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PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION vs PAULINE CUNNINGHAM, 18-001593PL (2018)

Court: Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 18-001593PL Visitors: 8
Petitioner: PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: PAULINE CUNNINGHAM
Judges: F. SCOTT BOYD
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Pembroke Pines, Florida
Filed: Mar. 26, 2018
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Friday, March 30, 2018.

Latest Update: Dec. 24, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA , EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION PAM STEWART, as Commissioner of Education, Petitioner, vs. CASE NO. 156-3534 PAULINE CUNNINGHAM, Respondent. ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint against PAULINE CUNNINGHAM. 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 805801, covering the areas of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Reading and Exceptional Student Education, which is valid through June 30, 2019. 2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Varying Exceptionalities Teacher at Hialeah Gardens High School in the Miami-Dade County School District. MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS 3. On or about December 10, 2015, Respondent engaged in a verbal altercation with student G.S. When G.S. left Respondent’s classroom without permission, Respondent made an inappropriate comment about G.S., to the effect of “she needs to put some clothes on, she looks like a slut.” Other students heard Respondent’s comment and reported what was said to G.S. PAULINE CUNNINGHAM Administrative Complaint Page 2 of 2 The Petitioner charges: STATUTE VIOLATIONS COUNT 1: The Respondent is in violation of section 1012.795(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 2: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A- 10.081(2)(a)1, 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 3: The allegations of misconduct set forth herein are in violation of Rule 6A- 10.081(2)(a)5, Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has intentionally exposed a student to unnecessary émbarrassment or disparagement. 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 /SfA day of ZWMALA_,2017. ih, ftourf PAM STEWART, as Commissioner of Education State of Florida

Docket for Case No: 18-001593PL
Source:  Florida - Division of Administrative Hearings

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