Petitioner: JIM WINN, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: LYNN STREICH
Judges: LARRY J. SARTIN
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Stuart, Florida
Filed: Sep. 02, 2004
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Wednesday, March 30, 2005.
Latest Update: May 08, 2025
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STATE OF FLORIDA M SEP -2 PM [: 30
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION ransiorag
JIM HORNE, as
Commissioner of Education,
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Petitioner, (\ (| 45\ d0{ [_-
vs. CASE NO. 012-2078-M
LYNN R. MURPHY,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Jim Horne, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint
against LYNN R. MURPHY. 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
1012.796(7), Florida Statutes.
The Petitioner alleges:
JURISDICTION
1. The Respondent holds Florida Educator’s Certificate 741289, covering the areas of
Elementary Education and English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), which is valid through
June 30, 2006.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Fourth Grade
Teacher in the Martin County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3. On or about February 12, 2002, Respondent knowingly and unlawfully violated
standardized testing procedures by providing inappropriate assistance to students during the
administration of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) writing assessment. The
inappropriate assistance included reading the prompts on the writing portion to the entire class,
correcting spelling mistakes, coaching students as to the appropriate length of responses, reminding
the class to add a title, and assisting at least one student with sentence structure. Although
LYNN R. MURPHY
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 3
Respondent maintained that two students were to receive the accommodation of having the test read
to them, none of the students were to receive this accommodation. As a result of Respondent’s
actions, FCAT scores for the entire class were invalidated. On or about March 18, 2003, the school
district entered into a settlement agreement with Respondent. The agreement included a 10 day
suspension and reassignment to teach a grade in which the students do not take the FCAT.
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)(f), Florida Statutes, in
that Respondent has been found guilty of personal conduct which seriously reduces her effectiveness
as an employee of the school board.
COUNT 3: The Respondent is 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 4: 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 leaming and/or to the student’s mental health
and/or physical health and/or safety.
COUNT 5: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6B-
1.006(5)(a), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has failed to maintain honesty in all
professional dealings.
LYNN R. MURPHY
Administrative Complaint
Page 3 of 3
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.
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EXECUTED on this 2 7 day of Ss wha , 2004.
‘Ommissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 04-003120PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Mar. 30, 2005 |
Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
Mar. 28, 2005 |
Motion to Cancel Hearing and Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC (filed by Petitioner).
|
Jan. 24, 2005 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Jan. 24, 2005 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for April 5 through 7, 2005; 9:30 a.m.; Stuart, FL).
|
Jan. 14, 2005 |
Notice of Appearance (filed by M. Tyre, Esquire).
|
Dec. 16, 2004 |
Order Granting Motion to Withdraw as Counsel, Canceling Final Hearing, and Changing Case Style.
|
Nov. 30, 2004 |
Motion to Withdraw as Counsel filed.
|
Nov. 30, 2004 |
Notice of Change of Name filed.
|
Oct. 21, 2004 |
Notice of Objection to Respondent`s Subpoena for Production of Documents from Non-party (filed by Petitioner via facsimile).
|
Oct. 18, 2004 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing (hearing set for January 5 through 7, 2005; 9:30 a.m.; Stuart, FL).
|
Oct. 15, 2004 |
Respondent`s Motion for Continuance of Final Hearing (filed via facsimile).
|
Oct. 13, 2004 |
Notice of Production from Non Party (via efiling by William Swift).
|
Oct. 11, 2004 |
Order Denying Motion to Dismiss.
|
Sep. 30, 2004 |
Respondent`s Answers to Request for Admissions (via efiling by William Swift).
|
Sep. 21, 2004 |
Court Reporter Scheduled (filed by Petitioner via facsimile).
|
Sep. 15, 2004 |
Notice of Filing of Petitioner`s First Request of Interrogatories and First Request for Production of Documents (via efiling by William Swift).
|
Sep. 15, 2004 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Sep. 15, 2004 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for November 1 through 3, 2004; 9:30 a.m.; Stuart, FL).
|
Sep. 13, 2004 |
Joint Response to Initial Order (filed by Petitioner via facsimile).
|
Sep. 02, 2004 |
Petitioner`s Response to Respondent`s Motion to Dismiss filed.
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Sep. 02, 2004 |
Motion to Dismiss filed.
|
Sep. 02, 2004 |
Finding of Probable Cause filed.
|
Sep. 02, 2004 |
Notice of Appearance (filed by C. Whitelock, Esquire).
|
Sep. 02, 2004 |
Notice of Appearance (filed by W. Swift, Esquire).
|
Sep. 02, 2004 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Sep. 02, 2004 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Sep. 02, 2004 |
Agency referral filed.
|
Sep. 02, 2004 |
Initial Order.
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