Petitioner: JOHN L. WINN, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: MARGARET DAWN BILLINGS
Judges: CHARLES C. ADAMS
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Macclenny, Florida
Filed: Aug. 08, 2007
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Thursday, October 25, 2007.
Latest Update: Aug. 29, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA EH ED
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION = Bese ew
| 07-259 3rE-
JOHN L. WINN, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
ys. CASE NO. 056-3095-F
MARGARET DAWN BILLINGS,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, John L. Winn, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint
against MARGARET DAWN BILLINGS. 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 840947, covering the areas of
Readings, Social Science and Exceptional Student Education, which is valid through June 30, 2007.
2. At all times pertinent hercto, the Respondent was employed as an SLD Teacher at
Baker County Middle School in the Baker County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3. During March, 2006, Respondent used her position as an educator to gain access to
non-public, student, disciplinary records of R.S., a fourteen-year-old, male, ESE student who had
been bullying Respondent’s son. Respondent submitted R.S.’s student records to a court of law to
become part of a public record in a proceeding to obtain a Temporary Injunction for Protection
Against Repeat Violence. On or about March 8, 2006, Respondent entered into a Settlement
Agreement with the district whcreby, she would resign from her teaching position effective March
29, 2006.
MARGARET DAWN BILLINGS
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 3
The Petitioner charges:
stAire Siok dinbiks
Sivision oF ; ;
COUNT 1: The Respondent ji:iu-igletion of,Section 1012.795(1}(c), Florida Statutes,
in that Respondent has been guilty of grossimmorality of an act involving moral turpitude.
COUNT 2: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1}{f), Florida Statutes, in
that Respondent has been found guilty of personal conduct which seriously reduces her effectiveness
as an employee of the school board.
COUNT 3: 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 4: 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 §: 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 6: ‘The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6B-
1.006(3)(f), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has intentionally violated or denied a
student’s legal rights.
COUNT ?: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6B-
1.006(3)(h), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has exploited a relationship with a
student for personal gain or advantage.
COUNT 8: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6B-
1.006(3\i), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has failed to keep in confidence
personally identifiable information obtained in the course of professional services, unless disclosure
serves professional purposes or is required by law.
COUNT 9: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6B-
1.006(4)(c), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has used institutional privileges for
personal gain or advantage.
ARGARET DAWN BILLINGS
c 2 Administrative Complaint
Page 3 of 3
WHEREFORE, based on the reasons 4} foith hereifahlf ih Uccordance with the
Explanation of Rights and Election of Rights. forms. attached to and made a part of this
Administrative Complaint, Petitioner respectfully i that the Education Practices
Commission impose an appropriate sanction a lent’s educator’s cerlificate pursuant
to the authority provided in Sections 1012.795(1) and {012. 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 wriiten 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 \a day & Decem b eg", 2006.
faite
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 07-003593PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Oct. 25, 2007 |
Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
Oct. 25, 2007 |
Motion to Close File filed.
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Sep. 14, 2007 |
Respondent`s Response to Petitioner`s Request for Production filed.
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Sep. 14, 2007 |
Respondent`s Verified Answers to Petitioner`s First Request for Admissions filed.
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Sep. 14, 2007 |
Respondent`s Notice of Service of Verified Answers to Petitioner`s First Set of Interrogatories filed.
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Aug. 28, 2007 |
Amended Notice of Hearing (hearing set for November 2, 2007; 10:00 a.m.; Macclenny, FL; amended as to Date ).
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Aug. 20, 2007 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
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Aug. 20, 2007 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for November 1, 2007; 10:00 a.m.; Macclenny, FL).
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Aug. 16, 2007 |
Respondent`s First Request for Production of Documents filed.
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Aug. 16, 2007 |
Respondent`s Notice of Service of First Set of Interrogatories to Petitioner filed.
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Aug. 14, 2007 |
Certificate of Service of Discovery filed.
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Aug. 13, 2007 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
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Aug. 08, 2007 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
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Aug. 08, 2007 |
Election of Rights filed.
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Aug. 08, 2007 |
Letter to K. Richards from Agency`s General Counsel requesting administrative hearing and notification of counsel of record.
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Aug. 08, 2007 |
Agency referral filed.
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Aug. 08, 2007 |
Initial Order.
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