Former Moorestown Teacher Close to Losing License

Former Moorestown High School teacher Daniel Belton faces an end-of-the-month deadline to appeal a decision that would revoke his teaching licenses, according to the Courier-Post.

The New Jersey Department of Education's Office of Criminal History Review convicted Belton in June 2010 of official misconduct for allegedly stealing funds from a student activities account. Belton never challenged that ruling or the circumstances of the accusation. 

The ruling put Belton's two teaching certificates—a  Teacher of  Social Studies Certificate of Eligibility With Advanced Standing and a Teacher of Social Studies certificate—in jeopardy. It also disqualified him from teaching in New Jersey public schools.

"An individual whose offense is so great that he or she is barred from service in public schools should not be permitted to retain the certificate that authorizes such service," reads a statement from the education department's State Board of Examiners.

The education department outlined several attempts to reach Belton so he could challenge the revocation of his certificates:

• A Nov. 3, 2010, certified letter was returned as unclaimed and the regular mail copy was not returned, nor did Belton respond.
• A Dec. 15, 2010, certified mail notice was signed for and returned. The regular mail copy was not returned, nor did Belton respond.
• A Jan. 5, 2011, certified mail notice was signed and returned. The regular mail copy was not returned and again, Belton did not respond.

The Board of Examiners voted to revoke Belton's licenses on Sept. 22. That decision went into effect on Nov. 1. Belton has until the end of the month to appeal, according to the ruling.

A list of Moorestown High School clubs and activities from 2010 shows Belton as adviser for the debate team, mock trial and mock Congress. 

Read more about the case from the state's Board of Examiner's ruling.