Park City High dance coach placed on leave amid state investigation, license review

PARK CITY, Utah – A part-time dance and cheer coach at Park City High School has been placed on administrative leave as the Utah State Board of Education considers suspending her teaching license over allegations related to her prior employment at another school.

Melanie Hiatt, who began teaching in Park City at the start of the 2023–24 academic year, was placed on leave by the Park City School District on April 25. The district acted after learning that the Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission (UPPAC) had recommended a two-year suspension of her teaching license. That recommendation, the result of an investigation into her conduct while working at Providence Hall High School in Herriman, is expected to be reviewed by the state board Thursday, May 1.

According to documents filed in 3rd District Court, UPPAC found that Hiatt had committed “boundary violations and bullying behavior with a student” during her time at the Providence Hall. The allegations were submitted to the commission by Samantha Barlow, a former Providence Hall student who graduated in 2020. Hiatt later filed a defamation lawsuit against Barlow, claiming her report contained false and damaging statements that harmed Hiatt’s career.

The Park City School District said it does not comment on specific personnel matters. However, spokesperson Colton Elliott provided general information about the district’s policy on administrative leave.

“The decision to place an employee on administrative leave is made on a case-by-case basis by district leadership, often in consultation with our Human Resources department and legal counsel,” Elliott said. “Leave is not automatic and depends on a variety of factors, including the nature of the concern, employee role, and potential impact on students and the school environment.”

He added that when an employee is under investigation by another district or outside agency, the Park City School District reviews the available information before determining whether to take action.

“Not all external investigations require automatic leave unless they relate to student safety, a licensure violation, or other conduct that would trigger a mandatory report to the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and/or Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission (UPPAC),” Elliott said.

Court filings show that district officials were notified of UPPAC’s findings on April 18. A letter sent to Hiatt on April 21 placed her on leave and informed her she would be terminated if the state board ultimately suspended her license. The letter also barred her from accessing school property.

Hiatt is fighting the decision in court. Her attorneys recently asked a District Court judge to reinstate her, arguing the district acted prematurely and in violation of her teaching and coaching contracts. They also said the timing of the leave caused harm to students in the Park City High Dance Company as they prepared for their year-end performance. The judge denied the emergency request.

While Hiatt remains on leave, the assistant dance coach has taken over classroom responsibilities and is leading preparations for the team’s showcase, scheduled for May 1 and 2.

In September, the Park City High School Girls’ Volleyball Coach was placed on leave following allegations of misconduct.