Petitioner: DR. ERIC J. SMITH, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: MARY EUGENE ELIZABETH DUPPER
Judges: JOHN G. VAN LANINGHAM
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Key West, Florida
Filed: Nov. 21, 2011
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Monday, January 23, 2012.
Latest Update: Nov. 14, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
DR. ERIC J. SMITH, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
VS. CASE NO. 089-2021
MARY EUGENE ELIZABETH DUPPER,
Respondent,
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Dr. Eric J. Smith, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against MARY EUGENE ELIZABETH DUPPER. The Petitioner seeks the appropriate
disciplinary sanction of the Respondent’s educator’s certificate pursuant to Sections 1012.315,
1012.795, and 1042.796, 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 fori in Sections 1012.795(1) and 1012.796(7), Florida Statutes.
The Petitioner alleges:
JURISDICTION
1. The Respondent holds Florida Educator’s Certificate 827301, covering the areas of
Prekindergarten/Primary Education and Exceptional Student Education, which is valid through June
30, 2012.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as an Exceptional
Student Education Teacher at Gerald Adams Elementary School in the Monroe County Schoo!
District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3. On or about May 30, 2007, Respondent, during an annual performance evaluation,
failed to meet satisfactory overall performance expectations and performed less than satisfactory in
the areas of “Management of Student Conduct,” “Instruction, Organization, and Development,”
“Knowledge of Subject Matter,” and, “Evaluation of Instructional Needs.” Respondent’s teaching
performance lacked curriculum content and the learning environment was “unacceptable” and
“unmanageable.”
Filed November 21, 2011 12:17 PM Division of Administrative Hearings
MARY EUGENE ELIZABETH DUPPER
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of $
4, On or about May 30, 2007, Respondent was placed on a professional development
plan which included:
(a) Observations and feedback provided by senior school administration
(b) Training in Pre-kindergarten curriculum
(c) Mentoring from ESE Teacher
(d) Co-teaching with a mentor
(e) Three changes to teacher aide per Respondent’s request
(2) Additional materials
(g) Additional time to redesign classroom
5. Respondent failed to attend numerous professional development sessions offered
during the Summer of 2007.
6. During the 2007 - 2008 school year, Respondent failed repeatedly to provide a
discipline plan to senior school administration officials as directed.
7. On or about April 9, 2008, Respondent, during an annual performance evaluation,
failed to meet satisfactory overall performance expectations and performed less than satisfactory in
the areas of “Management of Student Conduct,” “Instruction, Organization, and Development,”
“Knowledge of Subject Matter,’ “Evaluation of Instructional Needs,” and, “Professional
Responsibilities.” Respondent’s failure to improve her instructional and classroom management
practice was deemed detrimental to students.
8. On or about April 10, 2008, Respondent was placed on a 90-day performance
probationary period to correct deficiencies relating to:
(a) Management of Student Conduct: students misbehaving, no consequences for student
misbehavior, students leaving the classroom without Respondent’s knowledge.
{b) Instruction, Organization, and Development: inability to plan and develop lessons in line
with Pre-K curriculum and student IEPs, no focus to curriculum presentation in classroom,
not keeping students engaged.
(c) Knowledge of Subject Matter: failure to utilize school district implemented “Galileo”
curriculum lending itself to no scope and sequence to Respondent's teaching method.
MARY EUGENE ELIZABETH DUPPER
Administrative Complaint
Page 3 of 5
(d) Evaluation of Instructional Needs: no documentation to gauge student progress and
therefore no basis to support lesson plan development.
(e) Professional Responsibilities: missing directed deadlines and not attending after school
and evening, programs,
9. On her performance evaluation, dated June 7, 2008, Respondent failed to meet
satisfactory overall performance expectations and performed less than satisfactory in the areas of
“Management of Student Conduct,” “Instruction, Organization, and Development,” “Knowledge of
Subject Matter,” “Evaluation of Instructional Needs,” and, “Professional Responsibilities.”
10. During September 2008, Respondent failed to produce lesson plans as directed by
senior school administration officials.
11. | During September and October 2008, a series of observations were conducted to
evaluate Respondent’s teaching performance and a final evaluation was prepared on or about
October 30, 2008. Based on those observations, Respondent’s performance was found to be
unsatisfactory and a recommendation for termination would be forwarded to the District
Superintendent.
12. _ By letter dated November 14, 2008, Respondent was informed by the District
Superintendent that, due to her documented deficiencies in both curriculum development and
instructional practice, and her failure to make adequate improvements, her continued employment
was no longer justifiable.
Respondent has failed to work diligently and faithfully to help students meet or exceed annual
13. On October 27, 2009, Respondent’s employment was terminated.
14. Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.53(1), Florida Statutes, in that
“Tearing goals mn
15. Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.53(2), Florida Statutes, in that
Respondent failed to perform duties prescribed by rules of the district school board.
The Petitioner charges:
STATUTE VIOLATIONS
COUNT 1: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)(c), Florida Statutes,
in that Respondent has proved to be incompetent to teach or to perform duties as an employee of the
publi
school system or te teach in or te operate a private school.
MARY EUGENE ELIZABETH DUPPER
Administrative Complaint
Page 4 of 5
COUNT 2: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)(g), 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: The Respondentis in violation of Section 1012.795(1)(j), Florida Statutes, in
that Respondent has violated the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession
prescribed by State Board of Education rules.
COUNT 4: | The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)(k), 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 5: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 68-
1,006(3)(a), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has failed to make reasonable effort
to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning and/or to the student’s mental health
and/or physical health and/or safety.
(SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE)
MARY EUGENE ELIZABETH DUPPER
Administrative Complaint
Page 5 of 5
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.
aan 9
EXECUTED on this 264 day of Aeei \ , 2010.
a
DR. C J. SMITH, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 11-005994PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jan. 23, 2012 |
Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
Jan. 23, 2012 |
Motion to Cancel Hearing and to Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC filed.
|
Dec. 30, 2011 |
Respondent's Notice of Service of Response to Petitioner's Request for Admissions filed.
|
Dec. 30, 2011 |
Respondent's Notice of Service of Response to Petitioner's Request for Admissions filed.
|
Nov. 30, 2011 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Nov. 30, 2011 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for January 30, 2012; 9:00 a.m.; Key West and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Nov. 30, 2011 |
Notice of Service of Petitioner's Request for Production to Respondent filed.
|
Nov. 30, 2011 |
Notice of Service of Petitioner's Request for Admissions to Respondent filed.
|
Nov. 30, 2011 |
Notice of Service of Petitioner's First Set of Interrogatories to Respondent filed.
|
Nov. 30, 2011 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Nov. 21, 2011 |
Initial Order.
|
Nov. 21, 2011 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Nov. 21, 2011 |
Agency referral filed.
|
Nov. 21, 2011 |
Letter to K. Richards from Agency`s General Counsel requesting administrative hearing and notification of counsel of record.
|
Nov. 21, 2011 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|