Petitioner: PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: COTTA UNGERER
Judges: E. GARY EARLY
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Tampa, Florida
Filed: Dec. 14, 2016
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Monday, February 20, 2017.
Latest Update: Nov. 16, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO. 145-3171
COTTA JEAN UNGERER,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against COTTA JEAN UNGERER. 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 64-10.081, 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 595169, covering the areas
of Elementary Education and English for Speakers of Other. Languages (“ESOL”), which is valid
through June 30, 2017.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed. as a Music Teacher at
Centennial Elementary School in the Pasco County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
4
3, On or about April 3, 2015, Respondent inappropriately physically disciplined
D.M., a second grade student, on school, grounds and during school hours.
The Petitioner charges:
STATUTE VIOLATIONS
COUNT 1: The Respondent is in violation of section 1012.795(1)G), Florida Statutes,
COTTA JEAN UNGERER
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 2
in that Respondent has violaied the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education
Profession prescribed by State Board of Education rules.
RULE VIOLATIONS
COUNT 2: 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.
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 |\* day of Alogi 2016.
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és pe pa
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 16-007369PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Feb. 20, 2017 |
Order Relinquishing Jurisdiction Without Prejudice and Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
Feb. 20, 2017 |
Notice of Voluntary Dismissal without Prejudice filed.
|
Feb. 14, 2017 |
Notice of Taking Depositions filed.
|
Feb. 13, 2017 |
Petitioner's Exhibit List filed.
|
Feb. 13, 2017 |
Petitioner's Witness List filed.
|
Feb. 10, 2017 |
Amended Notice of Taking Deposition (Ungerer) filed.
|
Feb. 02, 2017 |
Notice of Taking Deposition (Ungerer) filed.
|
Feb. 01, 2017 |
Notice of Taking Depositions filed.
|
Dec. 21, 2016 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Dec. 21, 2016 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for February 21, 2017; 9:30 a.m.; Tampa and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Dec. 21, 2016 |
Petitioner's Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Dec. 14, 2016 |
Initial Order.
|
Dec. 14, 2016 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Dec. 14, 2016 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Dec. 14, 2016 |
Agency referral filed.
|