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PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION vs LAVERNE KALAFOR, 16-000946PL (2016)

Court: Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 16-000946PL Visitors: 10
Petitioner: PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: LAVERNE KALAFOR
Judges: LISA SHEARER NELSON
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Brooksville, Florida
Filed: Feb. 17, 2016
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Monday, April 11, 2016.

Latest Update: Jun. 15, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION PAM STEWART, as Commissioner of Education, Petitioner, vs. CASE NO. 123-2432 LAVERNE MARIE KALAFOR, Respondent. / ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint against LAVERNE MARIE KALAFOR. 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 L. The Respondent holds Florida Educator’s Certificate 931267, covering the areas of School Psychologist and School Social Worker, which is valid through June 30, 2015. 2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Psychologist Hernando County School District. MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS 3. On or about February 13, 2013, at approximately 3:40 p.m., Respondent was approached by three second-grade female students. One of the students, $.W., told Respondent that she had been raped by her stepfather. Respondent proceeded to question S.W. in the presence of the two other students. When the dismissal bell rang at approximately 3:50 p.m., Respondent released S.W. and the other two students. 4, Before leaving the school campus for the day, Respondent wrote a note (“the note”) regarding the conversation with $.W. and left the note on the desk ofthe school’s assistant LAVERNE MARIE KALAFOR Administrative Complaint Page 2 of 3 principal. The assistant principal discovered the note before leaving for the day, but the note was iNegible. 5. Law enforcement and the Department of Children and Families were not contacted regarding the alleged abuse until the following day. As such, Respondent failed in her duty to immediately notify law enforcement or the Department of Children and Families of the alleged child abuse. The Petitioner charges: STATUTE VIOLATIONS COUNT I: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012,795(1)(b), Florida Statutes, in that Respondent knowingly failed to report actual or suspected child abuse as required in s. 1006,061 or report alleged misconduct by instructional personnel or school administrators which affects the health, safety, or welfare of students as required in s. 1012.796. 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 leaming and/or to the student’s mental health and/or physical health and/or safety. (SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE) LAVERNE MARIE KALAFOR. 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 te and made a part of this Administrative Complaint, Petitioner respectfully recommends that t he 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 inc ude, 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. ft EXECUTED on this |4 — dayor Ocbstser 2014. PAM STEWART, as Commissioner of Education State of Florida

Docket for Case No: 16-000946PL
Source:  Florida - Division of Administrative Hearings

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