Petitioner: JOHN L. WINN, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: BERT PECK
Judges: LARRY J. SARTIN
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Filed: May 08, 2006
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Monday, November 20, 2006.
Latest Update: Feb. 08, 2025
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
JOHN L. WINN, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO. 045-0184-M
BERT PECK,
Di-[UI18 PL
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, John L. Winn, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint
against BERT PECK. The Petitioner seeks the appropriate disciplinary sanction of the Respondent’s
educator’s certificate pursuant to Sections 1012.795 and 1012.796, Florida Statutes, and pursuant
to Rule 6B-1.006, 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 655684, covering the areas of
Biology, Chemistry and General Science, which is valid through June 30, 2006.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Science Teacher at
Coral Springs Middle School in the Broward County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3. During the 2003-2004 school year, Respondent engaged in inappropriate and
unprofessional conduct with female students. Respondent made sexually suggestive comments to
three female students, M.L., B.G. and T.U., in the presence of others. Respondent also touched three
other female students, F.R., A.R., and A.F., in a manner that made the girls uncomfortable.
4, On or about October 6, 2004, Respondent was driving while intoxicated or otherwise
impaired. Respondent was arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence. On or about July
28, 2005, Respondent pled nolo contest to and the court adjudicated him guilty of Reckless Driving.
BERT PECK
; erle: 30 Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 3
Effective November 8, 2004, Respondent resigned from his position with the school board in lieu
of termination.
STATUTE VIOLATIONS
COUNT 1: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)(c), Florida Statutes,
in that Respondent has been guilty of gross immorality or an act involving moral turpitude.
COUNT 2: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)(e), Florida Statutes,
in that Respondent has been convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or other criminal charge, other
than a minor traffic violation.
COUNT 3: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)(#), Florida Statutes,
in that Respondent has been found guilty of personal conduct which seriously reduces his
effectiveness as an employee of the school board.
COUNT4: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)(i), 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 5: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6B-
1.006(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.
COUNT 6: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6B-
1.006(3)(e), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has intentionally exposed a student
to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.
COUNT 7: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6B-
1.006(3)(g), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has harassed or discriminated against
a student on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs,
marital status, handicapping condition, sexual orientation, or social and family background and shall
make reasonable effort to assure that each student is protected from 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
BERT PECK
Administrative Complaint
Page 3 of 3
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; 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 Ce day of Decom ber, 2005.
7
JOHN L/ WINN, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 06-001618PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Nov. 20, 2006 |
Order Granting Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC in Absence of Disputed Material Facts. CASE CLOSED.
|
Nov. 02, 2006 |
Respondent`s Proposed Recommended Order filed.
|
Nov. 02, 2006 |
Petitioner`s Proposed Recommended Order filed.
|
Oct. 31, 2006 |
Letter to Judge Sartin from C. Whitelock requesting an extension of time filed.
|
Oct. 25, 2006 |
Petitioner`s Second Amended Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Oct. 19, 2006 |
Order on Motion to Reliquish Jurisdiction and Order Canceling Hearing.
|
Oct. 18, 2006 |
Respondent`s Objection to Petitioner`s Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC and Objection to Motion in Limine filed.
|
Oct. 18, 2006 |
Notice of Supplemental Authority filed.
|
Oct. 17, 2006 |
Unilateral Pre-hearing Statement filed.
|
Oct. 13, 2006 |
Respondent`s Responses to the Order of Pre-hearing Instructions filed.
|
Oct. 13, 2006 |
Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC in Absence of Disputed Material Facts and Motion in Limine filed.
|
Oct. 13, 2006 |
Petitioner`s Request for Judical Recognition filed (personal Information not available for viewing).
|
Sep. 28, 2006 |
Subpoena Duces Tecum (2) filed.
|
Sep. 28, 2006 |
Notice of Filing (Subpoena Duces Tecum).
|
Sep. 11, 2006 |
Petitioner`s Request for Copies from Non-party filed.
|
Sep. 01, 2006 |
Order Re-scheduling Hearing (hearing set for October 23 and 24, 2006, 2006; 9:30 a.m.; Fort Lauderdale, FL).
|
Aug. 31, 2006 |
Case Status Report filed.
|
Aug. 31, 2006 |
Subpoena Duces Tecum filed.
|
Aug. 31, 2006 |
Notice of Filing (Subpoena Duces Tecum) filed.
|
Aug. 15, 2006 |
Notice of Production from Non-party filed.
|
Jul. 31, 2006 |
Order Granting Continuance (parties to advise status by August 31, 2006).
|
Jul. 31, 2006 |
Respondent`s Notice of Filing Responses to Petitioner`s Request for Production filed.
|
Jul. 28, 2006 |
Notice of Service of Respondent`s Responses to Petitioner`s First Set of Interrogatories filed.
|
Jul. 27, 2006 |
Motion to Abate/Continue and for Protective Order filed.
|
Jul. 27, 2006 |
Notice of Withdrawal of Motion to Compel Discovery (Respondent) filed.
|
Jul. 26, 2006 |
Motion to Compel Discovery (Respondent) filed.
|
Jul. 24, 2006 |
Motion to Compel Discovery (Petitioner) filed.
|
Jul. 14, 2006 |
Petitioner`s Reply to Respondent`s Responses to Petitioner`s Request for Admissions and Objections to Petitioner`s Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC in Absence of Disputed Material Facts filed.
|
Jul. 12, 2006 |
Order Denying Motion to Relinquish.
|
Jul. 03, 2006 |
Respondent`s Responses to Petitioner`s Request for Admissions and Objection to Petitioner`s Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC in Absence of Disputed Material Facts filed.
|
Jun. 30, 2006 |
Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC in Absence of Disputed Material Facts filed.
|
Jun. 06, 2006 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing (hearing set for August 15 and 16, 2006; 9:30 a.m.; Fort Lauderdale, FL).
|
Jun. 02, 2006 |
Parties Joint Motion for Continuance of Final Hearing filed.
|
Jun. 01, 2006 |
Order Granting Motion to Amend the Administrative Complaint.
|
May 30, 2006 |
Request for Production filed.
|
May 30, 2006 |
Notice of Service of Interrogatories filed.
|
May 23, 2006 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
May 23, 2006 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for July 24 and 25, 2006; 9:30 a.m.; Fort Lauderdale, FL).
|
May 22, 2006 |
Unilateral Response to Initial Order filed.
|
May 19, 2006 |
Motion to Amend the Administrative Complaint filed.
|
May 19, 2006 |
Notice of Service of Petitioner`s Request for Admissions to Respondent filed.
|
May 19, 2006 |
Notice of Service of Petitioner`s Request for Production to Respondent filed.
|
May 19, 2006 |
Notice of Service of Petitioner`s First Set of Interrogatories to Respondent filed.
|
May 09, 2006 |
Initial Order.
|
May 08, 2006 |
Letter to B. Peck from J. Rittenhouse regarding forwarding case to DOAH.
|
May 08, 2006 |
Finding of Probable Cause filed.
|
May 08, 2006 |
Notice of Appearance (filed by C. Whitelock).
|
May 08, 2006 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
May 08, 2006 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
May 08, 2006 |
Agency referral filed.
|