Ex-Volusia schools admin loses teaching license over 'placebo' AP exams at Mainland High

A former Volusia County Schools administrator has permanently lost her teaching license for her involvement with the 2019 plan to give Mainland High School students "placebo" AP exams made to look like the real thing.

It was more than two years ago that nearly 400 students at Mainland High School sat for an Advanced Placement exam without realizing the exams were fake and would not count toward college credit if they scored highly. Administrators at the school and district planned to collect data as part of a pilot program to improve student achievement — but students and parents did not know about the plan until it was published in the News-Journal in June 2019.

Teresa Marcks, who was the district’s chief academic officer at the time, lost her teaching license last month according to documents from the Florida Department of Education because she "failed to protect the health safety and welfare of students.”

Marcks had already retired by the time the placebo tests were public knowledge, but in the ensuing fallout other district staff members explained that she was aware of the plan to give fake AP exams to students without their knowledge and had approved it. The News-Journal was unable to reach Marcks.

More: Ex-Mainland High principal who gave 'placebo' AP tests is suing Volusia School Board

She, along with then-principal Cheryl Salerno, both was given letters of reprimand by the district.

A subsequent investigation by the district revealed that Salerno had violated the professional code of ethics and state statutes by giving football players A grades for a class that they didn’t actually take, as well as staffing issues. She then resigned in lieu of termination.

Salerno’s teaching license expired over the summer and has not been renewed.

Salerno filed a federal lawsuit against the district in 2020. She alleged that the "forced" termination was a violation of the district's tenure policy, and that the district failed to pay her the full amount outlined in her contract even though she "fully performed her duties as principal.” In that suit, she pointed the finger at Marcks. A judge dismissed her claims, and Salerno is in the process of appealing that decision.

In September Salerno filed a new civil suit against the district for breach of contract. She's seeking in excess of $30,000 in damages. The district moved to dismiss that case as well.

The News-Journal was unable to reach Salerno's lawyer Jason Harr on Thursday afternoon. In 2020, he asked that people set aside preconceived notions about her situation and let the judicial process work. The school district does not typically comment on pending litigation.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Ex-Volusia admin's teaching license not renewed over 'placebo' exams