Petitioner: JIM HORNE, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: SAMUEL K. NEWSOM
Judges: LARRY J. SARTIN
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: West Palm Beach, Florida
Filed: Jul. 16, 2003
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Wednesday, September 3, 2003.
Latest Update: Nov. 20, 2024
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STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
JIM HORNE, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner, Ned
je-I5 77 PU
vs. CASE NO. 012-0930-M
SAMUEL K. NEWSON,
Respondent.
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ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
DL RALLYE
Petitioner, Jim Horne, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint
against SAMUEL K. NEWSON. The Petitioner seeks the appropriate disciplinary sanction of the
Respondent’s educator’s certificate pursuant to Sections 1012.795 and 1012.796, Florida Statutes,
and pursuant to Rule 6B-1 006, Florida Administrative Code, Principles of Professional Conduct for
the Education Profession in Florida, said sanctions specifically set forth in Sections 1012.795(1) and
1012.795(7), Florida Statutes.
The Petitioner alleges:
JURISDICTION
1. The Respondent holds Florida Educator's Certificate 750306, covering the area of
Physical Education, which is valid through June 30, 2006.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Physical Education
Teacher at South Area Middle School of Choice, in the Palm Beach School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3. During 1998, the Respondent was investigated by Professional Practices Services for
a 1992 credit card fraud charge and a 1994 charge for making a false statement, concealing a material
fact or committing fraud in applying for a driver's license. On or about February 4, 2000, the
Commissioner of Education denied his application for a Florida Educator's Certificate. On or about
June 13, 2000, the Education Practices Commission issued a Final Order accepting a Settlement
Agreement with the following conditions:
SAMUEL K. NEWSON
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 4
a) letter of reprimand; b) 2 years probation; c) college Ethics course. (PPS Case # 978-2040-
PA).
4. During the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 school years, the Respondent engaged in
inappropriate conduct with female students and female colleagues, which constitutes a violation of
his Settlement Agreement [paragraph 5 (e)] approved by the June 13, 2000 Final Order. These
incidents included, but are not limited to, the following:
a) asking female student S.G., whose date of birth is August 7, 1986, words to the effect of,
"Do you fuck your boyfriend or give him blow jobs?", asking her what color her underwear was,
touching her buttocks, asking her to take "nude photographs of herself to give him for his birthday,"
or words to that effect, telling her she had "a grown up body and needed a man to handle her," or
words to that effect, asking her out on dates, and asking her to show him her pubic hair. Or. two
occasions, the Respondent pulled the waistband ofhis stretch pants out as far as he could so that S.G.
could see his genitals (the Respondent was not wearing underwear).
b) telling female student S.C., whose date of birth is November 21, 1986, when she saw him
playing with his crotch and asked him what he was doing, "I'm adjusting my tremendously large
cock,” or words to that effect.
c) asking female student J.L., whose date of birth is October 14, 1985, if she was wearing
underwear, or words to that effect, touching her on the buttocks, and asking her if girls her age "had
hair down there," or words to that effect.
d) asking female colleague P.C. at a school staff Christmas Party, “Do you know a white
woman who would give me a blow job," "Does a blonde lady have pubic hair?” and "Do you know
a white woman between the ages of forty and fifty who would have sex with me?" or words to those
effects.
e) stating to female colleague A.M. at the same school staff Christmas Party, "Women with
small lips don't give good blow jobs,” or words to that effect. He also asked her if she "wears
thongs" or words to that effect.
5. On or about August 27, 2001, the Respondent received a letter of reprimand from the
Palm Beach County School District. He is currently employed at the Broward County School
District's Lauderhill Middle School.
SAMUEL K. NEWSON
Administrative Complaint
Page 3 of 4
STATUTE VIOLATIONS
COUNT 1: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)(c), Florida Statutes,
in that Respondent has been guilty of gross immorality or an act involving moral turpitude.
