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RICHARD CORCORAN, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION vs LEISY ORTUZAR, 21-000730PL (2021)

Court: Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 21-000730PL Visitors: 26
Petitioner: RICHARD CORCORAN, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Respondent: LEISY ORTUZAR
Judges: MARY LI CREASY
Agency: Department of Education
Locations: Miami, Florida
Filed: Feb. 23, 2021
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Tuesday, April 6, 2021.

Latest Update: Dec. 23, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA EDUCATION PRACTICES COMMISSION RICHARD CORCORAN, as Commissioner of Education, Petitioner, Ys. CASE NO. 178-2839 LEISY ORTUZAR, Respondent. ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT Petitioner, Richard Corcoran, as Commissioner of Education, files this Administrative Complaint against LEISY ORTUZAR. 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 1250775, covering the area of Elementary Education, which was valid through June 30, 2019. 2. At all times pertinent hereto, the Respondent held a valid Florida Educator’s Certificate. MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS 3. On or about April 16, 2018, Angel Caballero took the General Knowledge Essay of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination. This was Mr. Caballero’s sixth time taking the General Knowledge Essay of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination. 4. On or about April 30, 2018, Respondent took the General Knowledge Essay of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination. This was Respondent’s sixth time taking the General Knowledge Essay of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination. Probable Cause Letter and Administrative Complaint.-2 LEISY ORTUZAR Administrative Complaint Page 2 of 3 5. On or about May 18, 2018, Respondent’s General Knowledge Essay Test Score was invalidated because of significant similarities between her General Knowledge Essay and Mr. Caballero’s General Knowledge Essay indicating possession of the exam questions, prompts, answers or responses, in advance of the examination and/or writing an essay that was prepared before the examination. The Petitioner charges: STATUTE VIOLATIONS COUNT 1: The Respondent is in violation of section 1012.795(1)(a), Florida Statutes, in that Respondent obtained or attempted to obtain a teaching certificate by fraudulent means. COUNT 2: 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. COUNT 3: The Respondent is subject to section 1012.795(1)(p), Florida Statutes, in that Respondent has violated test security as provided in section 1008.24, Florida Statutes. RULE VIOLATIONS COUNT 4: 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 5: 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. COUNT 6: The Respondent is in violation of Rule 6A-10.081(2)(c)12, Florida Administrative Code, in that Respondent has assisted into entry or continuance in the profession ofa person known to be unqualified in accordance with the Principles of Professional Conduct of the Education Profession in Florida and other applicable Florida Statutes and State Board of Education Rules. (SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE) Probable Cause Letter and Administrative Complaint.-3 LEISY ORTUZAR 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 |] day of auly , 2020. Mili RICHARD CORCORAN, as Commissioner of Education State of Florida Probable Cause Letter and Administrative Complaint.-4

Docket for Case No: 21-000730PL
Issue Date Proceedings
Apr. 06, 2021 Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
Apr. 05, 2021 Petitioner's Amended Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC filed.
Mar. 31, 2021 Petitioner's Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC filed.
Mar. 30, 2021 Petitioner's Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction to EPC (filed in Case No. 21-000730PL).
Mar. 30, 2021 Petitioner's Motion for Order of Protection filed.
Mar. 29, 2021 Order Denying Respondent Angel Caballero's Motion for Order of Protection.
Mar. 26, 2021 Respondent Angel Caballero's Motion for Order of Protection filed.
Mar. 25, 2021 Order Granting Amended Motion to Withdraw as Counsel of Record for Leisy Ortuzar.
Mar. 25, 2021 Avelino J. Gonzalez, P.A.'s Amended Motion to Withdraw as Counsel of Record for Leisy Ortuzar (amended as to date filed; filed in Case No. 21-000730PL).
Mar. 25, 2021 Avelino J. Gonzalez, P.A.'s Amended Motion to Withdraw as Counsel of Record for Leisy Ortuzar (filed in Case No. 21-000730PL).
Mar. 24, 2021 Avelino J. Gonzalez, P.A.'s Motion to Withdraw as Counsel of Record for Leisy Ortuzar (filed in Case No. 21-000730PL).
Mar. 23, 2021 Amended Election of Rights (filed in Case No. 21-000730PL).
Mar. 22, 2021 Petitioner's Corrected Motion for Order of Protection (filed in Case No. 21-000730PL).
Mar. 22, 2021 Order Granting Motion for Order of Protection.
Mar. 22, 2021 Motion for Order of Protection and Confidentiality Agreement (filed in Case No. 21-000730PL).
Mar. 18, 2021 Notice of Appearance (Nina Tarafa) filed.
Mar. 18, 2021 Notice of Appearance (Ricardo Corona) filed.
Mar. 18, 2021 Order Denying Motion for Extension of Time to Respond to Discovery Requests.
Mar. 18, 2021 Defendant's Motion for Extension of Time to Respond to Discovery Requests (filed in Case No. 21-000730PL).
Mar. 17, 2021 Petitioner's Response to Defendant's (Respondent's) Motion for Extension of Time/Petitioner's Motion to Compel (filed in Case No. 21-000730PL).
Mar. 17, 2021 Defendant's Motion for Extension of Time to Respond to Discovery Requests (filed in Case No. 21-000730PL).
Mar. 10, 2021 Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
Mar. 10, 2021 Notice of Hearing by Zoom Conference (hearing set for May 4, 2021; 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time).
Mar. 10, 2021 Order of Consolidation (DOAH Case Nos. 21-0729, 21-0730)
Mar. 09, 2021 Response to Initial Order filed.
Feb. 24, 2021 Notice of Appearance (Anastasios Kamoutsas) filed.
Feb. 24, 2021 Initial Order.
Feb. 23, 2021 Administrative Complaint filed.
Feb. 23, 2021 Finding of Probable Cause filed.
Feb. 23, 2021 Answer to Administrative Complaint filed.
Feb. 23, 2021 Election of Rights filed.
Feb. 23, 2021 Notice of Appearance (Avelino Gonzalez).
Feb. 23, 2021 Agency referral filed.
Source:  Florida - Division of Administrative Hearings

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