Petitioner: GERARD ROBINSON, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: TANGELA ROME
Judges: LISA SHEARER NELSON
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Cross City, Florida
Filed: Nov. 08, 2013
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Tuesday, January 7, 2014.
Latest Update: Dec. 24, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
GERARD ROBINSON, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO. 101-2472
TANGELA MARGARETTA ROME,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Gerard Robinson, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against TANGELA MARGARETTA ROME. 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 829706, covering the area of
Business Education, which is valid through June 30, 2013.
2. Atall times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Business Education
Teacher at Trenton High School in the Gilchrist County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3. In or around February 2011, in Gilchrist County, Florida, Respondent failed to
follow protocol and violated the Proctor Agreement for the Microsoft Office User Specialist
examination when she requested that sixteen-year-old female student L.D., and seventeeni-year-old
female student B.N. assist other students in taking portions of the examination. In exchange for L.D.
and B.N. assisting other students in contravention of pretocol and the Proctor Agreement,
Respondent did not require L.D. and B.N. to complete a portion of their course work in their
Business Education class.
TANGELA MARGARETTA ROME
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 3
4. Respondent stood to personally gain from the fraudulently obtained student scores,
because the score information is factored into the student learning gains portion of the teacher’s
performance evaluation and may affect the teacher’s ability to receive merit pay.
5. On or about March 17, 2011, the School District of Gilchrist County issued a letter
ofreprimand to Respondent, and prohibited Respondent from continuing her duties ofadministering
and proctoring the Microsoft Office User Specialist examination.
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 her
effectiveness as an employee of the school board.
COUNT3: The Respondentis in violation of Section 1012.795(1)(), 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)(h), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has exploited a relationship with a
student for personal gain or advantage.
COUNT 6: 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.
(SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE)
TANGELA MARGARETTA ROME
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.
EXECUTED on this Gtk day of Noveroar_, 2011.
Lol
GERARD GERARD ROBINSON, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 13-004339PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jan. 07, 2014 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Jan. 06, 2014 |
Stipulated Motion to Close File and Relinquish Jurisdiction filed.
|
Dec. 11, 2013 |
Amended Notice of Hearing (hearing set for January 15, 2014; 10:00 a.m.; Cross City, FL; amended as to Room).
|
Nov. 13, 2013 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Nov. 13, 2013 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for January 15, 2014; 10:00 a.m.; Cross City, FL).
|
Nov. 12, 2013 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Nov. 12, 2013 |
Notice of Appearance as Co-Counsel (John Leace) filed.
|
Nov. 08, 2013 |
Initial Order.
|
Nov. 08, 2013 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Nov. 08, 2013 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Nov. 08, 2013 |
Letter to G. Brantley from Agency`s General Counsel requesting administrative hearing and notification of counsel of record.
|
Nov. 08, 2013 |
Agency referral filed.
|