Claudette Rutherford

The Discipline Committee held a penalty hearing for a teacher found to have engaged in professional misconduct by using physical interventions, including kicking a student, to manage behaviour.

The member did not attend the hearing.

The Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand, a two-month suspension of the member's certificate, and the completion of a pre-approved course on classroom management.

The Committee also ordered the member to pay $5,000 in costs to the College.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought a discipline proceeding against a member for alleged physical abuse and inappropriate physical contact with two students in separate incidents.

The Discipline Committee found that the member inappropriately grabbed one student and kicked another student who were misbehaving in class.

The Committee rejected the member's explanations and found that his actions constituted physical abuse, disgraceful and unprofessional conduct, and a failure to maintain the standards of the profession.

A finding of professional misconduct was entered, with penalty to be determined at a later date.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought a motion seeking leave to withdraw the allegations of professional misconduct against the member, citing insufficient evidence and no reasonable prospect of a finding.

The member consented to the motion.

The Discipline Committee granted the motion, finding that it was not in the public interest to proceed with a matter where there was no reasonable prospect of obtaining a finding of professional misconduct.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought a motion seeking leave to withdraw allegations of professional misconduct against a retired member.

The parties agreed to the withdrawal in exchange for the member's resignation and an undertaking never to teach in Ontario again or seek reinstatement.

The Discipline Committee granted the motion, finding that the withdrawal was reasonable and protected the public interest, as the member would never again be in a position to pose a risk to the public through teaching.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought a motion seeking leave to withdraw the allegations against the member set out in a Notice of Hearing.

The member had passed away prior to the hearing.

The Discipline Committee granted the motion, finding that the withdrawal of the Notice of Hearing in the circumstances of the member's death was reasonable and appropriate.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought disciplinary proceedings against a member for verbally and psychologically abusing a vulnerable special needs student.

The member, whose status was 'Retired', yelled at the student in front of the class, an incident that was recorded on video.

The Discipline Committee found it retained jurisdiction over the member despite his retired status.

The member pleaded guilty to professional misconduct.

The Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand and the revocation of the member's Certificate of Qualification and Registration.

The Member pled guilty to professional misconduct, including the sexual abuse of two students and possession of child pornography, following criminal convictions for exposing his genital organs to the students and possessing child pornography.

The Discipline Committee accepted the Agreed Statement of Facts and found the Member guilty of professional misconduct.

Pursuant to the mandatory penalty provisions of the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996, and accepting a joint submission on penalty, the Committee ordered that the Member be reprimanded and directed the Registrar to immediately revoke his certificate of qualification and registration.