Petitioner: JEANINE BLOMBERG, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: CELESTINE AMELIA HOLLOWAY
Judges: LISA SHEARER NELSON
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Jacksonville, Florida
Filed: May 04, 2009
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Tuesday, May 26, 2009.
Latest Update: Dec. 23, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
JEANINE BLOMBERG, as O4- day ap L
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
VS. CASE NO. 056-2896-P
CELESTINE AMELIA HOLLOWAY,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Jeanine Blomberg, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against CELESTINE AMELIA HOLLOWAY. 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 544423, covering the area of
Mentally Handicapped, which was valid through June 30, 2006.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Teacher of the
Emotionally Handicapped at SOS Academy Charter School in the Duval County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3. On or about February 25, 1991, the Commissioner of Education found no probable
cause to deny Respondent’s application for a Fiorida Educator’s Certificate based on a 1990 charge
of issuing worthless checks.
4. Respondent has a long history of presenting worthless checks for payment of her
debts. Between 1993 and 2005, Respondent was arrested 16 times and charged with Passing a
Worthless Check in an Amount Less Than $150.
CELESTINE AMELIA HOLLOWAY
Administrative Compiaint
Page 2 of 3
5. On or about February 23, 2006, the court issued a capias for Respondent on a charge
of Worthless Check Less Than $150. On or about May 01, 2006, Respondent pled nolo contendere
to and the court adjudicated her guilty of the charge.
6. On or about June 29, 2006, the court issued a capias for Respondent on a charge of
Worthless Check Less Than $150. Prosecution on this charge is currently pending.
7. On her 2001 application for renewal of her Florida Educator’ s Certificate, Applicant
failed to acknowledge her criminal background as required by Florida law and in conflict with her
statement on the application that all information provided was true, accurate and complete in that
she failed to acknowledge charges in 1999 and 2000.
8. On her 2006 application for renewal of her Florida Educator’s Certificate, Applicant
failed to acknowledge her criminal background as required by Florida law and in conflict with her
statement on the application that all information provided was true, accurate and complete in that
she failed to acknowledge charges in 2001, 2002 and 2005.
The Petitioner charges:
STATUTE VIOLATIONS
COUNT 1: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1){a), Florida Statutes,
in that Respondent obtained the teaching certificate by fraudulent means.
COUNT 2: 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 3: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)(e), Florida Statutes,
in that Respondent has been convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or other criminal charge, other
than a minor traffic violation.
COUNT 4: — 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.
COUNTS: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(2), Florida Statutes, which
provides that the plea of guilty in any court or the decision of guilty by any court is prima facie proof
of grounds for the revocation of the certificate.
CELESTINE AMELIA HOLLOWAY
Administrative Complaint
Page 3 of 3
RULE VIOLATIONS
COUNT 6: 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 timé up to 10
years or permanently; or barring the Respondent from reapplying for an educator’s certificate fot a
period of time up to 10 years or permanently.
7 \y
EXECUTED on this 1 day of __ AWN 2007.
a
Kanal
JEANINE BLOMBERG, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 09-002342PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
May 26, 2009 |
Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
May 22, 2009 |
Motion to Cancel Hearing and for Remand filed.
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May 13, 2009 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
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May 13, 2009 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for July 2, 2009; 9:30 a.m.; Jacksonville and Tallahassee, FL).
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May 11, 2009 |
Petitioner`s Response to Respondent`s First Request for Production filed.
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May 11, 2009 |
Petitioner`s Request for Admissions filed.
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May 11, 2009 |
Petitioner`s First Request for Production of Documents filed.
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May 11, 2009 |
(Petitioner`s) Notice of Service of Interrogatories filed.
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May 08, 2009 |
(Petitioner`s) Response to Initial Order filed.
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May 04, 2009 |
Initial Order.
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May 04, 2009 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
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May 04, 2009 |
Election of Rights filed.
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May 04, 2009 |
Letter to K. Richards from Agency`s General Counsel requesting administrative hearing and notification of counsel of record.
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May 04, 2009 |
Agency referral
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