Former District Teacher Faces Hearing For Test Violations

The Education Practices Commission is scheduled to hear the case of a former Highlands County teacher, who the state claims coached several students while they were taking the state assessment test.

The commission's Teacher Hearing Panel is scheduled to hear the case concerning Laurie McFaddin Hollis on Jan. 22 in Tallahassee.

According to the administrative complaint filed by then Interim Commissioner of Education Jeanine Blomberg, Hollis knowingly and unlawfully violated testing procedures on or about Feb. 27 and 28, 2006 while she was employed as a teacher at Cracker Trail Elementary School.

According to the complaint, Hollis provided inappropriate assistance to students during the administration of the math portion of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

The improper assistance included coaching several students and encouraging students to change or add to their responses on the test, the complaint states. As a result of Hollis' actions, FCAT scores for 16 students were invalidated.

Deliberate test security violations are considered first-degree misdemeanors, according to state statutes.

In total, the administrative complaint against Hollis lists three counts of statute violations and nine counts of rule violations.

The complaint states that according to Florida Statutes, Hollis has been guilty of gross immorality or an act involving moral turpitude.

Cracker Trail Elementary Principal Rick Demeri said Hollis has moved out of state and is currently living in Ohio.

Sanctions that could be imposed by the Education Practices Commission include: probation, assessing an administrative fine, suspension of an educator's certificate for up to five years and revoking an educator's certificate up to 10 years or permanently.