STATE OF FLORIDA EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION PAM STEWART, as Commissioner of Education, Petitioner, vs. CASE NO, 145-2620 FRANK JOSPEH ARDO, Respondent. / ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint against FRANK JOSEPH ARDO. 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 Ll. The Respondent holds Florida Educator’s Certificate 946095, covering the area of Social Science, which is valid through June 30, 2019. 2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Social Science Teacher at Gulf Coast High School in the Collier County School District. 3. During the 2014/2015 school year, Respondent engaged in an inappropriate relationship with H.B., a seventeen year old, female student. Respondent exchanged an excessive number of messages with H.B. over social media and through texting. Respondent’s messages to H.B. were inappropriate in their quantity and content. The messages were exchanged during school and outside of school hours. Respondent’s messages to H.B. included but were not limited to; telling H.B. that she was beautiful, hot and amazing, telling H.B. that she was important to him and that she held place in his heart, addressing H.B. as ‘baby,’ and referencing rubbing H.B.’s leg, Respondent inappropriately touched H.B. by rubbing her leg FRANE JOSEPH ARDO Administrative Complaint Page 2 of 3 repeatedly on multiple occasions and on one occasion by hugging H.B. and kissing H.B. on the nose. 4. On or about February 9, 2015, Respondent resigned in lieu of termination from his teaching position with the District as a result of his conduct. 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 ari employee of the school board. COUNT 2; The Respondent is in violation of section 1012.795(1)(j), 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. (SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE) FRANE JOSEPH ARDO 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 exeéed five years; revokitig 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 1G" day of (Viaycla 2016. hae SY PAM STEWART, as Commissioner of Education State of Florida

Docket for Case No: 16-006534PL