Petitioner: PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: RICHARD LOUIS
Judges: F. SCOTT BOYD
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Miami, Florida
Filed: Oct. 29, 2014
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Thursday, November 20, 2014.
Latest Update: Dec. 23, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
VS. CASE NO. 112-1704
RICHARD LOUIS,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against RICHARD LOUIS. 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 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
1. The Respondent holds Florida Educator’s Certificate 788710, covering the area of
Social Science, which is valid through June 30, 2018.
2, At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as an Economics and
American Government Teacher at Northwestern High School in the Miami-Dade County School
District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3, In June of 2010, Respondent improperly changed the grades of a student,
Respondent submitted a grade change form improving student C.L.’s final grade and exam grade
in Respondent’s American Government Course. Respondent did not have proper justification in
the form of additional school work by C.L. or other documentation to justify the grade changes.
4. The grade change forms were used to authorize changes to C.L.’s official
transcript, improving C.L.’s grades and making him eligible for a scholarship from the National
RICHARD LOUIS
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 3
College Athletic Association (NCAA). C.L. was not aware that his grades were improperly
changed.
5. Upon discovering the discrepancies in C.L.’s grades, the NCAA determined that
C.L. did not qualify for his scholarship, and C.L. was removed from his college football team.
6. On or about April 18, 2013, Respondent inappropriately touched a student when
he pinched, poked and rubbed the back of 18-year-old, female student, A.K, during class, When
AK. pushed Respondent’s hand away from her, Respondent continued to rub A.K.’s back.
Respondent’s behavior made A.K. uncomfortable.
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
effectiveness as an employee of the school board.
COUNT 3: 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 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,
COUNT 3: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A-
10.081(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 6A-
10.081(3)(h), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has exploited a relationship with
a student for personal gain or advantage.
COUNT 7: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A-
10.081(5){a), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has failed to maintain honesty in
RICHARD LOUIS
Administrative Complaint
Page 3 of 3
all professional dealings.
COUNT 8: The Respondent is in violation of Rule 6A-10.081(5)(h), Florida
Administrative Code, in that Respondent has submitted fraudulent information on a document in
connection with professional activities.
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 thé Education Practices
Commission impose an appropriate sanction agairist 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 2 \ dayor_ (level, 2014
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 14-005126PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Sep. 03, 2015 |
Motion to Reopen Case filed. (DOAH CASE NO. 15-4991PL ESTABLISHED)
|
Nov. 20, 2014 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Nov. 19, 2014 |
(Petitioner's) Motion to Cancel Hearing and to Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC filed.
|
Nov. 10, 2014 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Nov. 10, 2014 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for December 4, 2014; 9:00 a.m.; Miami and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Oct. 30, 2014 |
Initial Order.
|
Oct. 29, 2014 |
Letter to Richard Louis from Gretchen Brantley regarding your case filed.
|
Oct. 29, 2014 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Oct. 29, 2014 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Oct. 29, 2014 |
Letter to G. Brantley from Agency`s General Counsel requesting administrative hearing and notification of counsel of record.
|
Oct. 29, 2014 |
Agency referral filed.
|