Petitioner: DR. ERIC J. SMITH, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: LAWRENCE D. BROWN
Judges: LISA SHEARER NELSON
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Marianna, Florida
Filed: Oct. 05, 2009
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Tuesday, December 8, 2009.
Latest Update: Dec. 23, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
J 4S dtaPre
DR. ERIC J. SMITH, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO. 078-2303-F
LAWRENCE D. BROWN,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Dr. Eric J. Smith, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against LAWRENCE D. BROWN. 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 holds Florida Educator’s Certificate 874746, covering the area of
History, which is valid through June 30, 2010.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Social Studies
Teacher at Sneads High School in the Jackson County School District.
MATERTAL ALLEGATIONS
3. In November 2007, Respondent engaged in inappropriate and unprofessional
conduct. On at least three occasions, Respondent used the computer assigned to him in his
classroom to access internet chat rooms. While in the chat rooms, he engaged in discussions of a
sexual nature with others. At least one of the discussions was observed by students. Effective
November 20, 2007, Respondent resigned his position with the school board.
LAWRENCE D. BROWN
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 3
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,
in that Respondent has been found guilty of personal conduct which seriously reduces his
effectiveness as an employee of the school board.
COUNT3: The Respondent is 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-
1.606(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)(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(4)(c), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has used institutional privileges for
personal gain or advantage.
(SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE)
LAWRENCE D. BROWN
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 enroil 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 1 Lo¥ tay of . Vu Le, 2089.
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 09-005393PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Dec. 08, 2009 |
Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
Dec. 07, 2009 |
Motion to Cancel Hearing and For Remand filed.
|
Dec. 07, 2009 |
Agency`s court reporter confirmation letter filed with the Judge.
|
Dec. 02, 2009 |
Pre-hearing Stipulation filed.
|
Nov. 20, 2009 |
Notice of Service of Respondent's Supplemental Answer to Petitioner's First Interrogatories filed.
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Nov. 20, 2009 |
Petitioner's Supplemental Answer to Respondent's First Interrogatories filed.
|
Nov. 20, 2009 |
Respondent's Supplemental Answers to Interrogatories filed.
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Nov. 18, 2009 |
Notice of Taking Deposition (of L. Brown) filed.
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Nov. 13, 2009 |
Notice of Service of Supplemental Answer to Respondent's First Interrogatories filed.
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Nov. 10, 2009 |
Petitioner's Response to Respondent's Request for Production filed.
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Nov. 10, 2009 |
Notice of Service of Answers to Respondent's First Interrogatories filed.
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Nov. 09, 2009 |
Notice of Service of Respondent's Response to Request for Production filed.
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Nov. 09, 2009 |
Respondent's Notice of Service of Answers to Interrogatories and Request for Production filed.
|
Nov. 02, 2009 |
Notice of Change of Address for Counsel for Petitioner filed.
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Oct. 20, 2009 |
Notice of Service of Interrogatories and Request for Production filed.
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Oct. 14, 2009 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
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Oct. 14, 2009 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for December 10, 2009; 10:00 a.m., Central Time; Marianna, FL).
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Oct. 09, 2009 |
Notice of Appearance of Counsel for Petitioner, Dr. Eric J. Smith, as Commissioner of Education filed.
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Oct. 09, 2009 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
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Oct. 09, 2009 |
Petitioner's First Request for Production of Documents filed.
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Oct. 09, 2009 |
Notice of Service of Interrogatories filed.
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Oct. 05, 2009 |
Initial Order.
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Oct. 05, 2009 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Oct. 05, 2009 |
Election of Rights filed.
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Oct. 05, 2009 |
Letter to K. Richards from Agency`s General Counsel requesting administrative hearing and notification of counsel of record.
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Oct. 05, 2009 |
Agency referral filed.
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