Ala. school superintendent defends his record

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Retiring state Schools Superintendent Joe Morton has defended his record of recommending that teachers lose their certificates for various types of misconduct.

In a recent issue of the Alabama Education Association's Alabama School Journal, AEA Associate Executive Secretary Joe Reed said Morton has been "openly hostile" to public educators and that Morton proposed that more teachers have their certificates revoked than past superintendents.

Morton told the state school board Tuesday that Reed's assertions are "incorrect and wrong minded." Morton said he takes the revocation of certificates very seriously and that most revocations he recommended involved teachers using illegal drugs, having inappropriate sexual contact with students or committing crimes.

Board vice president Randy McKinney of Gulf Shores told Richardson the board has been pleased with the way he handled revocations.