‘We want justice’ | Protestors call for action after former Blount County teacher gets probation in assault case

MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Friday, Blount County saw dozens of people collect to protest the sentence of Joseph Dalton, a former Blount County Schools teacher who pleaded guilty in September to five counts of assaulting students.

Clarissa Webb was one of those protesting.

“We’re not happy. We want justice for our kids,” she said. “We need to stand up for our children.”

Records obtained by WVLT News show complaints of touching from parents and students going back all the way to 2005. Dalton ended up being charged in several later accusations, stemming from just the last few years.

In that time, however, Dalton stayed at the school system, working with children.

State records also show that Dalton still has a valid teaching license. An addendum shows that it’s been flagged for review by the state school board, but nothing has been done in the almost eight months since he pleaded guilty to assault. A check of upcoming school board meetings shows nothing on the schedule for Dalton.

Previous Coverage: Former Blount County teacher guilty of assaulting students still has valid teaching license, records show

“I hope it doesn’t continue to happen, because he still has his teaching license,” Webb said. “As far as I’m concerned, he could go back into any school system, anywhere and any county and do the same thing.”

Another protestor — Danielle Caylor — had similar feelings.

“We would love to see him get his license revoked,” Caylor said. “We would love for the victims to feel like they do matter, that what happened to them is a big deal.”

Friday, Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell released a lengthy statement calling out past Blount County Schools’ administration and calling for action from state lawmakers. You can read it here.

District Attorney General Ryan Desmond, who oversees Blount County, did not provide a statement when asked.