Petitioner: PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: DESTA KELLEHER
Judges: J. LAWRENCE JOHNSTON
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Lakeland, Florida
Filed: Nov. 10, 2015
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Monday, January 4, 2016.
Latest Update: Dec. 23, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO, 123-1847
DESTA MARTIN KELLEHER,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against DESTA MARTIN KELLEHER. 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 880532, covering the area of
Prekindergarten/Primary Education, which is valid through June 30, 2017.
2, At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Kindergarten
Teacher at Scott Lake Elementary School in the Polk County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3. The Respondent has a prior strike against her certificate, On or about July 31,
2012, the Florida Commissioner of Education determined probable cause on Respondent's
certificate. On or about January 29, 2014, the Educational Practices Commission issued a Final
Order accepting a Settlement Agreement with the Respondent.
4. On or about May 21, 2012, the Respondent had possession of methamphetamine
and drug paraphernalia. The Respondent was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and
possession of drug paraphernalia.
DESTA MARTIN KELLEHER
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 2
5. On or about June 7, 2012, an Information was filed charging the Respondent with
possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
6. On or about September 16, 2013, the Respondent entered into a deferred
prosecution agreement on both charges. Subsequently, the Respondent completed the
requirements of the deferred prosecution agreement and the charges were nolle prossed.
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 ag
defined by rule of the State Board of Education.
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, amy 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, 9 day of _/M gach. ee 2015,
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 15-006279PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jan. 04, 2016 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Unopposed Motion to Close File and Relinquish Jurisdiction to the Education Practices Commission filed.
|
Dec. 02, 2015 |
Notice of Taking Deposition (of Kimberly Banks) filed.
|
Nov. 23, 2015 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Nov. 23, 2015 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for January 13 and 14, 2016; 9:30 a.m.; Lakeland and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Nov. 16, 2015 |
Petitioners First Request for Admissions to Respondent filed.
|
Nov. 16, 2015 |
Certificate of Service of Discovery filed.
|
Nov. 16, 2015 |
Petitioners Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Nov. 12, 2015 |
Initial Order.
|
Nov. 10, 2015 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Nov. 10, 2015 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Nov. 10, 2015 |
Agency referral filed.
|