2 Broward teachers have licenses suspended

Two Broward County educators accused of misconduct have had their licenses suspended by the state.

Elaine Curran, 56, a first grade teacher at Margate Elementary, was suspended for nine months for an incident in August 2012 where she came to school with “slurred speech and an odor of alcohol,” according to a district report.

Paul Sparrow, 61, a former teacher of special needs students at McNichol Middle School in Hollywood, has lost his license for a year for improper discipline during the 2011-12 school year.

According to a complaint, Sparrow hit special needs students over the head with a ruler, told male students they should “dress up like a woman and go to South Beach” and told a boy he would “cut his throat and chop off his head,” according to a complaint filed with the state.

In February 2012, when a male student became upset and would not sit down, Sparrow grabbed him “by his clothing and forcefully pushed or shoved him into a chair” and then shouted at him, the complaint says.

The school district fired Sparrow in April 2013, but he was allowed to teach elsewhere.

However, the state Education Practices Commission decided this month to suspend his license for a year, making him ineligible to teach in Florida until January 2016. After that, his license will be on probation for two years. He must take a college-level course on teaching special needs students and pay a $500 fine, the state decided.

Curran was initially suspended for 10 days during the 2012-13 school year and then returned to work. But after receiving a nine-month suspension by the state this month, she is ineligible to teach until October.

The state is requiring her to undergo a substance abuse program before she returns to work. At the end of her suspension, she’ll be on probation for two years, during which time she can’t transport any students in motor vehicles. She must also pay a $500 fine.

Neither could be reached Tuesday, despite attempts by phone.

stravis@sunsentinel.com or 561-243-6637