Educator overpaid by $50,000 because of questionable doctorate
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Interviews with Tim Pitchford, Roy Watford
Interviews with Tim Pitchford, Roy Watford
Roy Watford
A Houston County educator was overpaid by about $50,000 over a 10-year period based on his questionable doctorate, according to an internal investigation.
Roy Watford, Houston County Schools secondary curriculum/accreditation director, received extra pay for a doctoral degree he held from the University of Beverly Hills, Houston County School Superintendent Tim Pitchford said. The extra pay amounted to about $5,000 more per year between 1994 and 2004 than he should have received.
Educators are paid according to their years of experience and highest degree level obtained. To get credit for the degrees, they must come from a university or college accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. SACS does not recognize the University of Beverly Hills.
Watford denies any wrongdoing on his part, and said he obtained the degree with the understanding it was legitimate and did not seek the extra pay from the county schools.
“I think there’s just somebody who has a vendetta against me and I do not know who or why,” Watford said.
Watford holds a bachelor’s degree from Troy University, a master’s degree from Peabody College and an education specialist’s certificate, also known as an AA, from Auburn University. In 1984, while working in an administrative position at the University of Alabama, Watford obtained a doctorate in education philosophy from the University of Beverly HIlls. Watford resigned from the University of Alabama in 1985.
In a 1985 letter to Hubert Kessler, then director of personnel services at the University of Alabama, Dennis P. Prisk, dean of continuing studies, said Watford’s resignation had to do with his acquisition and use of the doctorate from the University of Beverly Hills, which he describes as a “diploma mill.”
“In short, Roy acquired a bogus degree and was attempting to portray it as legitimate,” Prisk said in the letter. “And he committed fraud by telling others the degree was from Auburn.”
Watford denies these accusations and said he returned to Dothan to be close to his family.
After resigning from the University of Alabama, Watford got a job teaching in the Houston County Schools in 1986. On Watford’s employment application, he makes no mention of his doctorate from the University of Beverly Hills, and, according to Pitchford, the doctorate is not listed on his Alabama teaching certificate.
Watford said he didn’t list the diploma on his application because he knew it wasn’t accepted and he didn’t want to cause complications.
Watford moved up the ranks of the county school system, becoming an assistant principal and later principal of Rehobeth High. Watford said in the early 90s he was approached by Doyle Bond, who was superintendent at the time, and told his doctorate entitled him to a raise.
Bond said Wednesday he approached Watford about the raise after receiving a directive from the state that all education employees with a doctorate should receive increased pay. Bond said he forwarded a copy of Watford’s diploma from the University of Beverly Hills to the state and got approval for the raise.
Pitchford and the Alabama Department of Education said no documentation in Watford’s personnel file shows state recognition of his doctorate.
“We have no record of any school superintendent submitting a verification of a higher degree for this individual,” said Michael Sibley, a department spokesman.
Pitchford said he has consulted with Jere Segrest, county school system attorney, and Segrest recommended that he take no action in the matter. Pitchford said he would likely be talking to Watford and the county school board about the matter again in the near future.
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Reader Reactions
A blind faith is the worst enemy of the truth. (unknown, but very applicable in this case)
Has anyone tried to Google the University of Beverly Hills? I’ll save you the trouble! It is listed as unaccredited with no campus. How can anyone educated above the middle school level honestly not know that such a school is a diploma mill? He should be fired and required to repay any wages determined to have been gained thru this bogus credential with interest. This is only the tip of the iceberg at all levels of government employment. Rules are ignored under the good ole boy system. Hiring and maintaining an employee who stoops so low only causes a person of integrity to be passed by. The hiring officials at all levels of government are responsible for insuring our taxes are spent wisely in accordance with the law. So where is that bum?
My wife attended Riley College here in Dothan years ago. Riley College is now closed. She received a degree in the health care field. Was it accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)? No. Did she do the work? Yes. Did we pay for classes and did she actually attend class? Yes. SACS does not recognize Riley College or the University of Beverly Hills. When I attended class while in the military (University of Kentucky in Bowling Green, KY at the post education center, Merill Barracks, Nurnberg, Germany and later at Camp Perry, Weisbaden, Germany) several of my courses were not accepted at George C. Wallace (GCW) but were recognized by the military. When I attended GCW, several of the GCW classes were not accredited by Troy State University at Troy (TSUT). When my son attended Troy University at Dothan (TSUD) several of the DOTHAN classes were not accredited by the main campus at Troy. Accreditation is about politics, money and dead last is the actual subject and how it fits with that school’s subject. No one has bothered to find out anything about the University of Beverly Hills. It is ALLEGED to be a degree mill; I’ve heard that said about TSUD. Saying it doesn’t make it so. I say the testimony presented by Mr. Watford was backed up by his boss, Mr. Bond. The Board Attorney even failed to back up Houston County School Superintendent Tim Pitchford. When an attorney doesn’t take action, it is because he knows it lacks merit. If laws were broken, the attorneys would have been all over it a year ago. In this country, we are still presumed innocent until proven guilty. Where is the proof? Incidentally, my children attended Rehobeth during Mr. Watford’s tenure. The money spent on his salary was money my wife and I contributed in taxes.
