Petitioner: PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: THERESA DOUGLAS
Judges: J. LAWRENCE JOHNSTON
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Punta Gorda, Florida
Filed: Jan. 20, 2015
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Wednesday, March 25, 2015.
Latest Update: Dec. 25, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
VS. CASE NO. 123-1830
THERESA L, DOUGLAS,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against THERESA L. DOUGLAS. 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
1, The Respondent holds Florida Educator’s Certificate 865995, covering the areas
of Bnglish for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Mathematics and Specific Learning
Disabilities, which is valid through June 30, 2016.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as an Exceptional
Student Education Teacher at Port Charlotte Middle School in the Charlotte County School
District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3, On or about November 16, 2012, the Respondent inappropriately placed her
hands on a student. Specifically, the Respondent grabbed seventh grade female student, D.C, by
the upper arm and or shoulder area and pushed the student near a wall.
THERESA L. DOUGLAS
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 2
The Petitioner charges:
STATUTE VIOLATIONS
COUNT 1: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)Q), 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 2: 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
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.
COUNT 3: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A-
10.081(3)(e), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has intentionally exposed a
student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.
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 LG day of Aug sk , 2014,
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 15-000312PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Mar. 25, 2015 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Mar. 25, 2015 |
(Petitioner's) Unopposed Motion to Close File filed.
|
Mar. 23, 2015 |
Petitioner's Amended Witness List filed.
|
Mar. 20, 2015 |
Respondent's Witness List and Proposed Exhibits List filed.
|
Mar. 16, 2015 |
Petitioner's (Proposed) Exhibit List filed.
|
Mar. 16, 2015 |
Petitioner's Witness List filed.
|
Mar. 06, 2015 |
Notice of Service of Respondent's Answers to Petitioner's First Request for Admissions to Respondent filed.
|
Feb. 10, 2015 |
Order Accepting Qualified Representative.
|
Feb. 10, 2015 |
Respondent's Unopposed Motion to Recognize Jamison Jessup as her Qualified Representative filed.
|
Feb. 09, 2015 |
Notice of Appearance (Jamison Jessup) filed.
|
Feb. 05, 2015 |
Certificate of Service of Discovery filed.
|
Feb. 04, 2015 |
Amended Notice of Hearing (hearing set for March 26, 2015; 9:00 a.m.; Punta Gorda, FL; amended as to location).
|
Jan. 28, 2015 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Jan. 28, 2015 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for March 26, 2015; 9:00 a.m.; Port Charlotte, FL).
|
Jan. 27, 2015 |
Petitioner's Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Jan. 20, 2015 |
Letter to Theresa Douglas from Gretchen Brantley regarding your case filed.
|
Jan. 20, 2015 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Jan. 20, 2015 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Jan. 20, 2015 |
Letter to G. Brantley from Agency`s General Counsel requesting administrative hearing and notification of counsel of record.
|
Jan. 20, 2015 |
Agency referral filed.
|
Jan. 20, 2015 |
Initial Order.
|