A former Liberty County teacher will be appearing before the Florida Education Practices Commission teacher hearing panel next week following allegations of inappropriate behavior.
According to Liberty County School Superintendent Sue Summers, Casi Peddie, 31, resigned in April. Peddie previously taught English and coached the volleyball team at Liberty County High School. However, an alleged incident during a 2010 volleyball trip raised concerns among administrators.
“We have video cameras on buses,” Summers reports. “She was texting and talking on the phone while driving the school bus. When we got the audio part, the conversation was not very appropriate with students on the bus.”
Summers confirms that Peddie’s conversation was related to sexual activity with her boyfriend.
“I was very surprised by it,” Summers remarks. “I was then concerned for the students and made the decision to move her to the middle school.”
The bus incident was the only one reported by the School Board, says Summers; however, two other complaints have also been filed with the Florida Education Practices Commission from other parties.
According to one complaint, Peddie is accused of providing alcoholic beverages to a 17-year-old back in 2006 when she was teaching English at Liberty County High School. She is further alleged to have consumed alcoholic beverages in the presence of two other minors.
In another complaint, Peddie is accused of sending a text message to a female student at LCHS during the 2009-10 school year, reportedly stating, “You need your [expletive] kicked.” The message was allegedly sent after the student had lunch with Peddie’s boyfriend who had recently graduated from LCHS.
Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson found probable cause to justify sanctions against Peddie’s Florida Educator Certificate.
“She has elected to an informal hearing which means the educator admits to the allegations in the administrative complaint and elects to personally appear before the Education Practices Commission and mitigate the case,” says a spokesperson for the agency. The hearing is set for Aug. 3 at 9 a.m. in Tallahassee. The meeting is open to the public.
Potential penalties may include reprimand, fine, probation, restriction of the scope of practice, suspension not to exceed five years, revocation not to exceed 10 years or the permanent revocation of her Educator Certificate.
“I do not know what the final results of the Professional Practices Commission is going to be,” Summers notes. “But I think Casi has decided to seek training and employment in another area. I hope she’s successful. She’s a good kid, she just made bad choices.”
