Board of Educational Examiners says Urbandale SpEd teacher, admin likely violated Iowa law

URBANDALE, Iowa — It’s been almost nine months since Urbandale elementary school teacher Amanda Delzell was placed on administrative leave after reporting what she considered to be abuse of disabled student Keaton Petek in the spring of 2023. Delzell was fired last April. She and the Petek family have filed separate civil rights complaints against the Urbandale School District.

Now, the State Board of Educational Examiners has found that the administrators who handled the incident, and the special education teacher accused of hurting the little boy, likely violated Iowa law. The assistant attorney general will now take over prosecution of their cases.

To learn more about the BOEE’s findings click on the names linked below:

• HR Director Loren DeKruyf
• Principal Anna Taggart
• Former SpEd Director Shawna (Eschliman) Shanahan
• SpEd Teacher Alice Pewick

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