PHOENIX — A disgraced high school football and basketball coach who was caught betraying his own team by emailing critical strategies and plays to opposing coaches decided to quit before the district could fire him—but the board decided Wednesday night not to let him off the hook so easily.
Justin Hager was initially granted his resignation; it was the Tempe Union High School District's board of governors that decided to deny the request during a formal hearing on Wednesday night.
The board voted 5-0 not to accept Hager's resignation and will now move forward with a formal statement of charges—a first step in the dismissal process.
Voting on the hiring and firing of employees is generally looked at as a formality, but it doesn’t seem like the board is willing to let Hager off easily.
A formal termination requires the district to report their charges to the state, which regulates all teaching certificates. The move by this board could potentially give the state reason to revoke Hager’s certificate for good.
This means the man who denied his own identity to 12 News as he was moving out and skipping town cannot leave quietly anymore.
“The members of the Tempe Union High School District Governing Board are fierce advocates for students,” said Governing Board President Berdetta Hodge in a statement Wednesday. “The action tonight demonstrates our commitment to putting students first and ensuring all adults on our campuses adhere to our core values and beliefs.”
READ MORE ON THIS STORY BELOW: