Petitioner: RICHARD CORCORAN, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: DOROTHY SOKOWSKI
Judges: ELIZABETH W. MCARTHUR
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Altamonte Springs, Florida
Filed: Feb. 04, 2020
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Monday, June 15, 2020.
Latest Update: Jan. 18, 2025
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
RICHARD CORCORAN, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO. 189-1167
DOROTHY SOKOWSKI,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Richard Corcoran, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against DOROTHY SOKOWSKI. 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
1s The Respondent holds Florida Educator’s Certificate 837460, covering the areas of
Educational Media Specialist, English and Family and Consumer Science, which is valid through
June 30, 2020.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Teacher at BETA
Alternative School/St. Cloud Middle School in the Orange County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3 ‘hed fl the 2016-2017 school year, Respondent ae in inappropriate conduct
when she touched a BB year old student, on inner thigh and made li
uncomfortable.
4. On or about September 18, 2018, Respondent engaged in inappropriate condu
when she touched (I a f-year old MEER student, on Biiciee thigh and made a
uncomfortable.
AC-2
DOROTHY SOKOWSKI
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 2
The Petitioner charges:
STATUTE TION:
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(2)(a)1, 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.
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 5™ — dayof September , 2019,
Lhe
RICHARD CORCORAN, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
AC-3
Docket for Case No: 20-000611PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jun. 15, 2020 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Jun. 15, 2020 |
Order Granting Respondent's Motion to Admit Deposition Transcript in Lieu of Live Testimony.
|
Jun. 15, 2020 |
Unopposed Motion to Close File and Relinquish Jurisdiction to the Education Practices Commission filed.
|
Jun. 11, 2020 |
Respondent's Motion to Admit Deposition Transcript in Lieu of Live Testimony filed.
|
Jun. 03, 2020 |
Petitioner's Notice of Taking Remote Deposition (Sokowski) filed.
|
Jun. 02, 2020 |
Notice of Taking Depositions via Zoom Conference filed.
|
May 13, 2020 |
Notice of Taking Depositions via Zoom Conference filed.
|
May 13, 2020 |
Notice of Taking Depositions via Zoom Conference filed.
|
Feb. 27, 2020 |
Certificate of Service of Discovery filed.
|
Feb. 18, 2020 |
Notice of Service of Subpoena (OCPS) filed.
|
Feb. 18, 2020 |
Amended Notice of Service of Subpoena (OPD) filed.
|
Feb. 18, 2020 |
Notice of Service of Subpoena (OPD) filed.
|
Feb. 17, 2020 |
Order Granting Continuance and Rescheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for June 30, 2020; 9:30 a.m.; Altamonte Springs and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Feb. 14, 2020 |
Motion to Continue filed.
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Feb. 11, 2020 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
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Feb. 11, 2020 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for April 16, 2020; 9:30 a.m.; Altamonte Springs and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Feb. 11, 2020 |
Agreed Upon Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Feb. 05, 2020 |
Initial Order.
|
Feb. 04, 2020 |
Notice of Representation (Heidi Parker) filed.
|
Feb. 04, 2020 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Feb. 04, 2020 |
Finding of Probable Cause filed.
|
Feb. 04, 2020 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Feb. 04, 2020 |
Agency referral filed.
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