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CRAWFORD, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska officials suspended a former Crawford teacher's license for a year because she violated state testing rules last spring.
The Scottsbluff Star-Herald reports (http://bit.ly/1S9yxcd ) the state Board of Education unanimously approved the suspension of Ramona Hourt's certificate Friday.
The Nebraska Professional Practices Commission determined that Hourt violated rules for the state writing test by taking pictures of students' computer screens, discussing answers with students and making writing suggestions during the test.
Hourt said in a letter to the board that she was encouraging her eighth-grade students during the test and didn't believe she was giving them answers.
Hourt said she took photos during the test to protect students' work in case there were computer problems.
"We were all so proud of how far their writing had advanced," Hourt wrote. "I didn't have to give them any answers, but I thought I had to keep convincing them that they could clear this final hurdle."
Hourt apologized for her actions and resigned from the Crawford school district last year. She also told state officials that she has cancer and doesn't plan to return to teaching.
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Information from: Star-Herald, http://www.starherald.com
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