Petitioner: PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: SARAH HOWARD
Judges: LISA SHEARER NELSON
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Jacksonville, Florida
Filed: Feb. 11, 2016
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.
Latest Update: Jan. 03, 2025
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
VS. CASE NO, 134-1224
SARAH F. HOWARD,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against SARAH F. HOWARD. 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 772693, covering the areas
of Biology and General Science, which is valid through June 30, 2016.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Biology Teacher
at Sandalwood High School in the Duval County School District,
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3. On or about September 9, 2013, Respondent, in front of the class, told L.S., a
fourteen year old, female student, to pull up her shirt and, referencing L.S.’s breasts, Respondent
stated that she was not impressed. Respondent went on to say that if the class wanted to sce real,
home-grown breasts that Respondent would show them hers.
SARAH F. HOWARD
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 3
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)G), 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.
COUNT 4: 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 fo unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.
(SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE)
SARAH F. HOWARD
Administrative Complaint
Page 3 of 3
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 13" _ day of July 2015.
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Pecos
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 16-000729PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Feb. 23, 2016 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Feb. 22, 2016 |
Unopposed Motion to Close File filed.
|
Feb. 19, 2016 |
Amended Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for April 18, 2016; 9:30 a.m.; Jacksonville and Tallahassee, FL; amended as to Venue).
|
Feb. 18, 2016 |
Notice of Ex-parte Communication.
|
Feb. 18, 2016 |
Notice of Telephonic Pre-hearing Conference (set for April 4, 2016; 10:30 a.m.).
|
Feb. 18, 2016 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Feb. 18, 2016 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for April 18, 2016; 9:30 a.m.; Jacksonville, FL).
|
Feb. 17, 2016 |
Respondent's Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Feb. 15, 2016 |
Petitioner's Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Feb. 11, 2016 |
Initial Order.
|
Feb. 11, 2016 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Feb. 11, 2016 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Feb. 11, 2016 |
Agency referral filed.
|