qualifications. There are several questions you should be able to answer, including things like the advisor / advisee relationship and the dissertation writing process as its a struggle we all go through. Add to that, several people have (without asking me first) looked me up to find my dissertation (and read parts of it), and then told me they did this.

But I'm not naive to where we live and what this town is about. Its no sweat off my back because I have the credentials and did the work. The more difficult part for me has been learning to understand that I belong in some of the rooms where decisions are being made particularly because of this PhD and the talents that I have shown by earning it. It doesn't place me above anybody (especially those without PhDs), but it does give me a perspective to add to the conversation that may not be there otherwise.

I'm not all about forcing somebody to "prove" their credentials as I know some stories about the PhD process, but I will say that I don't think this Dr. X is new to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP and I’m surprised no one mentioned this. The education listed on the VDOE teacher query does not match what I actually have. When I earned an additional advanced degree, I submitted transcripts to my school district for the pay raise. HR has that on file. The only time I ever transcripts to the state was when I first moved here out of college, to obtain initial certification. My additional degree did not change my certification to teach subjects so there was no need to submit anything. I suppose parents could search me and think I’m not as educated but this wouldn’t bother me. I’ve never thought about it until this moment. I’m also not asking anyone to call me Dr.

It’s an issue if she’s telling a lie but that’s it. Have you directly asked her about her doctorate program if you are curious?

Same here. When I graduated, I submitted the transcripts for my license. You don't have to send in transcripts each time you renew. It's just formality. And it's a pain to even update the system, so it's not worth the time. I guess it's worth it if I have stalker parents like OP.

[Anonymous]

OP’s behavior is going to get her sued for defamation or worse if she isn’t careful.

[Anonymous]

I have been a middle school teacher for 13 years and this is what I've taken from your post. It sounds as if you have a personal vendetta against this teacher and because you didn't like something she said about your child, you want to take her down. I've had parents like you over my 13 years and I can assure you that most likely the other teachers are either scared of you or didn't want to deal with you, so they just let your kid do whatever they wanted. This teacher didn't and did what she's supposed to do. You mentioned how she made claims about your child that no other teacher did - this is what I'm talking about. Coming from experience, parents like you don't deserve to be spoken to about anything other than your child for this exact reason. You take it and turn it into a smear campaign.

Consider this - teachers have no time to breathe, let alone time to update their social media or LinkedIn profiles. You are being irrational and petty. You should be putting this much effort into your children and move on with your life.

You better hope the teacher doesn't find out about this thread because they have plenty of evidence to file harassment charges, defamation charges, or even file a restraining order against you. I'm sure your squeaky clean reputation doesn't want that on their record.

[FCPSAlumnowMom]

Anonymous wrote:OP’s behavior is going to get her sued for defamation or worse if she isn’t careful.

How?
The teacher calls herself Dr. at school.
By the teacher's own social media posts that she has put out to the public -- she doesn't call herself a doctor on LinkedIn or even mention she has a PhD. Her LinkedIn is completely viewable by the public. On her Facebook page, she says she has a PhD in Educational Studies, but doesn't say from where or when. That information she has provided is also left publicly viewable - along with her current job description that she is a "Protector of little people in purgatory."
VADOE database does not show she has a PhD or EdD -- just a bachelor's and master's.

These are facts - facts that she herself has supplied publicly.

So, how is that defamation that I've posted about it? Defamation is a false statement presented as a fact.

She's the one that has provided the information. She's the one who has called herself Dr.

[Anonymous]

OP, out of curiosity, what is your profession?

[Anonymous]

FCPSAlumnowMom wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP’s behavior is going to get her sued for defamation or worse if she isn’t careful.

How?
The teacher calls herself Dr. at school.
By the teacher's own social media posts that she has put out to the public -- she doesn't call herself a doctor on LinkedIn or even mention she has a PhD. Her LinkedIn is completely viewable by the public. On her Facebook page, she says she has a PhD in Educational Studies, but doesn't say from where or when. That information she has provided is also left publicly viewable - along with her current job description that she is a "Protector of little people in purgatory."
VADOE database does not show she has a PhD or EdD -- just a bachelor's and master's.

These are facts - facts that she herself has supplied publicly.

