Petitioner: PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: REBECCA WILLIAMS
Judges: LISA SHEARER NELSON
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Gainesville, Florida
Filed: Mar. 23, 2016
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Thursday, April 14, 2016.
Latest Update: Dec. 23, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO. 145-2534
REBECCA AUDREY WILLIAMS,
Respondent.
/
/
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Pam Stewart; as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against REBECCA AUDREY WILLIAMS. 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 1039518, covering the area
of Athletic Coaching, which is valid through June 30, 2019.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as an Athletic Coach /
Student Services Specialist at Buchholz High School in the Alachua County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
4
3. During the 2014/2015 school year basketball season, Respondent, in her capacity
as head coach of the girls’ basketball team, engaged in unsportsmanlike conduct at games, in
front of her team and the public. Respondent yelled at officials claiming they were not calling
the game fairly and accusing them of being horrible officials. Respondent yelled, “If I were one
of those refs, T would not show my face at any function in town,” or words to that effect.
Additionally, Respondent failed to properly supervise her players, allowing them to engage in
similar unsportsmanlike conduct without correction or consequence.
REBECCA AUDREY WILLIAMS
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 3
4 During the season referenced above, Respondent knowingly used an unauthorized
player during multiple varsity games, The ineligible player was K.H., a female student who
attended a charter school and who was not zoned for or eligible to play for Respondent's school,
Respondent deliberately concealed K.HL.'s identity by listing her on rosters as JF. a female
student from Respondent’s school who had tried out for the team but had not played in any
games. K.H. wore number 33 in games. When questioned, Respondent identified number 33 as
JP.
5. On or about January 26, 2015, the girls’ basketball team’s season was forfeited.
6. On or about January 30, 2015, Respondent was relieved of her coaching duties.
7. On or about February 24, 2015, the Florida High School Athletic Association
(FHSAA) fined Respondent’s school and placed the girls’ basketball team on administrative
probation for a period of one year.
The Petitioner charges:
STATUTE VIOLATIONS
COUNT 1; 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 2: The Respondent is in violation of section 101 2.795(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 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 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(4)(b), Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has intentionally distorted or
misrepresented facts concerning an educational matter in direct or indirect public expression.
COUNT 5: 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.
REBECCA AUDREY WILLIAMS
Administrative Complai
nt
Page 3 of 3
WHEREFORE, based on the reasons set forth herein and in accordance with #
Explanation of Rights and Election of Rights forms attached to and made a part of this
Administrative Complaint, Petitioner respectfully recommends that the Education Practic
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. T
sanctions imposed by the Education Practices Commission may include, but are not limited
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
enroll in the Recovery Network Program; suspending the Respondent's educator’s certificate
a period of time not to exceed five years; revoking the Respondent’s educator’s certificate for a
Ne
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ne
0;
to
or
period of time up to 10 years or permanently; determining the Respondent to be ineligible
or
certification; or barring the Respondent from reapplying for an educator's certificate for a period
of time up to 10 years or permanently.
6
EXECUTED on this | day of Se p tember , 2015,
Adi becerf
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 16-001653PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Apr. 14, 2016 |
Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
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Apr. 14, 2016 |
Unopposed Motion to Close File filed.
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Apr. 07, 2016 |
Notice of Telephonic Pre-hearing Conference (set for June 1, 2016; 10:00 a.m.).
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Apr. 07, 2016 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
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Apr. 07, 2016 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for June 24, 2016; 9:30 a.m.; Gainesville and Tallahassee, FL).
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Apr. 06, 2016 |
Petitioner's Amended Response to Initial Order filed.
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Mar. 25, 2016 |
Certificate of Service of Discovery filed.
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Mar. 25, 2016 |
Petitioner's Response to Initial Order filed.
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Mar. 23, 2016 |
Initial Order.
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Mar. 23, 2016 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
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Mar. 23, 2016 |
Election of Rights filed.
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Mar. 23, 2016 |
Agency referral filed.
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