Former Norman High Teacher Leaves Oklahoma Following Termination Hearing, Police Release Findings

A police report is shining light on the communication between Norman Public Schools and the police department the day threats were found on a bathroom wall. 

News 9 first reported the story after an extensive termination hearing surrounding a Norman High School Teacher. 

After a 14-hour hearing, long time teacher Richard Cavett is out of a job with Norman Public Schools. 

This all started when Cavett leaked photos of a hitlist written on a bathroom stall to a Norman parent. 

That parent sharing the photos with media outlets. The battle with the district is now driving Cavett out of state. 

“We consider Mr. Cavett a hero. People need to be parents, and students need to be informed if there is a death threat, hit list and a date certain for a shooting. That is the most moral thing that any teacher could have done,” said Cameron Spradling, one of Richard Cavett’s Attorneys. 

After more than an hour in executive session, the Norman School Board voted 4-1 to terminate Cavett. 

“The events that came cascading down on my client were pre-Uvalde events and we are living in a post-Uvalde world,” said Spradling. 

During the reading of their decision, the district said he “violated the standards of performance based on the duties of a teacher.” 

“We will never know if there had been a shooting on February 28, 2022, the date set for the school shooting. However, we will know this; because of Mr. Cavett's actions, attention was drawn to that Norman school and people were on high alert. 

In a Norman police report, officers said there was a lack of communication. The report said another officer showed up and they “explained to him what was going on and the lack of communication from the school administration to us.” 

The report goes on to say, “we did not put our eyes on the graffiti and that they were already in the process of getting it cleaned by the time we were notified.” 

This, after Norman Public Schools sent an email to parents saying the police deemed the graffiti a “non-credible threat.” 

“I think if the public were aware of the police investigation, SRO investigation and lack of communication they had with Norman Public Schools, I think it would have had a different opinion made, I am saddened about this,” said the Attorney. 

In a tweet Cavett said “sadly, the events of the last three months have pushed Christine and me to decide to move away…sooner rather than later.” 

The former NPS teacher went on to say they are “focused on a place where education is funded and teachers are supported.” 

“We love our client, and we know that he did the right thing,” said Spradling. 

In a statement he said he feels Cavett was run out of town by NPS saying, “the public hearing was designed as a warning to present Norman Public School teachers, that if they take a concern to the media they will be similarly punished.” 

He also told News 9 they plan on pursuing further legal action against the school district. 

If you would like to help with moving expenses, follow this link.