Miami Teaching License Defense Lawyer
Florida Professional License Defense Lawyers for Teachers
When you’re a teacher and learn that you’ve been accused of violating professional standards of conduct, you’re likely to feel much anxiety and concern about your professional future. At the law offices of Ratzan & Faccidomo, LLC, our Miami teaching license defense lawyers have years of experience defending educators in South Florida.
The Florida Department of Education emphasizes that certified educators are held to specific standards of conduct under the Florida Statutes. When a member of the education community believes that a teacher or other educational professional hasn’t upheld those standards of conduct, the teacher can be subject to disciplinary action before the Department of Education and the local School Board. If you are facing the loss of your Florida educator’s certificate, contact a Miami defense lawyer as soon as possible.
Educational Personnel and Florida Law
Under Florida Statute Section 1012.01, personnel that can be subject to disciplinary action can include school officers, instructional personnel, and administrative personnel. Often, instructional personnel are disproportionately affected by disciplinary proceedings. Instructional personnel means, according to the statute, “any K-12 staff member whose function includes the provision of direct instructional services to students.” Specifically, K-12 personnel commonly include the following:
- Classroom teachers, who are assigned to instruct students in classrooms;
- Student personnel services, such as staff members assigned to advise students about their abilities, aptitudes, educational opportunities, and occupational opportunities;
- Librarians and media specialists, who provide specialized instruction about resource information; and
- Educational paraprofessionals, who are more commonly known as classroom aides (but can also assist in classrooms, in career education, physical education periods, and library settings).
If you’re classroom teacher who has been accused of violating certain standards of conduct, you could be facing the inability to work in your chosen profession and the tarnishing of your professional reputation.
Violations of the Principles of Professional Conduct
Rule 6B-1 of the Florida Administrative Code provides a Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida and a set of Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida.
Under the State Board of Education Rule 6B-1.006, violating one of the Principles of Professional Conduct can lead to the suspension or revocation of the educator’s certificate.
Educators must do the following:
- Make a reasonable effort to protect students from conditions harmful to the student’s learning; and
- Make a reasonable effort to protect the student’s mental and/or physical health or safety
Educators must not do the following:
- Unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning;
- Unreasonably deny a student access to diverse points of view;
- Intentionally suppress or distort subject matter;
- Intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement;
- Intentionally violate or deny a student’s legal rights;
- Harass or discriminate against a student based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, marital status, handicapping condition, sexual orientation, or family background;
- Exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage; and
- Keep personally identifiable information in confidence.
Student safety is extremely important. While the professional standards of conduct for Florida educators are important to make sure that teachers treat students ethically, instructors can also face wrongful accusations. In addition to the loss of an educator’s certificate, teachers can face criminal charges and convictions for seemingly inconsequential actions.
Contact a Miami Teacher License Defense Lawyer Today
Even a small lapse in judgment can lead to serious penalties or a criminal conviction. If you have been accused of professional misconduct, let the committed Miami professional license defense lawyers at Ratzan & Faccidomo, LLC assist with your defense. We represent teachers and other educational personnel before the Florida Department of Education and local school board hearings. Contact us today to learn more.
