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PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION vs ELISABETH KIRTLEY, 15-004983PL (2015)

Court: Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 15-004983PL Visitors: 17
Petitioner: PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: ELISABETH KIRTLEY
Judges: J. LAWRENCE JOHNSTON
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: St. Petersburg, Florida
Filed: Sep. 04, 2015
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Monday, January 11, 2016.

Latest Update: May 23, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION PAM STEWART, as Commissioner of Education, Petitioner, vs CASE NO, 134-1603 _ ELISABETH KIRTLEY, Respondent. ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint against ELISABETH KIRTLEY. 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 518962, covering the areas of Emotionally Handicapped, Reading, Specific Learning Disabilities, Varying Exceptionalities, and Gifted, which is valid through June 30, 2018. 2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Middie School Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Teacher at Calvin Hunsinger ESE Center in the Pinellas County School District. MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS 3. On or about February 8, 2013, the Respondent failed to keep track of and properly supervise her students, resulting in third grade Exceptional Student Education student C.R. being molested by Respondent’s seventh grade student Z.M, ELISABETH KIRTLEY Administrative Complaint Page 2 of 2 The Petitioner charges: STATUTE VIOLATIONS COUNT 1: 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 2: 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 3: 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. 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 JF dayof __ Marek , 2015. bh y—flceerh PAM STEWART, as Commissioner of Education State of Florida

Docket for Case No: 15-004983PL
Issue Date Proceedings
Jan. 11, 2016 Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
Jan. 11, 2016 Unopposed Motion to Close File filed.
Dec. 30, 2015 Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for March 9, 2016; 9:30 a.m.; St. Petersburg, FL).
Dec. 29, 2015 Notice of Taking Deposition (Elisabeth Kirtley) filed.
Dec. 22, 2015 Respondent's Agreed Motion to Reschedule Hearing filed.
Oct. 08, 2015 Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for January 12, 2016; 9:30 a.m.; St. Petersburg, FL).
Oct. 07, 2015 (Respondent's) Motion to Reschedule Hearing filed.
Sep. 14, 2015 Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
Sep. 14, 2015 Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for November 4, 2015; 9:30 a.m.; St. Petersburg and Tallahassee, FL).
Sep. 14, 2015 Notice of Transfer.
Sep. 11, 2015 Respondent's Response to Initial Order filed.
Sep. 10, 2015 Certificate of Service of Discovery filed.
Sep. 10, 2015 Petitioner's Response to Initial Order filed.
Sep. 04, 2015 Initial Order.
Sep. 04, 2015 Election of Rights filed.
Sep. 04, 2015 Agency referral filed.
Sep. 04, 2015 Administrative Complaint filed.
Source:  Florida - Division of Administrative Hearings

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