Petitioner: PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: STEVEN SOBIERAJ
Judges: F. SCOTT BOYD
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: West Palm Beach, Florida
Filed: Jun. 18, 2014
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Thursday, August 21, 2014.
Latest Update: Dec. 22, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO, 112-3224
STEVEN JOHN SOBIERAJ,
Respondent.
/
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint
against STEVEN JOHN SOBIERAJ. The Petitioner seeks the appropriate disciplinary sanction of
ihe Respondents educator’s certificate pursuant to Sections 1012.315, 1012.795, and 1012.796,
Florida Statutes, and pursuant to Rule 6A-10.081, 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
j
Le
J
he Respondent holds Florida Educator’s Certificate 924442, covering the areas of
Elementary Education and Music, which is valid through June 30, 2018.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Second Grade
Teacher at Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary Schoo! in the Palm Beach County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3, On or about February 10, 2012, Respondent was observed to have an odor of alcohol
on his breath, slurred speech and. a lack of concentration while on duty. Respondent submitted to
a reasonable suspicion alcohol test. The test revealed that Respondent had a positive blood alcohol
level.
STEVEN JOHN SOBIERAJ
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 2
The Petitioner charges:
STATUTE VIOLATIONS
\
COUNT I: | 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 2: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A-
10.081(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.
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 \@___ dayor De cermloar_, 2013,
Lb heres
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 14-002816PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Aug. 21, 2014 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Aug. 21, 2014 |
Joint Motion to Cancel Hearing and to Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC to Conduct Informal Hearing filed.
|
Jul. 23, 2014 |
Respondent's Responses to Petitioner's Request for Admissions filed.
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Jul. 07, 2014 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for September 2, 2014; 9:00 a.m.; West Palm Beach, FL).
|
Jul. 03, 2014 |
Notice of Transfer.
|
Jul. 03, 2014 |
Joint Motion to Continue filed.
|
Jun. 25, 2014 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
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Jun. 25, 2014 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for August 22, 2014; 9:00 a.m.; West Palm Beach and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Jun. 25, 2014 |
Notice of Service of Petitioner's Request for Production to Respondent filed.
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Jun. 25, 2014 |
Notice of Service of Petitioner's Request for Admissions to Respondent filed.
|
Jun. 25, 2014 |
Notice of Service of Petitioner's First Set of Interrogatories to Respondent filed.
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Jun. 24, 2014 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
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Jun. 18, 2014 |
Initial Order.
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Jun. 18, 2014 |
Letter to Steven Sobieraj from Gretchen Brantley regarding request for hearing filed.
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Jun. 18, 2014 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
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Jun. 18, 2014 |
Election of Rights filed.
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Jun. 18, 2014 |
Letter to G. Brantley from Agency`s General Counsel requesting administrative hearing and notification of counsel of record.
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Jun. 18, 2014 |
Agency referral filed.
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