Petitioner: PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: CHARLES HANKERSON
Judges: F. SCOTT BOYD
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Miami, Florida
Filed: Jan. 13, 2015
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Tuesday, March 10, 2015.
Latest Update: Sep. 08, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO. 112-1703
CHARLES EDWARD HANKERSON,
Respondent,
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against CHARLES EDWARD HANKERSON. The Petitioner seeks the appropriate
disciplinary sanction of the Respondent’s.educator’s certificate pursuant to Sections 1.012.315,
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
1, The Respondent holds Florida Educator’s Certificate 603890, covering the area of
Educational Leadership, Physical Education and School Principal, which is valid through June
30, 2017.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Principal at
Northwestern High School in the Miami-Dade County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3, Between June 28, 2010 and June 29, 2010, Respondent improperly instructed a
subordinate, teacher Sheri Bearman, to change the grades of a student, C.L., and improperly
instructed Ms. Bearman to forge the signatures of two teachers on the subject grade change
forms, Ms. Bearman complied with Respondent’s request without further inquiry. Respondent
signed and approved the grade change forms as Principal. Respondent then knowingly allowed
the forged grade change forms to be used to authorize changes to C.L.’s official transcript,
CHARLES EDWARD HANKERSON
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 3
improving C.L.’s grades and making CLL. eligible for’a scholarship from the National College
Athletic Association (NCAA). C.L. was not aware that his grades were improperly changed,
4, Upon discovering the discrepancies in C.L.’s grades, the NCAA determined that
C.L. did not qualify for his scholarship, and C.L. was removed from his college football team.
5. On multiple occasions during the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years,
Respondent received gifts in excess of $25.00 from registered vendors that provide services to
Miami Dade County Schools and Northwestern High School, including:
(a) a golfing excursion, with lodging and golf fees paid in full, in 2009 from vendor Cool
Kids Learn, Inc., a tutoring company. Cool Kids Learn, Inc. paid approximately $1400.00
total for both Respondent and Vice Principal John Walker to attend this golfing event;
and
(b) two golfing excursions with lodging and golf fees paid in full, in 2009 and 2010, from
Darryl Holsendoilph, president of vendor Holsen, Inc., which provides merchandising to
several schools, including Northwestern High School. The value of these two excursions
was $470.50 and $497.50, respectively,
6. On or about November 21, 2012, Respondent was demoted from High School
Principal to Middle School Principal by Miami-Dade County Schools as a result of the conduct
alleged herein.
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)(g), Florida Statutes,
in that Respondent has been found guilty of personal conduct which seriously reduces
effectiveness as an employee of the school board.
COUNT 3: The Respondent-is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)@), 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(3)(a), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has failed to make reasonable
CHARLES EDWARD HANKERSON
Administrative Complaint
Page 3 of 3
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.
COUNTS: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are im violation of Rule 6A-
10.081(4)(c), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has used institutional privileges
for personal gain or advantage.
COUNT 6: 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.
COUNT 7: 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
fo, 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 “24 dayot_Warcch 2014,
nw
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 15-000210PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Mar. 10, 2015 |
Order Closing Files and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Mar. 09, 2015 |
(Petitioner's) Motion to Cancel Hearing and to Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC filed.
|
Jan. 15, 2015 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for March 25 and 26, 2015; 9:00 a.m.; Miami, FL).
|
Jan. 15, 2015 |
Order of Consolidation (DOAH Case Nos. 14-5639PL and 15-0210PL).
|
Jan. 14, 2015 |
Joint Motion to Consolidate/Motion to Reset Hearing filed.
|
Jan. 13, 2015 |
Initial Order.
|
Jan. 13, 2015 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Jan. 13, 2015 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Jan. 13, 2015 |
Request for Administrative Hearing filed.
|
Jan. 13, 2015 |
Agency referral filed.
|