STATE OF FLORIDA EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION PAM STEWART, as Commissioner of Education, Petitioner, VS. CASE NO. 145-2224 PATRICIA K. SZREJTER, Respondent. ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint against PATRICIA K. SZREJTER. 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 323091, covering the areas of Middle Grades, Family and Consumer Science and Technology Education, which is valid through June 30, 2017. 2 At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Culinary Arts Teacher at Don Estridge High Tech Middle School in the Palm Beach County School District. MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS 3 On or about May 2, 2014, Respondent failed to adequately supervise and protect her students, when eighth grade student, J.J., climbed into the ice machine located in Respondent’s classroom. Respondent was unaware of the incident. 4, _On or about November 7, 2014, Respondent failed to adequately supervise and protect her students during a cooking activity. Students were making omelets by boiling eggs in PATRICIA K. SZREJTER Adininistrative Complaint Page 2 of 3 plastic bags. During the activity, sixth grade student I.P. pushed the hands of sixth grade students O.W. and D.Y. into the boiling water, causing O.W. and D.Y. to burn their hands. 5. On or about December 5, 2014, Respondent failed to adequately supervise and protect her students during a cooking activity. Respondent’s students were cooking bacon and failed to follow Respondent’s instructions. As a result, the bacon burned and filled the classroom with smoke. Respondent failed to immediately remove her students from the smoke filled classroom. 6. On or about May 15, 2015, Respondent failed to adequately supervise and protect her students during a cooking activity. Respondent allowed her class to bake peanut butter cookies without regard for the peanut allergies of one or more students. Respondent failed to remove students with peanut allergies from vicinity of her classroom during the activity as instructed by administration. The Petitioner charges: STATUTE VIOLATIONS COUNT 1: 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 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. (SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE) PATRICIA K. SZREJTER 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 \U™ day of (MOVIN , 2016. t LEY 6 ey PAM STEWART, as Commissioner of Education State of Florida

Docket for Case No: 18-000154PL