Former Tampa Educator Punished By State Commission

A former assistant principal in Tampa who was accused of embezzling thousands from a school district account has lost her teaching certificate permanently, according to action taken today by a state commission.

Janet Kay White, who worked at MacFarlane Park Elementary, was accused in early 2007 of stealing more than $42,000 from an account reserved for conferences for math teachers.

Her case came before Florida's Education Practices Commission, which sanctions teachers and administrators for various offenses. Nearly two dozen disciplined educators from the Bay area appeared before the commission, which resumes hearings Friday.

White, 38, is in a diversion program for first-time offenders, according to the Hillsborough County state attorney's office.

Another teacher, Mark Krieger of Oak Grove Middle School in Pinellas County, accepted a one-year suspension of his certificate and a two-year probation period following accusations that he became angry with a student who failed to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

According to a complaint filed with the commission, Krieger told the student he should respect that he was in a free country or go back to Africa.

All parties agreed to stay the suspension if Krieger completes a college-level cultural diversity course, among other terms of the settlement.

Also:

• The commission signed off on a settlement agreed to by Diptesh de Choudhury, a former teacher at Blake High School in Tampa.

According to a complaint filed with the commission, Choudhury e-mailed an 18-year-old student and told her that he had "deep feelings for her and asked her not to tell anyone else." When his superiors discovered the e-mail, Choudhury quit before he was fired.

He agreed to attend a recovery program and receive a letter of reprimand. He'll serve a two-year probation period and attend a class on adolescent childhood development. If officials are satisfied with his progress, Choudhury can return to the classroom.

• The commission revoked the certificate of Michael A. Black, a former Pasco County middle school band teacher who was sentenced last year to 22 1/2 years in prison for having a sexual relationship with a student.