Petitioner: PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: SHERIKA DUNBAR
Judges: J. LAWRENCE JOHNSTON
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Tampa, Florida
Filed: Jun. 16, 2014
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Friday, August 8, 2014.
Latest Update: Jan. 05, 2025
STATE OF FLORIDA
EBUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
GERARD ROBINSON, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO. 101-2531
SHERIKA DENISE DUNBAR,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Gerard Robinson, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against SHIERIKA DENISE DUNBAR. The Petitioner seeks the appropriate disciplinary
sanction of the Respondent's educator’s certificate pursuant to Sections 1012.315, 1012.795, and
1.012.796, 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 823245, covering the areas of
Elementary Education and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), which is valid through
June 30, 2012.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Fourth Grade
Teacher at Bing Elementary School in the Hillsborough County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3, On or about March 7, 2011, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Deputies issued a search
warrant at the Respondent’s residence. The Respondent was found to be in possession of fans,
bulbs, containers, hydroponic equipment and other materials used to cultivate marijuana. The search
also revealed a smal] amount of marijuana and a pipe used to smoke marijuana. The Respondent
was arrested and charged with Possession af Cannabis, Manufacture of Cannabis, and Possession
of Drug Paraphernalia. On or about August 8, 2011, the Respondent entered a plea of nolo
contendere to the charge of Possession of Cannabis Less than 20 grams and the court withheld
SHERIKA DENISE DUNBAR
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 2
adjudication. The remaining charges were dismissed.
4, Upon notification of the Respondent’s arrest, on or about March 15, 201 1, the
Hillsborough County School District suspended the Respondent without pay.
The Petitioner charges:
STATUTE VIOLATIONS
COUNT i: 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.
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 ora
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 57" _ day of Mauda 2012,
GERARD ROBINSON, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
NG
Docket for Case No: 14-002796PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Aug. 08, 2014 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Aug. 07, 2014 |
(Petitioner's) Unopposed Motion to Close File filed.
|
Aug. 04, 2014 |
Notice of Appearance (Mark Herdman) filed.
|
Aug. 01, 2014 |
(Petitioner's) Notice of Filing Certified Copy of Court Records and Request for Judicial Recognition filed.
|
Jul. 08, 2014 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Jul. 08, 2014 |
Amended Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for August 25, 2014; 9:30 a.m.; Tampa and Tallahassee, FL; amended as to instructions for filing proposed exhibits).
|
Jul. 07, 2014 |
Letter to Marian Lambeth from Pam Cooper informing of withdrawal of legal services for Respondent filed.
|
Jul. 07, 2014 |
Certificate of Service of Discovery filed.
|
Jun. 26, 2014 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Jun. 26, 2014 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for August 25, 2014; 9:30 a.m.; Tampa and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Jun. 25, 2014 |
Petitioner's Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Jun. 17, 2014 |
Initial Order.
|
Jun. 16, 2014 |
Letter to Sherika Dunbar from Gretchen Brantley regarding request for hearing filed.
|
Jun. 16, 2014 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Jun. 16, 2014 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Jun. 16, 2014 |
Letter to G. Brantley from Agency`s General Counsel requesting administrative hearing and notification of counsel of record.
|
Jun. 16, 2014 |
Agency referral filed.
|