STATE OF FLORIDA EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION PAM STEWART, as Commissioner of Education, Petitioner, VS. CASE NO. 123-0034 HENRY J. COOK, Respondent. ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint against HENRY J, COOK. 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 6A-10.081, 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 L. The Respondent. holds. Florida Educator's. Certificate.747756,.covering.the-areas..... of Educational Leadership, Elementary Education, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum, which is valid through June 30, 2017. 2, At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Co-Athletic Director at Glades Central High School in the Palm Beach County School District. MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS 3. During the 2008-2009 school year, while serving as Co-Athletic Director at Glades Central High School, Respondent submitted, and received payment for, coaching supplements for which he was not entitled to receive. Respondent submitted one supplement claiming to be the Girl’s Flag Football Coach. Respondent submitted another supplement claiming to be the Swim Team Coach. During the 2008-2009 school year at Glades Central High School, Respondent did not coach the Girl’s Flag Football Team and the Swim Team did not exist. When questioned by law enforcement, Respondent falsely told law enforcement that HENRY J. COOK Administrative Complaint Page 2 of 3 he had submitted the forms on behalf of other coaches and transferred the funds to other coaches. Those other coaches informed law enforcement that they had submitted their own coaching supplement forms and received payment directly from the school district. Respondent was paid $3,275.00 for each supplement and kept the funds for his own personal use. 4, On or about March 28, 2012, Respondent was arrested and charged with Theft and Official Misconduct. On or about March 29, 2012, an Information was filed for the following charges: Count 1: Official Misconduct, Count 2: Organized Scheme to Defraud, Count 3: Grand Theft, and Count 4: False Official Statements. 5. Respondent subsequently pled not guilty to Counts 1, 2 and 3, and the court entered an order of nolle prosequi with respect to those counts. On or about January 2, 2013, Respondent pled guilty to Count 4 and was adjudicated guilty. 6. Pursuant to Section 1012.795(2), Florida Statutes, the plea of guilty or the decision of guilty by a court is prima facie proof of grounds for revocation or other sanctions. 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. COUNT 2: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)\(f), Florida Statutes, in that Respondent has been convicted or found guilty of, or entered a plea of guilty to, regardless of adjudication of guilt, a misdemeanor, felony, or any other criminal charge, other than-armnor-trafic-volation,. COUNT 3: The Respondent is 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. RULE VIOLATIONS COUNT 4: — The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A- 10.081(4)(c), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has used institutional privileges for personal gain or advantage. COUNT 5: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A- 10.081(5)(a), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has failed to maintain honesty in all professional dealings. HENRY J. COOK Administrative Complaint Page 3 of 3 COUNT 6: The Respondent is in violation of Rule 6A-10.081(5)(h), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has submitted fraudulent information on a document in connection with professional activities. 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 Z)__ day of Roc | 2014. bb feces PAM STEWART, as Commissioner of Education State of Florida

Docket for Case No: 14-004066PL