Petitioner: RICHARD CORCORAN, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: PETER CORY
Judges: J. BRUCE CULPEPPER
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Altamonte Springs, Florida
Filed: Jun. 20, 2019
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Thursday, July 25, 2019.
Latest Update: Nov. 14, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
RICHARD CORCORAN, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO. 178-2101
PETER JOSEPH CORY,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Richard Corcoran, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against PETER JOSEPH CORY. 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 804740, covering the areas
of Elementary Education and Physical Education, which is valid through June 30, 2021.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Behavior
Interventionist at Goldsboro Elementary School in the Seminole County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3. During 2017, the Respondent made inappropriate comments, gestures and texts of
a sexual nature, repeatedly towards many colleagues. This behavior was continual, unwanted and
made Respondent’s colleagues feel uncomfortable. This conduct took place during school hours
and educators witnessed this inappropriate activity towards other colleagues.
4. The frequency of Respondent’s comments were described as occurring “almost
daily” and on a “regular basis.” A colleague stated that she did not come forward sooner as the
Respondent was her boss in some ways, had been at the school a long time and she needed his
help as a new educator.
PETER JOPSEH CORY
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 3
5. Respondent’s inappropriate conduct described below involved multiple
colleagues and includes but is not limited to words and/or behavior of similar effect of the
following:
“you look beautiful today;”
“I'd like to eat your p*ssy;”
“Can I make you c*m;”
“D*ck was hard and ready to be sat on;”
Respondent would show his aroused genitalia through his pants while standing in the
closet and asked, “are you sure you don’t want to come in here;”
“T love it when you wear your hair kinky;”
Gave a female colleague a pair of earrings;
“T wonder what your dress looks like on the floor;”
Whispered in a colleagues ear that he “slept naked to bed;”
“T love how you look when you get flustered;” and
“You look hot.”
6. As a result of the allegations herein, the district conducted an investigation from
November 15, 2017-January 29, 2018. Prior to the completion of the district’s investigation and
a recommendation by the Superintendent, on or about February 6, 2018, the Respondent resigned
with the district.
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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 as
defined by rule of the State Board of Education.
COUNT 2: 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 3: The Respondent is in violation of section 1012.795(1)(), 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 4: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A-
10.081(2)(c)4, Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has engaged in harassment or
discriminatory conduct which unreasonably interfered with an individual’s performance of
professional or work responsibilities or with the orderly processes of education or which created
E6B-90
PETER JOPSEH CORY
Administrative Complaint
Page 3 of 3
a hostile, intimidating, abusive, offensive, or oppressive environment; and further, failed to make
reasonable effort to assure that each individual was protected from such harassment or
discrimination.
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 \]* dayof__\pri| 52019.
AM
RICHARD CORCORAN, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Ee8-10
Docket for Case No: 19-003368PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jul. 25, 2019 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Jul. 25, 2019 |
Joint Motion to Close File filed.
|
Jul. 05, 2019 |
Notice of Taking Deposition (Lauren Cory) filed.
|
Jul. 05, 2019 |
Notice of Taking Deposition (Peter Cory) filed.
|
Jun. 25, 2019 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Jun. 25, 2019 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for August 29 and 30, 2019; 9:30 a.m.; Altamonte Springs and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Jun. 24, 2019 |
Notice of Transfer.
|
Jun. 24, 2019 |
Certificate of Service of Discovery filed.
|
Jun. 24, 2019 |
Agreed Upon Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Jun. 21, 2019 |
Initial Order.
|
Jun. 20, 2019 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Jun. 20, 2019 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Jun. 20, 2019 |
Agency referral filed.
|