Petitioner: PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: DENISE GILL
Judges: LISA SHEARER NELSON
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Jacksonville, Florida
Filed: Mar. 19, 2015
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Friday, May 1, 2015.
Latest Update: Jan. 03, 2025
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
VS. CASE NO. 134-1574
DENISE GRUPPE GILL,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against DENISE GRUPPE GILL. 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 Adminisirative 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 386743, covering the areas
of Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education and Reading, which is valid through June
30, 2015.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Fourth Grade
Teacher at Ruth N. Upson Elementary School in the Duval County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3. On or about April 18, 2013, two fourth grade students reported to Respondent that
there were two students involved in a physical fight in one of the school’s restrooms. Respondent
told the reporting students that the fight was “not my problem,” or words to that effect.
Respondent failed to take any action to stop the fight.
4. On, or about April 19, 2013, two fourth grade students reported to Respondent that
they were being bullied by another student. Respondent failed to take any action whatsoever to
DENISE GRUPPE GILL
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 3
assist the reporting students. Instead, Respondent told the bullied students to “get help from an
older student,” or words to that effect. When the students reported the bullying a second time,
Respondent told them that “the only thing that was important at the moment was finding
[Respondent’s] lost cell phone,” or words to that effect.
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)q), 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)(a), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has failed to make reasonable
effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to leamming and/or to the student’s mental
health and/or physical health and/or safety,
COUNT 4: The allegations of misoonduct 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.
(SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE)
DENISE GRUPPE GILL
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 educator’s
certificate for a period of time up to 10 years or permanently.
EXECUTED on this 218* aay of Maw 2014.
Ly Loeenrs
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
STATE OF FLORIDA
GRETCHEN KELLEY BRANTLEY MARK STRAUSS
Executive Director Chairperson
LEE ANN GUSTAFSON DAVID THOMPSON
Counsel Co-Chairperson
March 19, 2015
Denise Gill
4638 Martingale Road
Jacksonville, Florida 32210
RE: Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education vs. Denise Gill
DOE #386743
EPC Case # 15-0125-RT (reference all correspondence with this number)
Dear Ms. Gill:
On March 13, 2015, the Department of Education (DOE) filed your case with us, the Education Practices
Commission (EPC) to review and take appropriate action based upon the Election of Rights you
submitted. As you requested, we are forwarding your case to the Division of Administrative Hearings
(DOAH) for a formal hearing. DOAH will notify you as to the date, time and location of your formal
hearing. It is important that you review and timely respond to ail documents you receive and comply with
all deadlines assigned, so that you have the opportunity to dispute any of the facts alleged. If you are Pro
Se, DOAH’s website has an entire section on representing yourself.
Once DOAH hears your case, the Administrative Law Judge will submit a Recommended Order back to
us, the EPC, to take final agency action. We will schedule your case for a final hearing. We will notify
you as to the date, time and location of your final hearing.
All address changes after filing the Election of Rights, must be filed in writing with us, the EPC. It is
your responsibility to make sure your address is up-to-date and you check your mail. Our office will move
your case forward with or without your participation. If you have any questions, we can be reached at
(850) 245-0455.
Sincerely, p. - oy
Gretchen Kelley Brantley, as Clerk of EPC
Ce: Ron Weaver, Esquire
Duval County Schools
Office of Professional Practices Services
Counsel for Professional Practices Services
Bureau of Educator Certification
325 W. Gaines Street 316 Turlington Building Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400 (850) 245-0455
Docket for Case No: 15-001556PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
May 01, 2015 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Apr. 30, 2015 |
(Petitioner's) Unopposed Motion to Close File filed.
|
Apr. 27, 2015 |
Notice of Taking Deposition (of Denise Gill) filed.
|
Mar. 31, 2015 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Mar. 31, 2015 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for May 26, 2015; 9:30 a.m.; Jacksonville and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Mar. 26, 2015 |
Petitioner's Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Mar. 20, 2015 |
Initial Order.
|
Mar. 19, 2015 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Mar. 19, 2015 |
Letter to G. Brantley from Agency`s General Counsel requesting administrative hearing and notification of counsel of record.
|
Mar. 19, 2015 |
Agency referral filed.
|
Mar. 19, 2015 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|