Petitioner: RICHARD CORCORAN, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: DEBORAH FREEMAN
Judges: E. GARY EARLY
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Filed: Mar. 04, 2019
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Monday, March 18, 2019.
Latest Update: Dec. 25, 2024
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 document(s) included prior to transferring the case to DOAH so that
results of specific employment tests are excluded from public record in accordance
with Section 112.0455, Fla. Stat. (2018).
STATE OF FLORIDA
EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education,
Petitioner,
vs. CASE NO. 178-1711
DEBORAH FREEMAN,
Respondent.
/
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative
Complaint against DEBORAH FREEMAN. 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 729048, covering the areas of
English, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Physical Education, which is valid
through June 30, 2019.
2. Atall times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as a Physical Education
Teacher at Pryor Middle School in the Okaloosa County School District.
MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS
3. On or about September 29, 2017, Respondent was on duty and responsible for
students while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Respondent was observed slurring her
speech, with glassy eyes and smelling of alcohol. Respondent was unable to perform a
breathalyzer test for alcohol and refused to undergo a reasonable suspicion test.
DEBORAH FREEMAN
Administrative Complaint
Page 2 of 2
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)(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 2.0% day of July , 2018.
hf, dicers
PAM STEWART, as
Commissioner of Education
State of Florida
Docket for Case No: 19-001123PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Mar. 18, 2019 |
Order Relinquishing Jurisdiction and Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
Mar. 15, 2019 |
Respondent's Motion to Close File and for Remand filed.
|
Mar. 15, 2019 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Mar. 15, 2019 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for May 7, 2019; 9:00 a.m., Central Time; Fort Walton Beach, FL).
|
Mar. 13, 2019 |
Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Mar. 05, 2019 |
Initial Order.
|
Mar. 04, 2019 |
Notice of Appearance (Emily Moore).
|
Mar. 04, 2019 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Mar. 04, 2019 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Mar. 04, 2019 |
Agency referral filed.
|