STATE OF FLORIDA EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION PAM STEWART, as Commissioner of Education, Petitioner, vs. CASE NO. 123-1984 AMANDA L. STEVENS, Respondent. / ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint against. AMANDA L. STEVENS. 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 l. The Respondent holds Florida Educator’s Certificate 1 149310, covering the areas of Elementary Education, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Exceptional Student Education and Autism Spectrum Disorders, which is valid through June 30, 2015. 2. At ali times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as an Exceptional Student Education Teacher at Princeton House Charter School in the Orange County Schoo] District. MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS 3. On or about January 13, 2011, Respondent aided in restraining S.S., a non-verbal, six year old, female, autistic student. Further, Respondent watched without taking action while a teacher assistant restrained, by placing the sweater that $.S, was wearing over the back of a rifton chair and holding it there for a period approximating five minutes, thereby restraining S.S. against her will. In the course of the restraint, S.S. resisted by repeatedly banging her back against the wood chair resulting in injury to $.S. AMANDA L. STEVENS Administrative Complaint Page 2 of 3 4. On or about January 18, 2011, Respondent was terminated from her teaching position with the District as a result of the above referenced conduct. 5. On or about July 29, 2011, an article appeared in a publication of general circulation detailing $.8.°s injuries. The Petitioner charges: STATUTE VIOLATIONS COUNT 1: The Respondent is in violation of Section 1012.795(1)(¢), Florida Statutes, in that Respondent has been found guilty of personal conduct which seriously reduces effectiveness as an employee of the school board. COUNT 2: 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, RULE VIOLATIONS COUNT 3: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A- 10.081(3)(aj, 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 4: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in Violation of Rule 6A- 10.081(3)(e), Florida Admninistrative Code, in that Respondent has intentionally exposed a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement. (SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE) AMANDA L. STEVENS 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 edueator’s certificate for a period of time up to 10 years or permanently. EXECUTED on this__/7 day of_Qccember __, 2014, PAM STEWART, as Commissioner of Education State of Florida

Docket for Case No: 15-000959PL