So, how is that defamation that I've posted about it? Defamation is a false statement presented as a fact.

She's the one that has provided the information. She's the one who has called herself Dr.

How? Because it doesn’t matter what she calls herself. It could be a nickname. She could have a credential you don’t know about or isn’t listed. It doesn’t matter. What matters is you seem hell bent on ruining her reputation. This thread alone, with the identifying information, is enough to get you sued into oblivion. Your threats to go to the board suggest you want her to face some sort of consequences (for what? She hasn’t done anything wrong!). That’s what defamation is — lies about something that causes injury to their reputation.

I hope you do get sued. I am not a teacher, I am a parent. But your behavior as you describe it is far more egregious than anything this poor teacher has done in terms of honorifics she chooses for herself.

Back the hell off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, out of curiosity, what is your profession?

+1

[Anonymous]

It seems dishonest to me for someone to pass themselves off as a Dr. without a PhD or medical degree. I don't know how someone can live with themselves and be a fraud like that. It's one thing if Bugs Bunny says "What's up Doc" to you, but otherwise it seems shady.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems dishonest to me for someone to pass themselves off as a Dr. without a PhD or medical degree. I don't know how someone can live with themselves and be a fraud like that. It's one thing if Bugs Bunny says "What's up Doc" to you, but otherwise it seems shady.

Well, the context matters. A medical doctor who lies? A researcher who does? Yep, that’s a big deal. But a doctorate is basically irrelevant to good teaching. Studies have shown the lack of connection between education and what makes a teacher a good one. I believe those were about Master’s degree but the same would hold here. It’s almost the same as a teacher saying something like, I used to be a James Beard winning chef when they weren’t. I know people will disagree with that comparison but it really does not matter unless this person is doing education research. (I say this with no disrespect to teachers. Just that the correlation between advanced degrees and quality teaching isn’t there.

Do I think this person has some mental issues? Absolutely! Does it matter for how well my child learns middle school language arts? Not a bit.

And a PP is right. Teachers talk. They will warn each other and teachers will do what they need to avoid your wrath. That won’t always be in your child’s interest. Unless you switch schools now, I doubt you can undo that damage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe she's been ABD somewhere for a long time and decided to just go for it and call herself Dr.

This would be fraudulent. Being ABD is not even close to earning the actual Ph.D. I say this as someone who is ABD myself.

I don't think it's fraudulent to call yourself Dr. and let people assume you have a doctorate. If you submit a false credential that would be fraud.

What? “Fraudulent” means “unjustifiably claiming or being credited with particular accomplishments or qualities.“. Claiming to have a Ph.D. when you do not have a Ph.D. is fraudulent.

Agree. Terrible to misrepresent if you don’t in fact have Ph.D.

Or EdD or MD or doctorate of religion… (stop sock puppet if OP).

[Anonymous]

FCPSAlumnowMom wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

FCPSAlumnowMom wrote:

FCPSAlumnowMom wrote:I guess because I am in a licensed and heavily regulated business, the thought of falsifying my credentials or just calling myself something that I am not is repugnant. So yeah, it really bothers me that she is calling herself Dr but has nothing that I can see to back it up.

Like, I literally just got an email from my compliance and risk manager that an award /recognition I've received for years and year wasn't updated on my website to show I also received it the last two years. And recognition I received from a national publication in 1999 wasn't submitted properly and I now need documentation to show I did receive it.

So yeah, I need to constantly review and provide documentation that I am who I am and I've done what I've done. I expect the same of the people teaching my kids...

Sounds like homeschooling is right for you.

We thought about it -- especially since I have an MEd.
Luckily since are we out of that school, so far, no need!
We have all loved middle school and high school.

MEd ???? What a joke! From your OP, and all the bloviating about the serious regulation of your degree, I thought you had a real grad degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP’s behavior is going to get her sued for defamation or worse if she isn’t careful.

Op just asked a question. It’s a valid question. Teacher has no grounds for defamation. It’s just a question. Also lying is lying. The teacher is more at risk for portraying her/him with false credential.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP’s behavior is going to get her sued for defamation or worse if she isn’t careful.

You know the teacher's name isn't actually Dr X, right?