STATE OF FLORIDA EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION PAM STEWART, as Commissioner of Education, Petitioner, vs. CASE NO. 167-1909 JEANETTE J. VEGA, Respondent. ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT Petitioner, Pam Stewart, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint against JEANETTE J. VEGA. 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 691809, covering the area of Prekindergarten/Primary Education, which is valid through June 30, 2018. 2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as an Exceptional Student Education Teacher at Ridgecrest Elementary School in the Pinellas County School District. MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS 3. During 2016, Respondent enrolled in an online course for purposes of gaining the gifted endorsement. Respondent was notified at the outset of the course that work submitted for the course was to be completed by the participant and in the participant’s “own words.” On or about October 15, 2016, Respondent completed a post-test for the course, the instructions for which stated: “Please be sure your answers are in your own words. Do not collaborate on the post test and do not cut-and-paste from other sources. This is intended to be your own thinking and work to show what you have learned over the course duration.” Despite the instructions, JEANETTE J. VEGA Administrative Complaint Page 2 of 3 Respondent submitted responses to the post-test that were plagiarized from internet sources. When the course instructor directed Respondent to put the material into her “own words,” Respondent again submitted plagiarized responses. Respondent also collaborated with another course participant when completing the post-test. 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)(c)1, Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has failed to maintain honesty in all professional dealings. COUNT 3: The Respondent is in violation of Rule 6A-10.081(2)(c)8, Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has submitted fraudulent information on a document in connection with professional activities. (SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE) JEANETTE J. VEGA 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 LG day of Ausun fe _, 2017. bday bcos, PAM STEWART, as Commissioner of Education State of Florida

Docket for Case No: 19-001840PL