Petitioner: RICHARD CORCORAN, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: CAROL PAULS
Judges: HETAL DESAI
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Arcadia, Florida
Filed: Mar. 04, 2019
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Tuesday, April 30, 2019.
Latest Update: Jan. 31, 2025
FROM: The Education Practices Commission
TO: DOAH Clerk of Court
RE: REDACTION OF CERTAIN LANGUAGE
The Education Practices Commission reviewed and redacted certain verbiage
within the documents included prior to transferring the case to DOAH for the
following legal reasons:
1. So that individual student(s) information cannot be identified in accordance
with Section 1002.221(1), Fla. Stat. (2018).
2. So that the Respondent/Educator’s home address; telephone number; date
of birth; and photographs remain exempt from public records in
accordance with Section 119.071(4), F.S. (2018).
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO. 167-2432
CAROL PAULS,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against CAROL PAULS. 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 1104534, covering the areas
of Elementary Education and Exceptional Student Education (ESE), which was valid through June
30, 2018.
2 At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as an {Teacher at
Nocatee Elementary School in the Desoto County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3. On or 2c a ondent engaged in inappropriate conduct
when she stuffed wadded up paper towels in a Ma year old EE cadens, mouth to
keep Bom screaming.
4. As a result of the conduct alleged herein, Respondent was arrested and charged with
Child Abuse, Intentional Act without Great Bodily Harm. Respondent completed a pre-trial
diversion program and the charge was dismissed.
CAROL PAULS
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.
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.
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 4th _ day of ( \ctober , 2018.
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 19-001122PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Apr. 30, 2019 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Apr. 30, 2019 |
Joint Motion to Close File filed.
|
Apr. 26, 2019 |
Return of Service filed.
|
Apr. 24, 2019 |
Amended Notice of Hearing (hearing set for May 14, 2019; 10:00 a.m.; Arcadia, FL; amended as to Time).
|
Apr. 23, 2019 |
Petitioner's Exhibit List filed.
|
Apr. 23, 2019 |
Petitioner's Witness List filed.
|
Apr. 22, 2019 |
Amended Notice of Hearing (hearing set for May 14, 2019; 9:00 a.m.; Arcadia, FL; amended as to Location).
|
Apr. 22, 2019 |
Notice of Taking Deposition (Pauls) filed.
|
Apr. 09, 2019 |
Respondent's Notice of Serving Responses to Petitioner's Request for Admissions filed.
|
Apr. 04, 2019 |
Notice of Taking Depositions filed.
|
Mar. 29, 2019 |
Notice of Telephonic Pre-hearing Conference (set for May 6, 2019; 10:30 a.m.).
|
Mar. 12, 2019 |
Respondent's Notice of Discovery Requests to Petitioner filed.
|
Mar. 12, 2019 |
Notice of Serving First Request for Production of Documents to Petitioner filed.
|
Mar. 08, 2019 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Mar. 08, 2019 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for May 14, 2019; 9:00 a.m.; Arcadia, FL).
|
Mar. 06, 2019 |
Notice of Transfer.
|
Mar. 06, 2019 |
Certificate of Service of Discovery filed.
|
Mar. 06, 2019 |
Agreed upon Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Mar. 05, 2019 |
Initial Order.
|
Mar. 04, 2019 |
Notice of Appearance (Branden Vicari).
|
Mar. 04, 2019 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Mar. 04, 2019 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Mar. 04, 2019 |
Agency referral filed.
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