Petitioner: JOHN L. WINN, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: LINDA GAIL FRENCH
Judges: CHARLES C. ADAMS
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Madison, Florida
Filed: Jul. 23, 2007
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Thursday, November 8, 2007.
Latest Update: Dec. 23, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
a
O1- 095
JOHN L. WINN, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO. 023-1955-Q
LINDA GAIL FRENCH,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, John L. Winn, as Commissioncr of Education, filcs this Administrative Complaint
against LINDA GAIL FRENCH. 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, Principics of Professional Conduct for
the Education Profession in Florida, said sanctions specifically set forth in Sections 1012.795(1) and
1012.796(7), Florida Statutcs.
The Petitioner alleges:
JURISDICTION
1. The Respondent holds Florida Educator's Certificate 590921, covering the areas of
Elementary Education, English To Spcakers Of Other Languages (ESOL) and School Principal,
which is valid through June 30, 2008.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Principal at Excel
Alternative School in the Madison County Schoo! District.
MATERIA!I. ALLEGATIONS
3. During the 2002-2003 school year the Respondent allowed students to incorrectly
lake the High School Competency Test when in fact they should have taken the Florida
Comprehensive Assessment Test.
4. During the 2002-2003 school year the Respondent failed to properly administer
LINDA GAIL FRENCH
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 4
and comply with the test requirements for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in that she:
(a) failed to account for all FCAT test materials;
(b) photocopied the FCAT answer document; and
(c) did not read the FCAT test administration manual.
5. During the 2002-2003 school year the Respondent failed to adhere to school board
policy by allowing non-certified teachers (o teach out of field without proper documentation thal they
had completed course work required for teaching out of field.
6. During the 2002-2003 school year the Respondent failed to implement and adhere
to school board policies regulating collection, accounting and cxpenditure of school board funds.
7. During the 2002-2003 school year the Respondent failed to implement and adhere
lo school board policies regulating pupil progression from one grade level to the next. Specifically,
the Respondent allowed promotion of students despite disqualifying grades and school attendance.
8. During the 2002-2003 school year the Respondent identified herself as the instructor
for over twenty classes when in fact she did not teach any classes during the school year.
9. During the 2002-2003 school year the Respondent failed to submit reports of
excessive student absences to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles as required °
by law.
TATUTE LATIONS
COUNT 1; The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)(o), Florida Statutes, in
that Respondent has proved to be incompetent to teach or to perform duties as an employee of the
public school system or to teach in or to opcrate a private school.
COUNT 2: ‘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.
COUNT3: The Respondentis in violation of Section 1012.795(1){D, Florida Statutes, in
that Respondent has becn found guilty ofpersonat conduct which seriously reduces her effectiveness
as an employee of the school board.
LINDA GAIL FRENCH
Administrative Complaint
Page 3 of 4
COUNT 4: TheRespondentis 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 sct forth hercin are in violation of Rule 6B-
1.006(3)(a), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has failed to make reasonable effort
fo protect the student from conditions harmful io learning and/or to the student’s mental health
and/or physical health and/or safety,
COUNT 6: The allegations of misconduct set jorth herein are in violation of Rule 6B-
1.006(5)(a), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has failed to maintain honcsty in all
professional dealings.
COUNT 7: The Respondent is in violation of Rule 6B.1006(5)(h), Florida Administrative
Codc in that Respondent has submitted fraudulent information on a document in connection with
professional activities.
- LINDA GAIL FRENCH
Administrative Complaint
Page 4 of 4
WHEREFORE, based on the reasons set forth herein and in accordance with the
Explanation of Rights and Elcction 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 arc 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 thc 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 /9 day of Lip , 2006.
Avil te.
JOHN L. WINN, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 07-003395PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Nov. 08, 2007 |
Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
Nov. 07, 2007 |
Stipulated Motion to Close File and Relinquish Jurisdiction filed.
|
Sep. 26, 2007 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing (hearing set for November 15 and 16, 2007; 9:30 a.m.; Madison, FL).
|
Sep. 21, 2007 |
Joint Motion to Continue Formal Hearing filed.
|
Aug. 16, 2007 |
Respondent`s First Request for Production of Documents filed.
|
Aug. 16, 2007 |
Respondent`s Notice of Service of First Set of Interrogatories to Petitioner filed.
|
Jul. 30, 2007 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Jul. 30, 2007 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for October 3 and 4, 2007; 9:30 a.m.; Madison, FL).
|
Jul. 25, 2007 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Jul. 23, 2007 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Jul. 23, 2007 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Jul. 23, 2007 |
Letter to K. Richards from Agency`s General Counsel requesting administrative hearing and notification of counsel of record.
|
Jul. 23, 2007 |
Agency referral filed.
|
Jul. 23, 2007 |
Initial Order.
|