STATE OF FLORIDA EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION RICHARD CORCORAN, as Commissioner of Education, Petitioner, vs. CASE NO. 189-1119 NICOLE TRANAE CURRY-COFFEE, Respondent. ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT Petitioner, Richard Corcoran, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint against NICOLE TRANAE CURRY-COFFEE. 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 832785, covering the areas of Gifted and Political Science, which is valid through June 30, 2023. 2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Teacher at Country Club Middle School in the Miami-Dade County School District. MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS 3. On or about November 1, 2018, Respondent was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol while on duty and in the presence of students. Respondent was observed by her assistant principal to have incoherent speech, an unsteady gait and glassy eyes. An administrator from a neighboring school was called to Respondent’s school since Respondent’s principal was off campus. The visiting principal observed Respondent to have glassy eyes and slurred speech and to refuse to sit down while they spoke. The visiting principal also observed Respondent to sway while standing. When the visiting principal informed Respondent that Respondent was suspected of being under the influence of a substance, Respondent refused to listen and began to AC-2 NICOLE TRANAE CURRY-COFFEE Administrative Complaint Page 2 of 3 scream and curse at the principal. When informed that she was being required to submit to a reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test, Respondent refused. After being informed that a refusal to submit to the test would be treated the same as a positive result, Respondent continued to refuse. Respondent walked out of the office and left campus in her vehicle. 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)(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(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. (SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE) AC-3 NICOLE TRANAE CURRY-COFFEE 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 5“ day of Sete mber _, 2019. hhh ~ RICHARD CORCORAN, as Commissioner of Education State of Florida AC-4 / agine the Future Florida Education Association February 27, 2019 VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL FEA LEGAL SERVICES- 213 South Adams Street Tallahassee, FL 32301 TEL: 850.224.7818 Toll Free: 888.522.4912 FAX: 850.224.0447 www. feaweb.org Ms. Morgan Thompson Professional Practices Services 325 West Gaines Street 224E Florida Education Center Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400 Re: Nicole Tranae Curry-Coffee Case No. 189-1119 Dear Ms. Thompson: Please be advised that I will be representing Ms. Curry-Coffee in the above- referenced PPS investigation. My paralegal, Tamara Odom, will assist me in this matter. Please direct all further correspondence and/or contact to my attention. This is also to request that a copy of the Department’s investigative materials be provided for review as far in advance of the informal conference as possible. In the event that the time allotted is insufficient, I will advise. Additionally, this request is intended to solicit any and all witness statements; statements identifying witnesses or potential witnesses; letters; investigator interview notes; statements of students, administrators, co-workers, colleagues or parents (whether written by the person or transcribed by another); and all documents, records, and/or other materials received or obtained in the course of the Department’s investigation or inquiry into this matter. Should additional materials as described above be provided to the Department after the informal conference, please accept this notice as my request that the Department supplement its response by providing such materials to me. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Sincerely, i FEA Staff Counsel EM/tlo cc: Tracey Tolbert

Docket for Case No: 20-004122PL