The Tennessee Board of Education is reviewing the teaching license of Joseph Dalton, a former Blount County Schools physical education teacher recently convicted of misdemeanor offensive touching. Despite a decade of complaints from parents and students about his inappropriate behavior, Dalton’s license remains technically active. He pleaded guilty to five charges on September 4. While his license is under review, state regulations allow him to be employed as long as it remains active, with hiring decisions resting with individual school districts. Complaints against Dalton date back to 2005, and he resigned in 2023 amid a new investigation. Despite prior reprimands, he continued working in various elementary schools during his tenure.
