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PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION vs STEPHANIE JONES, 15-000493PL (2015)

Court: Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 15-000493PL Visitors: 79
Petitioner: PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: STEPHANIE JONES
Judges: LISA SHEARER NELSON
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Eastpoint, Florida
Filed: Jan. 29, 2015
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Wednesday, April 29, 2015.

Latest Update: Dec. 24, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION PAM STEWART, as Commissioner of Education, Petitioner, WS. CASE NO. 123-2566 STEPHANIE HOWZE JONES, Respondent, / ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint against STEPHANIE HOWZE JONES. 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 1044982, covering the area of Social Science, which is valid through June 30, 2015, 2, At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Social Studies Teacher at Franklin County School in the Franklin County School District. MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS ” 3. On or about February 27, 2013, Respondent signed the FCAT 2.0 Test Administration and Security Agreement, which listed examples of prohibited activities, such as “Changing or otherwise interfering with student responses” and “Causing achievement of schools to be inaccurately measured or reported.” 4. On or about February 27, 2013, during administration of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) 2.0 Writing Assessment, Respondent provided improper assistance to tenth grade student K.G. by suggesting topics on which to base her STEPHANIE HOWZE JONES Administrative Complaint Page 2 of 4 writing response. 5. K.G.’s examination was invalidated as a result of Respondent's improper assistance. 6. The Franklin County Schoo! District investigated the allegation and, as a result, Respondent was issued a letter of reprimand, instructed to attend standardized assessment training, and suspended from administering or proctoring any District or Statewide Assessment in the Franklin County School District until the 2015-2016 school vear. The Petitioner charges: STATUTE VIOLATIONS COUNT 1: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1008.24(1), Florida Statutes, in that Respondent knowingly and willfully violated test security rules adopted by the State Board of Education for mandatory tests administered by or through the State Board of Education or the Commissioner of Education to students, educators, or applicants for certification or administered by school districts pursuant to s. 1008.22. COUNT 2: The Respondent is in violation. of Section 1008.24(1)(c), Florida Statutes, in that Respondent coached. examinees during testing or altered or interfered. with examinees’ responses. COUNT 3: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1008.24(1)(f), Florida Statutes, in that Respondent knowingly and willfully failed to follow test administration directions specified in the test administration manuals. COUNT 4: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1008.24(1)(g), Florida Statutes, in that Respondent participated in, directed, aided, counseled, assisted in, or encouraged any of the acts prohibited in this section. COUNT 3: 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 6: The Respondent is 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. COUNT 7: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)(k), Florida Statutes, in that Respondent has otherwise violated the provisions of law, the penalty for which is the revocation of the teaching certificate. STEPHANIE HOWZE JONES Administrative Complaint Page 3 of 4 RULE VIOLATIONS COUNT 8: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A- 10.042(1)(c), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent assisted examinees in answering questions. COURT & The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A- 10,042(1)(d), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent interfered with examinees answers while administering test. COUNT 16: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A- 10.042(1)(f), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has participated in, directed, aided counseled, assisted in, or encouraged an activity which could result in the imaccurate measurement or reporting of examinees’ achievement. COUNT Ii: 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 students mental health and/or physical health and/or safety, COUNT 12: 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 all professional dealings. (SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE) STEPHANIE HOWZE JONES Administrative Complaint Page 4 of 4 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 ah 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 permanenitly; 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 !4 — dayor Oclober 2014, PAM STEWART, as Commissioner of Education State of Florida

Docket for Case No: 15-000493PL
Issue Date Proceedings
Apr. 29, 2015 Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
Apr. 28, 2015 Petitioner's Notice of Voluntary Dismissal and Request to Close the Division's File filed.
Apr. 24, 2015 Notice of Service of Respondent's Supplemental Responses to Petitioner's First Interrogatories filed.
Apr. 23, 2015 Respondent Jones' Motion to Strike filed.
Apr. 09, 2015 Order Re-scheduling Hearing (hearing set for May 11 and 12, 2015; 9:30 a.m.; Eastpoint, FL).
Apr. 08, 2015 Notice of Taking Respondents Deposition filed.
Apr. 06, 2015 (Respondent's) Status Report filed.
Mar. 25, 2015 Order Granting Continuance (parties to advise status by April 6, 2015).
Mar. 23, 2015 (Respondent's) Unopposed Motion for Continuance filed.
Mar. 03, 2015 Respondent's Response to Petitioner's First Requst for Admissions filed.
Mar. 03, 2015 Respondent's Objections to Petitioner's First Request for Production of Documents filed.
Mar. 03, 2015 Respondent's Objections to Petitioner's First Set of Interrogatories filed.
Feb. 17, 2015 Petitioner's Response to Respondent's Request for Production of Documents filed.
Feb. 17, 2015 Notice of Service of Petitioner's Answers to Respondent's Interrogatories filed.
Feb. 12, 2015 Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
Feb. 12, 2015 Notice of Hearing (hearing set for April 7 and 8, 2015; 9:30 a.m.; Eastpoint, FL).
Feb. 05, 2015 Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
Feb. 03, 2015 Respondent's First Request for Production of Documents filed.
Feb. 03, 2015 Notice of Service of Respondent's First Set of Interrogatories filed.
Jan. 30, 2015 Petitioner's Request for Admissions filed.
Jan. 30, 2015 Petitioner's First Request for Production of Documents filed.
Jan. 30, 2015 Notice of Service of Petitioners First Interrogatories to the Respondent filed.
Jan. 29, 2015 Initial Order.
Jan. 29, 2015 Letter to Stephanie Jones from Gretchen Brantley regarding your case filed.
Jan. 29, 2015 Administrative Complaint filed.
Jan. 29, 2015 Election of Rights filed.
Jan. 29, 2015 Letter to G. Brantley from Agency`s General Counsel requesting administrative hearing and notification of counsel of record.
Jan. 29, 2015 Agency referral filed.
Source:  Florida - Division of Administrative Hearings

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