Petitioner: PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: TARA RATTAN
Judges: F. SCOTT BOYD
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
Filed: Mar. 26, 2018
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Friday, May 25, 2018.
Latest Update: Dec. 22, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO. 167-2896
TARA INDIAN RATTAN,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against TARA INDIAN RATTAN. 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 1081046, covering the areas
of Elementary Education, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Reading and
Exceptional Student Education, which is valid through June 30, 2020.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Middle School
Reading Teacher at Sawgrass Springs Middle School in the Broward County Schoo! District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3. On or about March 29, 2017, Respondent was on duty and in the presence of
students while under the influence of drugs. Respondent was observed slurring her words,
stumbling and almost passed out on the bed in the clinic. Respondent was required to undergo a
reasonable suspicion test.
TARA INDIA RATTAN
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 2
The Petitioner charges:
STATUTE VIOLATIONS
COUNT 1: 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 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.
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 f5¥A day of _ Agua , 2017.
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PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 18-001596PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
May 29, 2018 |
Notice of Appearance filed.
|
May 25, 2018 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
May 22, 2018 |
Petitioner, Pam Stewart's, Motion to Cancel Hearing and to Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC filed.
|
Apr. 16, 2018 |
Order Granting Motion to Amend Administrative Complaint.
|
Apr. 11, 2018 |
Notice of Service of Petitioner's First Set of Interrogatories to Respondent filed.
|
Apr. 11, 2018 |
Notice of Service of Petitioner's Request for Admissions to Respondent filed.
|
Apr. 11, 2018 |
Notice of Service of Petitioner's Request for Production to Respondent filed.
|
Apr. 06, 2018 |
Petitioner's Motion to Amend Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Apr. 03, 2018 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Apr. 03, 2018 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for May 31, 2018; 9:00 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Mar. 26, 2018 |
Initial Order.
|
Mar. 26, 2018 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Mar. 26, 2018 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Mar. 26, 2018 |
Agency referral filed.
|