Becoming a teacher in California with a criminal history.

I'm interested in becoming a teacher and am looking for input. I live in California and would go through a credential program here, if I were to do so. The only problem is that I have a criminal history.

The quick version is that I've been arrested 4 times, in 2009, 2010, 2013 and finally January of 2014. The first two were for narcotics and syringe possession, the second two were DUIs. In the first case, the charges were dropped without a conviction. In the second, I went through a PC-1000 drug program where upon completion, the charges were dismissed. For both DUIs, I completed my probation without issue and had them expunged afterward. I have not been in trouble with the law since January of 2014. I have been sober since the night of my last arrest, nearly 6 years now.

For 99% of background checks, I can legally say that I've never been arrested. I was never convicted of a felony, I have no restrictions on my ability to buy a firearm, vote or anything like that. For something at the federal level though, they see everything when they run my fingerprints, including expunged/dismissed convictions.

From everything I've seen, I believe I would be able to get licensed through the CTC. I plan on following up with them and making sure though. What I'm really wondering about is even if that turns out not to be an issue, I don't know what my chances would be in actually getting a job. The schools would have access to everything when checking out my history. By the time I would get to this point, it would be over 7 years since my last run-in with the law.

Since my last arrest, I got my bachelor's degree as well as a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and have been an instructor off and on for several years (which is how I found out I enjoy teaching). I won't go into detail but I've done a number of things to demonstrate how my problems are all in the past. Talking to me in person for a few minutes, it's pretty easy to see that none of it has any bearing on who I am today but I'm not sure if that will matter. I'm worried that my career options are going to be relegated exclusively to the private sector.

Any input is appreciated, or advice on who I could follow up with to get some guidance here. Thanks.

Submitted December 05, 2019 at 10:38AM by suicideadvocate https://ift.tt/2Pj32iu