Petitioner: DR. ERIC J. SMITH, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: MARY ALICE MURPHY
Judges: DANIEL MANRY
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Orlando, Florida
Filed: Dec. 19, 2008
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Wednesday, June 10, 2009.
Latest Update: Dec. 21, 2024
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STATE OF FLORIDA + Hf bea,
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION? DE¢ /
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DR. ERIC J. SMITH, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO. 067-3482-F
MARY ALICE MURPHY,
Respondent.
Petitioner, Dr. Eric J. Smith, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against MARY ALICE 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 194593, covering the area of
Elementary Education, which is valid through June 30, 2012.
2. Atall times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Fifth Grade Teacher
at Ivey Lane Elementary School in the Orange County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3. On or about February 23, 2007, training for the 2007 FCAT administration was
conducted at Ivey Lane Elementary School in Orange County, Florida. Respondent attended this
training and signed the FCAT Administration and Security Agreement. Both the training and the
security agreement indicate that the instructors are not to assist students with the content of the test.
4. The FCAT testing was conducted on Monday, February 26, 2007; Tuesday, February
27, 2007; and Wednesday, February 28, 2007.
MARY ALICE MURPHY
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 3
5. During the administration of the FCAT on these dates, the Respondent assisted
students by telling them the correct answers, either verbally or by pointing to the correct answers.
In addition, the Respondent allowed several students additional time to finish their answers.
The Petitioner charges:
STATUTE VIOLATIONS
COUNT1: TheRespondentis in violation of Section 1008.24(1), Florida Statutes, in that
Respondent knowingly and willfully violated test security rules adopted by the State Board of
Education for mandatory tests administered by or through the State Board of Education or the
Commissioner of Education to students, educators, or applicants for certification or administered
by school districts pursuant to s. 1008.22.
COUNT 2: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1008.24(1)(c), Florida Statutes,
in that Respondent coached examinees during testing or altered or interfered with examinees’
responses.
COUNT 3: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1008.24(1)(f), Florida Statutes,
in that Respondent knowingly and willfully failed to follow test administration directions specified
in the test administration manuals.
COUNT 4: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1008.24(1)(g), Florida Statutes, in
that Respondent participated in, directed, aided, counseled, assisted in, or encouraged any of the acts
prohibited in this section.
COUNT 5: 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 6: TheRespondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)G); Florida Statutes, in
that Respondent has violated the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession
prescribed by State Board of Education rules.
COUNT7: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)G), Florida Statutes, in
that Respondent has otherwise violated the provisions of law, the penalty for which is the revocation
of the teaching certificate.
RULE VIOLATIONS
COUNT 8: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A-
10.042(1), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent failed to maintain/administer tests in
a manner to preserve test integrity.
MARY ALICE MURPHY
Administrative Complaint
Page 3 of 3
COUNT 9: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A-
10.042(1)(c), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent assisted examinees in answering
questions.
COUNT 10: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A-
10.042(1)(d), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent interfered with examinees answers
while administering test.
COUNT 11: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A-
10.042(1)(f}), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has participated in, directed, aided
counseled, assisted in, or encouraged an activity which could result in the inaccurate measurement
or reporting of examinees’ achievement.
COUNT 12: 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.
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
exceed 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.
ON :
EXECUTED on this \@" day of December , 2007).
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 08-006359PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jun. 10, 2009 |
Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
Jun. 10, 2009 |
Petitioner's Motion to Compel Discovery Responses filed.
|
Jun. 10, 2009 |
Notice of Appearance (filed by K. Holbrook).
|
Jun. 10, 2009 |
Petitioner's Motion to Compel Discovery Responses filed.
|
Jun. 10, 2009 |
Notice of Appearance (filed by R. Smith).
|
Jun. 02, 2009 |
Motion to Deem Request for Admissions Admitted and to Relinquish Jurisdiction to the Education Practices Commission Based on the Admissions filed.
|
May 27, 2009 |
Notice of Substitution of Counsel (filed by K. Holbrook) filed.
|
Apr. 22, 2009 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing (hearing set for June 25 and 26, 2009; 9:30 a.m.; Orlando, FL).
|
Apr. 20, 2009 |
CASE STATUS: Motion Hearing Held. |
Apr. 17, 2009 |
Joint Motion for Continuance filed.
|
Apr. 08, 2009 |
Notice of Transfer.
|
Feb. 19, 2009 |
Order Re-scheduling Hearing (hearing set for April 23 and 24, 2009; 9:00 a.m.; Orlando, FL).
|
Feb. 18, 2009 |
Petitioner`s Status Update filed.
|
Feb. 17, 2009 |
Order Granting Extension of Time (response to the Order Granting Continuance dated February 3, 2009 to be filed by February 18, 2009).
|
Feb. 16, 2009 |
Petitioner`s Motion for Extension of Time filed.
|
Feb. 03, 2009 |
Order Granting Continuance (parties to advise status by February 16, 2009).
|
Feb. 02, 2009 |
Joint Motion for Continuance filed.
|
Jan. 13, 2009 |
Petitioner`s Notice of Serving First Set of Interrogatories to Respondent filed.
|
Jan. 13, 2009 |
Petitioner`s Request for Production filed.
|
Jan. 13, 2009 |
Petitioner`s First Request for Admissions to Respondent filed.
|
Jan. 07, 2009 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Jan. 07, 2009 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for February 16 and 17, 2009; 9:00 a.m.; Orlando, FL).
|
Dec. 22, 2008 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
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Dec. 22, 2008 |
Notice of Appearance (filed by Z. Harrington).
|
Dec. 19, 2008 |
Initial Order.
|
Dec. 19, 2008 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Dec. 19, 2008 |
Election of Rights filed.
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Dec. 19, 2008 |
Letter to K. Richards from Agency`s General Counsel requesting administrative hearing and notification of counsel of record.
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Dec. 19, 2008 |
Agency referral filed.
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