Melanie Hiatt has coached and taught dance and cheer part-time at Park City High School since 2023.
The Utah State Board of Education met in a closed session Thursday afternoon to determine whether to suspend Hiatt’s teaching license for two years.
The board’s decision is not expected to be released for at least a few weeks.
This stems from allegations that Hiatt behaved inappropriately with students years ago when she taught at Providence Hall High, a Herriman charter school.
The Park City School District was informed April 18 that the state board might suspend Hiatt’s license. That’s according to court documents containing the district’s April 21 letter to Hiatt, placing her on paid administrative leave.
Hiatt’s attorney Michael Hepworth told KPCW Thursday the suspension isn’t guaranteed.
“We haven't been notified that her license has been suspended or anything, so we're still optimistic that they're going to take everything into account and make the right decision,” he said.
Hiatt said if her license is suspended, she plans to appeal the decision.
The suspension was a recommendation from the Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission (UPPAC), which has been investigating the allegations against Hiatt.
According to court documents, the commission found Hiatt had committed “boundary violations and bullying behavior with a student” while at Providence Hall.
Hiatt’s former student Samantha Barlow brought forth the allegations spanning from 2016 to 2020. The complaint Barlow filed as an adult in 2023 is detailed in a defamation lawsuit Hiatt filed against Barlow in May 2024.
The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice by a 3rd District Court judge in August 2024 and Hiatt was ordered to pay Barlow’s legal fees. Hiatt’s lawyers have appealed that decision.
Barlow’s attorney, Mary Woodhead, told KPCW they stand by their position that the defamation lawsuit is without merit.
It’s unclear when the board’s decision on Hiatt’s teaching license will be released.
If the state board suspends Hiatt’s license, the Park City School District said in its April 21 letter it will also terminate her employment.
