Citation Codes Equivalent Citations citation codes Attorney(S) Paul Henry Janis and James R. Sandner for appellant. Kenneth Pawson and Robert D. Stone for Gordon M. Ambach, as Commissioner of Education of the State of New York, respondent. Andrew L. Sichenzie for Board of Education, Community School District No. 20 and another, respondents. See more information ... Smart Summary Please sign up to generate summary. In the Matter of BERNICE LEVYN, Appellant, v. GORDON M. AMBACH, as Commissioner of Education of the State of New York, et al., Respondents. On review of submissions pursuant to rule 500.2 (b) of the Rules of the Court of Appeals (22 N.Y.CRR 500.2 [b]), order affirmed, with costs. The commissioner is empowered to substitute his judgment of the proper penalty for that of the hearing panel whose action he was reviewing ( Matter of Shurgin v Ambach, 56 N.Y.2d 700). In fixing dismissal as the appropriate penalty, his decision to disregard the testimony of petitioner's psychiatrist was not arbitrary or capricious, inasmuch as the psychiatrist had commenced treatment after the events in question and had refused to express any opinion as to petitioner's functions as a teacher. Concur: Chief Judge COOKE and Judges JASEN, GABRIELLI, JONES, WACHTLER, FUCHSBERG and MEYER.