News Photo Documents contained in Heather Winfield’s Alpena Public Schools personnel file, obtained by The News through a Freedom of Information Act request, are seen on Friday.

ALPENA – An Alpena special education teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a student was allowed to work as a long-term substitute in a neighboring district even after that district learned of the allegations against her, The News has found.

After questions from The News this week, Hillman Community Schools has taken steps to strengthen its hiring policy for substitute teachers and other employees hired by the district through a third party.

Heather Winfield resigned from Alpena Public Schools on Nov. 11, 2016 after she was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student, according to copies of her APS personnel file obtained by The News through a Freedom of Information Act request. Winfield on Friday was bound over to 26th Circuit Court on multiple sexual assault charges and faces up to life in prison if convicted. She denies the allegations.

After her resignation from APS, Winfield worked as a substitute teacher for Hillman from January 2017 to April 28, 2017, Hillman Superintendent Carl Seiter said. She was allowed to work for the district even after officials learned of the allegations against Winfield in Alpena because hiring protocols were not properly followed, Seiter said.

“Our kids were at risk,” Seiter said. “It’s horrible, because things weren’t done right.”

The previous Hillman superintendent submitted a FOIA request to APS on Jan. 12, 2017, requesting Winfield’s personnel file, evaluations, and any disciplinary information, according to documents obtained by The News. Seiter, who was hired by the district in July 2017, said Hillman received the requested documents from APS and the alleged unprofessional conduct items were listed.

Winfield was not directly employed by Hillman. She was placed in the district as a longterm substitute teacher as an employee of WillSub and Professional Contract Management Inc., Seiter said.

By law, each school district is required to complete a form, known as a 1230B, prior to any new hires. A 1230B is sent to previous employers, who, by law, must complete the form — including disclosures of any unprofessional conduct — and return it to the inquiring district. Officials at the prospective employer are required to review that form prior to hiring an individual.

“In this case, the hiring process did not include a completed Form 1230B,” Seiter said.

Hillman’s contract with Professional Contract Management states that the firm agrees to “conduct employment reference checks of potential staff. Such reference checks will meet or exceed the standards required under state” law.

“My interpretation of this clause of the contract requires PCMI to complete the 1230B form on new hires, just like a school district is required to do,” Seiter said.

Upset by the circumstances that had taken place two years ago, Seiter said he will ask the Hillman Board of Education to approve a new policy requiring any third-party vendors like Professional Contract Management or EDUStaff, both of which provide substitute teachers, to submit a copy of the 1230B form before they send employees to work in the district.

“I’m absolutely going to put that in place because we can’t afford to have this happen again,” Seiter said.

The next Hillman school board meeting is March 11. Seiter said any policy will have board discussion and two readings before it can be enacted.

The Hillman incident is just one of several revelations to come from the documents contained in Winfield’s personnel file, which also includes job evaluations showing her to be a highly rated teacher who was praised by superiors for her ability to connect with special-needs students.

The documents suggest APS had confirmed Winfield at least communicated inappropriately with a student and that she resigned from APS before the board could vote on whether to fire her.

Winfield’s attorneys have raised doubts about messages between her and the student because the boy had Winfield’s phone password and the boy’s girlfriend had his password to social media accounts.

Winfield was placed on paid, non-disciplinary administrative leave on Oct. 12, 2016, the records show, while an internal investigation was completed. She resigned from Thunder Bay Junior High School the next day.

The personnel file includes handwritten notes from Winfield in which she expresses her dissatisfaction with the district’s investigation, saying she felt she wasn’t treated fairly.

APS Superintendent John VanWagoner said Winfield attempted to revoke her resignation, but later submitted another letter, resigning from the district all together a month later.

VanWagoner said Thursday he believes district officials gave Winfield all appropriate due process, including notice of the allegations against her and an opportunity to respond to those allegations.

“As a probationary teacher, the district was legally permitted to terminate Ms. Winfield’s employment at any time,” VanWagoner said. “Before the Board of Education took any employment action, Ms. Winfield resigned.”

VanWagoner said APS is committed to the safety of all students.

“APS has cooperated and will continue to cooperate with any police investigation,” VanWagoner said. “Concerns regarding suspected child abuse or neglect are reported to Child Protective Services, as required by law.”

The records also show Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy sought records from APS about Winfield’s conduct. On Nov. 16, 2016, Winfield signed a consent form granting APS persmission to disclose records of her professional conduct.

The virtual academy submitted a FOIA request to APS on Dec. 12, 2016, asking for documents “regarding Ms. Winfield’s inappropriate communications with a student.”

Ken Schwartz, senior manager of corporate communications for the virtual academy, said Winfield never worked there.

State records show Winfield remains a licensed teacher.

Winfield was arrested Jan. 9.

Julie Goldberg can be reached at 989-358-5688 or jgoldberg@thealpenanews.com. Follow her on Twitter @jkgoldberg12.