Teachers used fake degrees

BILLINGS – Two teachers who received master’s degrees from a diploma mill must take salary cuts, and return pay given with the belief the diplomas were legitimate, an arbitrator decided.

In 1999, longtime teachers Beverly Henckel and Candice Holzer of Canyon Creek School in Billings received master’s degrees from the online Columbus University, which is accredited by a private accrediting institution not listed with the U.S. Department of Education. The teachers paid fees and received master’s degrees in fewer than six months. Both then got pay increases.

The possibility the degrees were not legitimate was raised last fall when Canyon Creek Superintendent Stephanie Long received information from other staff members. Long investigated and school trustees later demanded the teachers return about $37,000 each. Trustees also imposed pay reductions on Henckel and Holzer, who have been on paid leave since the start of the school year.

The teachers filed a grievance with the Montana Education Association, and independent arbitrator Howell Lankford held a hearing in January. Lankford’s decision is binding.

At the hearing, the teachers said they did not know the degrees were not legitimate. Both also said they did no coursework, did not correspond with any instructors, took no exams and did not write theses. The teachers said a process called “credentialization” required they compile transcripts of previous college courses and workshops, and provide information about classroom practices.

Henckel and Holzer told Lankford they knew the degrees would not be recognized by the Montana Office of Public Instruction and did not submit their transcripts to OPI to seek a higher classification on their teaching certificates.

Henckel and Holzer have more than 20 years of experience at Canyon Creek.

Holzer said her degree was approved by the school superintendent and was obtained at a time when use of the Internet was new to the teachers and the school district.

“We were naive and we lost our job over it,” she said, adding that she won’t be teaching in the school district next year.

Efforts to reach Henckel and officials at Columbus University for comment Saturday were unsuccessful.

An investigation by the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Department is ongoing and includes a retired Canyon Creek teacher who received a master’s from Columbus University.