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RICHARD CORCORAN, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION vs MAURICE C. UCHEGBU, 20-004021PL (2020)

Court: Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 20-004021PL Visitors: 12
Petitioner: RICHARD CORCORAN, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: MAURICE C. UCHEGBU
Judges: ELIZABETH W. MCARTHUR
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Orlando, Florida
Filed: Sep. 08, 2020
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Tuesday, December 29, 2020.

Latest Update: May 23, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION RICHARD CORCORAN, as Commissioner of Education, Petitioner, vs. CASE NO. 178-1740 MAURICE CHIAWOLAMOKE UCHEGBU, Respondent. ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT Petitioner, Richard Corcoran, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint against MAURICE CHIAWOLAMOKE UCHEGBU. 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 660796, covering the areas of Agriculture and Athletic Coaching, which is valid through June 30, 2022. 2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent was employed as an Agriculture Teacher at Corner Lake Middle School in the Orange County School District. MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS 3. On or about October 27, 2017, Respondent failed to properly supervise his students when he sent students back to the classroom without him after working outside. Once back in the classroom, students were left unsupervised for a period of time of three to fifteen minutes. Additionally, Respondent failed to secure his computer and left it open without password protection while the students were alone in the classroom resulting in at least one student executing a search for “porn” and/or “pornb” on Respondent’s computer. 4. On or about February 9, 2018, Respondent failed to maintain control of his classroom. When Respondent instructed the class to exit the classroom to work outside, several AC-2 MAURICE CHIAWOLAMOKE UCHEGBU Administrative Complaint Page 2 of 3 students objected at which time Respondent yelled, “Get the hell out of my classroom,” or words to that effect. Once the students, approximately half of the class, exited the room, Respondent shut the door and remained inside with the rest of the class. The students who were removed from the classroom were unable to re-enter the room and were left unattended until Respondent opened the door again approximately three to five minutes later. 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)(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. (SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE) AC-3 MAURICE CHIAWOLAMOKE UCHEGBU 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 31% dayof_Ju\ 4 , 2019. VA RICHARD CORCORAN, as Commissioner of Education State of Florida AC-4

Docket for Case No: 20-004021PL
Issue Date Proceedings
Dec. 29, 2020 Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
Dec. 28, 2020 Motion to Cancel Hearing and Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC filed.
Oct. 20, 2020 Order Granting Continuance and Rescheduling Hearing by Zoom Conference (hearing set for January 13 and 14, 2021; 9:30 a.m., Eastern Time).
Oct. 15, 2020 Joint Motion to Reschedule Hearing filed.
Oct. 14, 2020 Notice of Service of Respondent's First Interrogatories and Request for Production filed.
Sep. 28, 2020 Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
Sep. 28, 2020 Notice of Hearing by Zoom Conference (hearing set for November 10, 2020; 9:30 a.m., Eastern Time; Orlando).
Sep. 25, 2020 Amended Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
Sep. 10, 2020 Procedural Order.
Sep. 08, 2020 Initial Order.
Sep. 08, 2020 Notice of Appearance (Carol Buxton).
Sep. 08, 2020 Administrative Complaint filed.
Sep. 08, 2020 Finding of Probable Cause filed.
Sep. 08, 2020 Election of Rights filed.
Sep. 08, 2020 Agency referral filed.
Source:  Florida - Division of Administrative Hearings

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