Protecting our students

Teachers are more than educators. They are guardians entrusted to care for students. Most of the 278,000 people certified to teach in Florida are caring professionals committed to the protection of students. Unfortunately, teacher misconduct occurs and, worse, may involve students.

Florida's Department of Education works closely with local school districts to ensure that Florida public schools and classrooms are safe and healthy environments for our children. Students are not only protected by their teachers, school staff, principals, and resource officers, but also by district personnel, state officials and law enforcement officers.

While teachers are highly valued professionals and members of our communities, we must all work together to hold Florida teachers to a high standard of ethics and principles.

Unfortunately, teacher misconduct occurs and is a serious concern for communities, schools, school districts and states across the country.

Unfortunately, teacher misconduct occurs and is a serious concern for communities, schools, school districts and states across the country.

If you suspect that a child has been harmed or is threatened with harm by a licensed teacher, contact the Florida Department of Children & Families (DCF) toll-free at 1-800-96-ABUSE. Further information about reporting abuse may be found on the DCF Web site at www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse. You may also contact your local school district because each district has its own process for handling allegations of teacher misconduct.

You can search for discipline against Educator Licenses at this link

Jeanine Blomberg

According to Jeanine Blomberg, commissioner of the Florida Department of Education in the past 10 years, the number of complaints received by the Department of Education has averaged approximately 2,800 cases per year. In the past three years, that average has risen to more than 3,500 cases per year.