Petitioner: DR. ERIC J. SMITH, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: PAUL KUSHCH
Judges: JOHN G. VAN LANINGHAM
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
Filed: May 05, 2011
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Wednesday, September 7, 2011.
Latest Update: Dec. 22, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA ihe,
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION §—_ 464/%.,“V
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DR. ERIC J. SMITH, as OL
Commissioner of Education, O- 6 q | lo p L
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO. 090-0945
PAUL KUSHCH,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Dr. Eric J. Smith, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against PAUL KUSHCH. The Petitioner seeks the appropriate disciplinary sanction of
the Respondent’s educator’s certificate pursuant to Sections 1012.315, 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 811710, covering the area of
Biology, which is valid through June 30, 2011.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Science Teacher at
Coconut Creek High School in the Broward County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3. During the 2008-2009 school year, Respondent engaged in inappropriate conduct
toward fellow colleagues and students.
4. Respondent created a hostile work environment in that he was confrontational toward
a staff member concerning the admittance of a student to Respondent’s class and, on another
occasion, aggressively confronting the sponsor of the school talent show about Respondent not being
part of the show.
PAUL KUSHCH
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 4
5. Respondent engaged in episodes of loud and unprofessional behavior with members
of the school administration.
6. Respondent used inappropriate language and made inappropriate remarks to students
including, but not limited to:
(a) “Get your asses inside.”
(b) “Your asses are mine.”
(c) “This is bullshit.”
99 ee,
(d) “Fuck you,” “ asshole,” “ ass,” “ shit,” “nigger,” “sucking on titties.”
(c) “All these fucking teachers are trying to get me fired.”
(f) Calling students “mother fuckers,” “bitches,” “punks,” and “gits.”
(g) Asked a male student what he would do ifhe saw his daughter being raped.
(h) Stated that he needs, “a whole bunch of soldiers in case they come with machine
guns.”
7. Respondent asked students to lie or misrepresent what had happened in the
classroom and/or statements he had made, offering them grades or extra credit in exchange for the
misrepresentations.
8, Respondent engaged in physical aitercations with students.
9. Respondent engaged in detailed discussions with students about his personal life
including his wife, children, divorce and bankruptcy.
The Petitioner charges:
STATUTE VIOLATIONS
COUNT 1: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)(d), Florida Statutes,
in that Respondent has been guilty of gross immorality or an act involving moral turpitude as
defined by rule of the State Board of Education.
COUNT2:; The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)Q), Florida Statutes, in
prescribed by State Board of Education rules.
PAUL KUSHCH
Administrative Complaint
Page 3 of 4
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 leaning 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)(4), 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.
(SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE)
PAUL KUSHCH
Administrative Complaint
Page 4 of 4
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; determining the Respondent to be ineligible for certification; 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 ZO" day of Soest 2010.
DR. E J. SMITH, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 11-002272PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Sep. 07, 2011 |
Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
Sep. 06, 2011 |
Motion to Cancel Hearing and to Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC filed.
|
Sep. 06, 2011 |
Agency`s court reporter confirmation letter filed with the Judge.
|
Aug. 26, 2011 |
Notice of Filing filed.
|
Aug. 24, 2011 |
Respondent's Notice of Serving Responses to Petitioner's Request for Admissions filed.
|
Jun. 24, 2011 |
Notice of Service of Petitioner's Request for Admissions to Respondent filed.
|
Jun. 24, 2011 |
Notice of Service of Petitioner's Request for Production to Respondent filed.
|
Jun. 24, 2011 |
Notice of Service of Petitioner's First Set of Interrogatories to Respondent filed.
|
May 24, 2011 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
May 24, 2011 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for September 13, 2011; 9:00 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes and Tallahassee, FL).
|
May 11, 2011 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
|
May 05, 2011 |
Initial Order.
|
May 03, 2011 |
Respondent's Motion to Re-Open Case and Schedule Final Hearing filed. (FORMERLY DOAH CASE NO. 10-9716PL)
|
Oct. 18, 2010 |
Letter to K. Richards from Agency`s General Counsel requesting administrative hearing and notification of counsel of record.
|
Oct. 18, 2010 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Oct. 18, 2010 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Oct. 18, 2010 |
Agency referral filed.
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