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DR. ERIC J. SMITH, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION vs LINDA MARTIN HARRISON, 09-003740PL (2009)

Court: Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 09-003740PL Visitors: 8
Petitioner: DR. ERIC J. SMITH, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: LINDA MARTIN HARRISON
Judges: LARRY J. SARTIN
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Miami, Florida
Filed: Jul. 15, 2009
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Friday, November 6, 2009.

Latest Update: Dec. 23, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION 576 PL DR. ERIC J. SMITH, as ON oT (0 r Commissioner of Education, Petitioner, vs. CASE NO. 089-0340 LINDA MARTIN HARRISON, Respondent. ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT Petitioner, Dr. Eric J. Smith, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint against LINDA MARTIN HARRISON. 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 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 hoids Florida Educator’s Certificate 405278, covering the areas of Elementary Education and School Principal, which is valid through June 30, 2011. 2. Atall times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Principal at Skyway Elementary School in the Miami-Dade County School District. MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS 3. Between February 26, 2007 and March 2, 2007, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) was administered at Skyway Elementary School. 4. Subsequent to the administration of the FCAT, in or around March 2007, the Respondent, or someone with her knowledge, supervision and direction, reviewed answer sheets from approximately forty-eight (48) fifth grade FCAT math tests, erased student answers, and replaced student answers with correct answers. LINDA MARTIN HARRISON Administrative Complaint Page 2 of 4 5. The Respondent is in violation of Section 1008.24(1), Florida Statutes, in that Respondent knowingly and willfully violated test security rules adopted by the State Board of Education for mandatory tests administered by or through the State Board of Education or the Commissioner of Education to students, educators, or applicants for certification or administered by school districts pursuant to s. 1008.22. 6. The Respondent is in violation of Section 1008.24(1)(c), Florida Statutes, in that Respondent coached examinees during testing or altered or interfered with examinees’ responses. 7. The Respondent i+ in violation of Section 1008.24(1)(e), Florida Statutes, in that Respondent failed to follow security rules for distribution and return of secure test as directed, or failed to account for all secure test materials before, during, and after testing. 8. The Respondent is in violation of Section 1008.24(1)(g), Florida Statutes, in that Respondent participated in, directed, aided, counseled, assisted in, or encouraged any of the acts prohibited in this section. 9. The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A-10.042(1), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent failed to maintain/admuinister tests in a manner to preserve test integrity. 10. The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A- 10.042(1)(c), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent assisted examinees in answering questions. 11. The allegations ot misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A- 10.042(1)(O, Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has participated in, directed, aided counseled, assisted in, or encouraged an activity which could result in the inaccurate measurement or reporting of examinees’ achievement. 12. The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A- 10.042(2), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent failed to keep test materials, booklets, answer keys, student responses secure and precisely accounted for. The Petitioner charges: STATUTE VIOLATIONS COUNT 1: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)(d), Florida Statutes, in that Respondent has been guilty of gross immorality or an act involving moral turpitude as defined by rule of the State Board of Education. COUNT 2: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1){g), Florida Statutes, LINDA MARTIN HARRISON Administrative Complaint Page 3 of 4 in that Respondent has been found guilty of personal conduct which seriously reduces her effectiveness as an employee of the school board. COUNT3: The Respondentis in violation of Section 1012.795(1)G), 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 5: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6B- 1.006(3)(d), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has intentionally suppressed or distorted subject matter relevant to a student’s academic program. COUNT 6: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6B- 1.006(4)(b), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has intentionally distorted or misrepresented facts concerning an educational matter in direct or indirect public expression. COUNT 7: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6B- 1.006(5)(a), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has failed to maintain honesty in all professional dealings. COUNTS: TheRespondentis in violation of Rule 6B.1006(5)(h), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has submitted fraudulent information on a document in connection with professional activities. (SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE) LINDA MARTIN HARRISON Administrative Complaint Page 4 of 4 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; determinirg 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 ot day of ar CH, 2009. DR. ERIC, SMITH, as Commissioner of Education State of Florida

Docket for Case No: 09-003740PL
Issue Date Proceedings
Dec. 30, 2009 Motion to Reopen Case (DOAH CASE NO. 10-0111PL ESTABLISHED) filed.
Nov. 06, 2009 Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
Nov. 05, 2009 Motion to Cancel Hearing and to Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC filed.
Sep. 03, 2009 Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for November 19 and 20, 2009; 9:00 a.m.; Miami and Tallahassee, FL).
Aug. 24, 2009 Notice of Serving Answers to Petitioner's First Set of Interrogatories filed.
Aug. 24, 2009 Motion for Continuance filed.
Aug. 24, 2009 Answer to Request for Admissions filed.
Aug. 24, 2009 Response to Request for Production filed.
Aug. 24, 2009 Respondent's First Set of Interrogatories to Petitioner filed.
Aug. 24, 2009 Respondent's First Request for Production filed.
Jul. 27, 2009 Order Directing Filing of Exhibits
Jul. 27, 2009 Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
Jul. 27, 2009 Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for October 1 and 2, 2009; 9:00 a.m.; Miami and Tallahassee, FL).
Jul. 24, 2009 Notice of Service of Petitioner's Request for Production to Respondent filed.
Jul. 24, 2009 Notice of Service of Petitioner's Request for Admissions to Respondent filed.
Jul. 24, 2009 Notice of Service of Petitioner's First Set of Interrogatories to Respondent filed.
Jul. 24, 2009 Unilateral Response to Initial Order filed.
Jul. 22, 2009 Response to Initial Order Dated July 15, 2009 filed.
Jul. 15, 2009 Initial Order.
Jul. 15, 2009 Administrative Complaint filed.
Jul. 15, 2009 Election of Rights filed.
Jul. 15, 2009 Letter to K. Richards from Agency`s General Counsel requesting administrative hearing and notification of counsel of record.
Jul. 15, 2009 Agency referral filed.
Source:  Florida - Division of Administrative Hearings

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