Jasper School District No. 1 of Newton County; Kerry Saylors

Summary

The court affirmed the reversal of Cooper's termination and the award of damages and reinstatement. It held that the District failed to substantially comply with the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act by not informing Cooper of the specific problems supporting termination and not documenting efforts to help her correct them. It also held that her contract created a property interest in her position as Oark principal and that retirement benefits did not reduce her recoverable damages under the collateral-source rule.