Video Case Studies
In this video, Joe Walsh is a high school teacher and coach. After a recent back injury, Mr. Walsh has been taking medication to manage the pain he experiences. His drug use, however, has begun to affect his professional life in serious ways.
Note: This video was created by the
Nebraska Professional Practices Commission and is being used by permission. This clip was produced by the Nebraska Professional Practices Commission and the outcome reflects the laws/policies that are unique to Nebraska. Pennsylvania may or may not have similar laws/policies; however, the clips are introduced here for purposes of discussion only and should not be interpreted to represent outcomes based on Pennsylvania laws/policies.
Discussion Questions
- If you were Mr. Walsh's colleague and friend, what would you have done if you had observed his behavior?
- What could the assistant principal have done differently after he had detected a problem and confronted Mr. Walsh?
- Do you agree with the decision made by Nebraska’s Commission? Why or why not? Does the fact that Mr. Walsh's condition (his back injury and subsequent drug abuse) is medical in nature affect your decision?
Video Example