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Orlando virtual school teacher fired after grade-changing accusation

ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orlando virtual school teacher accused of giving students grades they didn't deserve will not be allowed to teach for at least a year, Channel 9's Len Kiese learned.

An order filed in November by the Florida Education Practices Commission stated that Russell Fox's math students "were required to attain a grade of 60 percent or higher on their final exams in order to pass the course."

Fox is accused of adjusting the grades of approximately five students who had not achieved the required 60 percent to allow them to pass.

Officials said that's a violation of several state statutes and rules.

The administrative complaint shows he was "found guilty of personal misconduct, which seriously reduces effectiveness as an employee," and that he "failed to maintain honesty in all professional dealings."

Documents show Fox was fired from the Florida Virtual School and his Florida Educator's certificate was officially suspended for one year.

Fox agreed to be on probation for two years, documents show.

Fox was still listed as a full-time math teacher for Grace Academy, a private school in Ormond Beach.

But the director of the school said that the website hasn't been updated and Fox no longer works at the school.

A Florida Virtual School representative said that none of Fox's former students were affected by the grade-changing.