Court overrules Florida teacher discipline panel

A three-judge panel says the Florida Education Practices Commission erred in disciplining a Miami-Dade County teacher over a spat with a colleague.

The 1st District Court of Appeal panel on Tuesday in Tallahassee dismissed the complaint against Jana M. Lantz.

The commission had rejected an administrative law judge's recommendation to dismiss the case. Instead, the commission voted to reprimand and fine Lantz and place her on probation for two years.

Lantz was accused of unprofessional conduct for arguing with another teacher who had rearranged furniture in her classroom after using it to administer the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

The appellate panel wrote that commission failed to fully understand that it could not reject the administrative judge's findings without proof they weren't based on competent, substantial evidence.