COUNT 2: The Respondentis in violation of Section 1012.795(1)(i), Florida Statutes, in
that Respondent has violated the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession
prescribed by State Board of Education rules.
RULE VIOLATIONS
COUNT 3: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6B-
1.006(3)(a), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has failed to make reasonable effort
to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning and/or to the student’s mental health
and/or physical health and/or safety.
COUNT 4: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6B-
1.006(3)(e), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has intentionally exposed a student to
unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.
COUNT 5: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6B-
1.006(5)(d), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has engaged in harassment or
discriminatory conduct which unreasonably interfered with an individual's performance of
professional or work responsibilities or with the orderly processes of education or which created a
hostile, intimidating, abusive, offensive, or oppressive environment, and further, failed to make
reasonable effort to assure that each individual was protected from such harassment or
discrimination.
COUNT6: The Respondentisin violation of Rule 6B.1006(5)(p), Florida Administrative
Code, in that Respondent failed to comply with the conditions ofan order of the Education Practices
Commission imposing probation, imposing a fine, or restricting the authorized scope of practice.
SAMUEL K. NEWSON
Administrative Complaint
Page 4 of 4
WHEREFORE, the Petitioner recommends that the Education Practices Commission
impose an appropriate penalty pursuant to the authority provided in Sections 1012.795(1) and
1012.796(7), Florida Statutes, which penalty may include a reprimand, probation, restriction of the
authorized scope of practice, administrative fine, suspension of the teaching certificate not to exceed
three years, permanent revocation of the teaching certificate, or combination thereof, for the reasons
set forth herein, and in accordance with the Explanation and Election of Rights forms which are
attached hereto and made a part hereof by reference.
EXECUTED on this 1 th day of Mave , 2003.
ORNE, as
issioner of Education
State of Florida
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION .
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
JIM HORNE
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY, Chairman
T. WILLARD Fair, Vice Chairman
parr Read,
Members Florida!
SALLY BRADSIAW
Linpa J, EAbs, Ep.D.
CHARLES PATRICK Garcia
JULIA L. JOHNSON
WILLtam L, PROCTOR, PH.D.
Oh TT WY LE NAP C00
June 9, 2003
Kathleen Richards, Executive Director
Education Practices Commission
Room 224-E, 325 West Gaines Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
NOISSIWWOD
Ww
sqolLovud NOILVON
Re:
Jim Horne, as Commissioner of Education v. Samuel K. Newson;
Case No.: 012-0930-M
Dear Ms. Richards:
Mr. Newson has requested the Formal Hearing option on his Election of Rights. Please forward
this case to the Division of Administrative Hearings to be scheduled for a formal hearing.
Charles Whitelock will be representing the Department in this matter
Sincerely,
Yrucbee M-CCULar Out
Jennifer M. Causseaux, Paralegal
Office of the General Counsel
4jme
ce: Charles Whitelock, Esquire
Richard Michelson, Esquire
Danie J. WOODRING
General Counsel
325 W. GAINES STREET * SUITE 1232 « TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 + (8503 245-0443 + www. tldov.org
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Docket for Case No: 03-002579PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Sep. 03, 2003 |
Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
Aug. 28, 2003 |
Joint Motion to Cancel the Hearing and Relinquish Jurisdiction to the EPC to Conduct an Informal Hearing (filed via facsimile).
|
Aug. 18, 2003 |
Notice of Service of Interrogatory filed by Respondent.
|
Jul. 28, 2003 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Jul. 28, 2003 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for September 10, 2003; 9:30 a.m.; West Palm Beach, FL).
|
Jul. 17, 2003 |
Initial Order.
|
Jul. 16, 2003 |
Election of Rights (filed via facsimile).
|
Jul. 15, 2003 |
Notice of Appearance (filed by R. Michelson, Esquire).
|
Jul. 15, 2003 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Jul. 15, 2003 |
Agency referral filed.
|