STATE OF FLORIDA Uy £& EDUCATION PRACTICES CO ISSION cp 15 S (oP “hy, 0 S Kiley / JEANINE BLOMBERG, as © ABR Oe /? Commissioner of Education, WO op Petitioner, vs. CASE NO. 045-0481-M TARESSA C. CROSS, Respondent. / ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT Petitioner, Jeanine Blomberg, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint against TARESSA C. CROSS. 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 802509, covering the areas of Guidance and Counseling and Exceptional Student Education, which is valid through June 30, 2008. 2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as an Exceptional Education Teacher at Gateway High School in the Orange County School District. MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS 3. During the 2003-2004 school year the Respondent engaged in an improper relationship of a sexual nature with a male student under her supervision. The Respondent was paid to mentor the student as a part of a Juvenile Justice grant. 4. The Respondent became pregnant with the student's child and subsequently married the student on June 17, 2004. TARESSA C. CROSS Administrative Complaint Page 2 of 3 The Petitioner charges: 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 Respondent is 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. COUNT3: TheRespondentis in violation of Section 1012.795(1)@), Florida Statutes, in that Respondent has violated the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession prescribed by State Board of Education rules. ‘RULE VIOLATION COUNT 4: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6B- 1.006(3)(h), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has exploited a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage. (SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE) TARESSA C. CROSS Administrative Complaint Page 3 of 3 WHEREFORE, based on the reasons set forth herein and in accordance with the Explanation of Rights and Election of Rights forms attached to and made a part of this Administrative Complaint, Petitioner respectfully recommends that the Education Practices Commission impose an appropriate sanction against the Respondent’s educator’s certificate pursuant to the authority provided in Sections 1012.795(1) and 1012.796(7), Florida Statutes. The sanctions imposed by the Education Practices Commission may include, but are not limited to, any one or a combination of the following: issuing the Respondent a written reprimand; placing the Respondent on probation for any period of time; restricting the Respondent’s authorized scope of practice; assessing the Respondent an administrative fine; directing the Respondent to enroll in the Recovery Network Program; suspending the Respondent’s educator’s certificate for a period of time not to exceéd five years; revoking the Respondent’s educator’s certificate for a period of time up to 10 years or permanently; or barring the Respondent from reapplying for an educator’s certificate for a period of time up to 10 years or permanently. EXECUTED on this LO* day of August , 2007. JE BLOMBERG, as Commissioner of Education State of Florida

Docket for Case No: 08-005162PL