Petitioner: DR. ERIC J. SMITH, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: MAXWELL L. REEVES
Judges: J. D. PARRISH
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Orlando, Florida
Filed: Nov. 02, 2011
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Friday, January 13, 2012.
Latest Update: Jan. 13, 2025
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
DR. ERIC J. SMITH, as
Comunissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO. 090-2975
MAXWELL L. REEVES,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Dr. Eric J. Smith, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against MAXWELL L. REEVES. 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 1012876, covering the area of
Social Science, which was valid through June 30, 2010.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a History Teacher at
Tenial Uio! eo in the on Coun istri
lonial High School in the Orange County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3. During the 2009-2010 school year, the Respondent made inappropriate comments
in the presence of and directed at students. Specifically, the Respondent:
(a) made statements about the ethnicity of students at Colonial High School,
including but not limited to commenting that female student T.W.’s lastname did not
match her race; stating that Black and Hispanics disliked each other; and that while
the school’s sports teams were not good, they should be good at soccer because many
of the students are Hispanic;
Filed November 2, 2011 10:11 AM Division of Administrative Hearings
MAXWELL L. REEVES
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 3
(b) commented that shirts worn by female students were not appropriate because he
could “see their boobs” or words to that effect; and
(c) referred to students as “retarded,” “stupid,” and “idiots” and commented that
because his salary was tied to student performance, he would not be paid well.
4. On or about April 30, 2010, the Respondent was issued a written reprimand for
making inappropriate and disparaging comments to students.
5. Orange County Public Schools did not reappoint the Respondent for the next school
year,
The Petitioner charges:
STATUTE VIOLATIONS
COUNT 1: 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.
COUNT 2: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)(j), 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 3: ‘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 4: 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.
(SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE)
MAXWELL L. REEVES
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 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; 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.
7 ont Weel
EXECUTED on this 2 day of Une , 2011.
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 11-005632PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jan. 23, 2012 |
Transmittal letter from Claudia Llado forwarding Petitioner's proposed exhibits, to the agency.
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Jan. 13, 2012 |
Order Relinquishing Jurisdiction and Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
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Jan. 11, 2012 |
CASE STATUS: Hearing Held. |
Jan. 09, 2012 |
(Petitioner) Notice of Filing Proposed Exhibits (exhibits not available for viewing).
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Jan. 09, 2012 |
Amended Notice of Hearing (hearing set for January 12 and 13, 2012; 9:00 a.m.; Orlando, FL; amended as to additional date and change to live hearing).
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Jan. 09, 2012 |
Agency`s court reporter confirmation letter filed with the Judge.
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Jan. 09, 2012 |
CASE STATUS: Pre-Hearing Conference Held. |
Jan. 05, 2012 |
Petitioner's Request for Case Management Conference filed.
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Jan. 05, 2012 |
Respondent's Witness List filed.
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Jan. 05, 2012 |
Respondent's Pre-hearing Statement filed.
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Jan. 05, 2012 |
Notice of Transfer.
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Jan. 04, 2012 |
Letter to Judge McKibben from R. Weaver regarding exhibits filed.
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Dec. 29, 2011 |
Petitioner's Pre-hearing Statement filed.
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Dec. 29, 2011 |
Petitioner's Amended Witness List filed.
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Dec. 27, 2011 |
Petitioner's (Proposed) Exhibit List filed.
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Dec. 27, 2011 |
Petitioner's Witness List filed.
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Dec. 21, 2011 |
Notice of Transfer.
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Nov. 14, 2011 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
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Nov. 14, 2011 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for January 12, 2012; 9:00 a.m.; Orlando and Tallahassee, FL).
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Nov. 14, 2011 |
Certificate of Service of Discovery filed.
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Nov. 09, 2011 |
Unilateral Response to Initial Order filed.
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Nov. 02, 2011 |
Election of Rights filed.
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Nov. 02, 2011 |
Election of Rights filed.
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Nov. 02, 2011 |
Initial Order.
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Nov. 02, 2011 |
Agency referral filed.
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Nov. 02, 2011 |
Letter to K. Richards from Agency`s General Counsel requesting administrative hearing and notification of counsel of record.
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Nov. 02, 2011 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
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