I duly believe that questions should be asked and answered regarding this topic. When poster Mickey Rat brought up the question “Would you accept the pay raise…“ he added what is missing from the Mr. (Dr.) Watford stand. A disservice to the cause so to speak. Ethics. The concept of “ethics” by all connected to this article ranges from one extreme to the other. Mickey Rat, what is your answer to your own question? If it is yes, would you also accept the same from our students and our government representatives when awards are not warranted? The lack of ethics in our society is the number one reason for the position we are experiencing today.
We all need to search our inner selves
to define where we stand in our personal, social, religious and business lives. I would also like to know what subject did Dr. Watford select and was agreed upon by his professors for his dissertation to attain his doctorate?
I’ve known Mr. Watford since he moved back to Dothan. I have watched the video and read the article. I believe Mr. Watford’s story. Accreditation is not the issue here. Mr. Watford statements were verified. He did not list his Doctorate on his teaching certificate. This is verified. He said Mr. Bond asked for his doctorate degree, was informed of it’s being questioned and “checked it out”. Mr. Bond verified that he forwarded it to be verified and that it was “checked out” and verified. Pretty straight forward. The state checked it and ok’ed it. Would you have turned down the raise? Would you have verified your raise? Due diligence was done. Mr.Pitchford seems to have a problem. The degree matter was addressed a year ago, and was deemed to not be an issue. I can’t help but wonder what Mr. Pitchford’s agenda is? Why pursue this issue? It looks like Mr. Pitchford does have a vendetta. If Mr. Watford had been at fault, we would have heard this last year. It smells like a personal attack “Am I bound by what the board attorney says….no.“ That Mr. Pichford, is personal. Not business.
I am not a resident of Houston County and have absolutely no vested interest in this story except that Roy Watford is an acquaintance of mine. It seems to me that the target of this entire article is on the wrong person. The target should be on the person who authorized the pay grade apparently without checking the credentials of the employee. As someone who works for an educational institution myself and who is married to a public school teacher, transcripts are required by our employers to verify all of our educational pursuits. Is this not standard procedure for the Houston County School Board? I have no idea whatsoever about the integrity of Mr. (Dr.) Watford’s degree, but if the personnel of the school board had adequately done their job, this story would never have taken place. Furthermore, objective reporting would suggest to me that news stories focus on the real source of the problem.
Mr. Pitchford, send a clear message for STEALING nearly $50,000 and recommend to the board that he be terminated!!! Then hire a new board attorney with some backbone that is willing to stand up for what is right. I voted for you and expect a man of your position to do what is right for the children and citizens of Houston County since we are paying you nearly $135,000+ yearly. With an education budget(s) that we are facing we need to only employ honest, hard working people. Mr. Watford’s character is clearly seen here and action should be taken!! I don’t know of any other profession where this could be done and the person not face a criminal charge!!! Mr. Pitchford do what is right!!!
dOC wATFORD?
Tanks to Doc Watford for contining his educatoron. There is them that look down on collages that are not part of the avey leads schools of the north. We are lucky to have a man with such calaber and with high etchcis to learn our kids the right way to fallow. I have a frind whom graurated from south alabma scool of small enine respair and tax return and he is during good.Whom is us’ns to guestion the vilillity of such allthortee. And for darn sur us cant all be darn smarts as Bear Brynt. Roil tide.
The real question now is: why did a person in our education system apply and received a Phd degree from a bogus college. Also, it takes only simple math to realize an increase in pay is because of some reason. “I didn’t do anything wrong” is not a valid logical reason for a person that has power and control over our children and can apply his subjective discipline as he sees fit. It is time to stop this good old boys club in our government. Now, not tomorrow…thank you.
teachers with PhDs only make an additonal 5k per year, and Beverly Hills University is the story here?That is pathetic. no wonder some of our kids are still sitting around one step above drawing in the sand with a stick.
Whoever hired this guy has a bad BS detector. The University of Beverly Hills? Puh-leez. Hint - if any employees have a degree from Wassamatta U., that’s bogus too. Whoever failed to verify this guy’s credentials bears primary responsibility.
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