Petitioner: PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: HARCOURT CLARK
Judges: F. SCOTT BOYD
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Miami, Florida
Filed: Nov. 05, 2018
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Wednesday, February 6, 2019.
Latest Update: Nov. 16, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO. 167-1535
HARCOURT IRVIN CLARK,
Respondent. /
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against HARCOURT IRVIN CLARK. 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 598124, covering the areas of
Social Science, Sociology and Middle Grades, which is valid through June 30, 2020.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Social Science
Teacher at West Miami Middle School in the Miami-Dade County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3. On or about October 10, 2013, Respondent was under the influence of drugs or
alcohol while on duty. Respondent’s Principal and Assistant Principal observed him to have *
glassy eyes, slurred speech and to be exhibiting intoxicated behavior. Respondent was required
to submit to a reasonable suspicion drug and alcoho! test.
4. During the 2016-2017 school year, Respondent frequently used profanity in the
classroom in English and Spanish, which was, on occasion, directed toward students. Respondent
would say “fuck,” “shit,” “ass” and “damn”, or words to that effect. Respondent directed
HARCOURT IRVIN CLARK
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 3
comments toward students, including but not limited to, “sit the fuck down,” “get your ass out of
here,” and “you little fucks just don’t listen,” or words to that effect. Respondent would
frequently use profanity in Spanish as well,
The Petitioner charges:
STATUTE VIOLATIONS
COUNT 1: The Respondent is in violation of section 1012.795(1)@), 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)(@)i, 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 embarrassment or disparagement. °
(SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE)
HARCOURT IRVIN CLARK.
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 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 GU~_ day of _ 7 My _, 2017.
hd, thcer,
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 18-005825PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Feb. 06, 2019 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Feb. 05, 2019 |
Motion to Cancel Hearing and to Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC filed.
|
Dec. 14, 2018 |
Order Granting Continuance and Rescheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for March 6, 2019; 9:30 a.m.; Miami and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Dec. 14, 2018 |
Respondent's Unopposed Motion to Continue Final Hearing filed.
|
Nov. 14, 2018 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Nov. 14, 2018 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for January 4, 2019; 9:30 a.m.; Miami and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Nov. 13, 2018 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Nov. 06, 2018 |
Initial Order.
|
Nov. 05, 2018 |
Notice of Appearance (Peter Caldwell).
|
Nov. 05, 2018 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Nov. 05, 2018 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Nov. 05, 2018 |
Agency referral filed.
|