Nature of Conviction May Save Teacher's Certificate

The nature of the may be considered by the Michigan Department of Education, said Ranae Beyerlein, Grosse Pointe Education Association president. 

Since Ann Kezhaya's position as a special education teacher does not require her interaction with money or financial tracking, the state could decide to alter her certificate to restrict her from performing any financial duties, Beyerlein said, rather than revoke it all together.

On the flip side, they could decide to revoke it because of the severity of the case, Beyerlein said. The state's goal is to ensure the teacher is not endangering students, she said.

Kezhaya, 41, pleaded guilty to five felonies in Lorain County, Ohio, stemming from the theft of more than $800,000 from her 78-year-old mother. She was recently sentenced to 90 days in jail, five years of community control and ordered to pay more than $848,000 in restitution with minimum monthly payments of $2,000.

Beyerlein referred Kezhaya to the legal department of the Michigan Education Association—the statewide union representing teachers. Grosse Pointe Schools Assistant Superintendent Tom Harwood said Thursday that Kezhaya had followed all the procedural mandates in connection with her conviction, including notifying the district. 

Kezhaya has been with the district for about four years. 

At least one other Grosse Pointe Schools teacher's certification was altered following a conviction unrelated to students or student interaction. The alteration was ultimately removed from that teacher's certification, however.