Former Union Community School District teacher and athletic coach Mark Hookham, 51, of Dysart accepted a suspension of his teaching license for a minimum of five years as part of a settlement with the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) filed on Feb. 18. The settlement stems from a complaint the board received on March 3, 2021, against Hookham alleging a violation of the code of ethics.

Hookham was previously employed as a middle school science teacher with Union until his resignation on Monday, April 5, 2021.

The resignation was related to an internal investigation regarding emails exchanged with students, Union superintendent Travis Fleshner said at the time.

Upon advice from legal counsel, the Union school district offered Hookham a resignation agreement that provided him insurance and his regular wages through June 30, 2021, as well as a lump sum payment of $15,000 for his resignation.

Throughout the events of the investigation and complaint filed with the BOEE, Hookham has not been charged with a crime in state court.

According to the statement of BOEE charges against Hookham, the board found probable cause to proceed to a hearing based upon the findings of its investigation which revealed that Hookham had multiple inappropriate communications and interactions with students.

While the investigation failed to establish sexual misconduct, it nonetheless revealed an unacceptable and inappropriate pattern of behaviors, according to the statement of charges.

Hookham was charged with two counts by the BOEE.

Count 1 includes failure to maintain a professional relationship with all students – both inside and outside the classroom – by soliciting, encouraging, or consummating a romantic or otherwise inappropriate relationship with a student.

Count 2 includes failure to maintain a professional relationship with all students – both inside and outside the classroom – by committing or soliciting any sexual conduct with a student for the purpuse of arousing or satisfying the sexual desires of the school employee or the student.

After waiving his right to a disciplinary hearing before the BOEE, the State of Iowa and Hookham entered into a settlement agreement in lieu of scheduling a contested case hearing.

The State of Iowa’s counsel presented the agreement to the BOEE which approved the settlement and entered its final order on Feb. 18.

As part of the agreement, Hookham does not contest the violations charged in Count 1 but was able to have Count 2 dismissed. Hookham agreed to accept a written reprimand and a suspension of his educator license for a minimum of five years from the date the board approves the settlement while also bearing the burden of applying for reinstatement. He is not allowed to apply for reinstatement or any other license or authorization until he completes at least 15 in-person contact hours in an education ethics course and undergoes a risk evaluation, both which he is financially responsible for.

By waiving the formal hearing, Hookham also waived his right to challenge the allegations against him as well as the right to appeal or seek judicial review of the board’s actions including the final order.

The attorney for the state of Iowa in this matter was Assistant Attorney General of Iowa Kristi A. Traynor. Hookham was represented by attorneys Nathaniel E. Arnold and Emily K. Ellingson.

Following the proceedings, Hookham’s name was added to the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Educator Identification Clearinghouse which is a national database of individuals who have had their professional educator license or certificate annulled, denied, suspended, revoked, or otherwise invalidated.

Additionally, the combined statement of charges, settlement agreement, and final order from the BOEE case file was added to Hookham’s permanent license file.

Prior to his license suspension, Hookham held a standard license with several endorsements including K-12 athletic coach, 5-12 chemistry, 5-12 general science, and 5-12 physical science. His license was set to expire June 30, 2023.