Jean-Luc Bernard

The member sought to adjourn his discipline hearing, initially objecting to the electronic format and later citing medical unfitness.

The Discipline Committee denied the initial adjournment request on November 5, 2020, finding insufficient evidence of prejudice from the electronic format.

However, on February 10, 2021, the Committee granted an indefinite adjournment based on new medical evidence indicating the member was unfit to participate.

Given the indefinite delay, the Committee imposed an interim condition prohibiting the member from teaching until the proceedings resume to protect the public interest.

The Ontario College of Teachers commenced a discipline proceeding against the member.

The member did not attend the electronic hearing but submitted a written request to adjourn the proceedings until an in-person hearing could be held.

The Discipline Committee denied the member's motion and proceeded electronically.

Due to time constraints, the College requested an adjournment to complete its case, which was granted.

The College also brought a motion to impose interim terms and conditions prohibiting the member from teaching until the hearing concluded.

After reviewing written submissions from both parties, the Committee denied the College's motion for interim terms.

A written decision with reasons was to follow.

The Discipline Committee held a penalty hearing after finding the member engaged in professional misconduct involving sexual abuse of two students.

The member did not attend the hearing.

Applying the transitional provisions of the Safe and Supportive Classrooms Act, 2019, the Committee found that the mandatory penalty provisions applied because the member's conduct met the broader definition of sexual abuse.

The Committee ordered a reprimand and the immediate revocation of the member's certificate of qualification and registration.

The Committee also ordered the member to pay $20,000 in costs due to her failure to cooperate and the complexity of the proceedings.

The Discipline Committee of the Ontario College of Teachers held a penalty hearing after previously finding the member engaged in professional misconduct.

The member did not attend the hearing.

The Committee ordered that the member receive a written reprimand and that their Certificate of Qualification and Registration be immediately revoked.

The member was also ordered to pay $20,000 in costs to the College.

The member in a discipline proceeding brought two pre-hearing motions: one for further disclosure and one to dismiss the allegations.

The member argued that the school board failed to report his restriction of duties within the 30-day period required by section 43.2 of the Ontario College of Teachers Act, thereby invalidating the Registrar's complaint.

The Discipline Committee dismissed both motions.

The Committee found that the disclosure issues had been resolved and that section 43.2 does not limit the Registrar's jurisdiction to initiate a complaint.

Furthermore, the Committee found that the board had reported the restriction within 30 days of determining it was for reasons of professional misconduct, and that the member's substantive arguments should be determined on a full evidentiary record at the hearing on the merits.

The Member, a teacher, faced allegations of professional misconduct for allegedly mistreating a special needs child during a behavioural outburst at a respite centre.

The incident was captured on video by a co-worker.

The College alleged verbal, physical, psychological, and emotional abuse.

During the hearing, the Committee ruled on several evidentiary issues, refusing to admit hearsay evidence from the co-worker who recorded the video and refusing to admit expert evidence proposed by the Member.

After reviewing the video and hearing testimony, the Committee found that the College failed to prove the allegations on a balance of probabilities.

The Committee accepted the Member's explanations that his actions, while perhaps not best practices, were attempts to de-escalate and manage the child's behaviour, not abuse.

The member brought a motion to dismiss or stay the professional discipline proceedings against him prior to the hearing on the merits, arguing the prosecution was vexatious and predatory.

The Discipline Committee of the Ontario College of Teachers found it lacked jurisdiction to dismiss the proceeding under s. 4.6(1) of the Statutory Powers Procedure Act because it had not enacted the requisite rules under s. 4.6(6).

Considering its residual authority to prevent an abuse of process under s. 23, the Committee concluded the member failed to present evidence that continuing the hearing would amount to an abuse of process.

The motion was dismissed and the hearing on the merits was ordered to proceed.

The Member brought a motion in advance of a discipline hearing but failed to appear on the scheduled date.

He submitted correspondence requesting an adjournment to seek the assistance of counsel and provided a medical note indicating health reasons precluded his attendance.

The College took no position on the request.

The Discipline Committee granted the adjournment, finding the request reasonable given the Member's need for counsel, his documented health issues, and the lack of opposition from the College.

The motion was adjourned to the next available date.

The member, a teacher, faced allegations of professional misconduct for making inappropriate remarks and behaving inappropriately towards three female colleagues over several school years.

The member pleaded no contest to the allegations and admitted the facts.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct, including failing to maintain the standards of the profession and engaging in disgraceful, dishonourable, or unprofessional conduct.

Accepting a joint submission on penalty, the Committee ordered a reprimand, a six-month suspension of the member's teaching certificate, and the successful completion of courses on professional ethics, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and effective interpersonal communication.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought disciplinary proceedings against a member who had been criminally convicted of two counts of indecent assault for sexually touching two students in the 1970s.

The member pled guilty to professional misconduct.

The Discipline Committee accepted an Agreed Statement of Facts and a Joint Submission on Penalty.

The Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct, revoked his certificate of qualification and registration, and ordered a written reprimand.

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

The College submitted that there was no reasonable prospect of obtaining a finding of professional misconduct due to insufficient evidence.

The member consented to the motion.

The Discipline Committee granted the motion, finding it reasonable and appropriate, as it is not in the public interest to expend resources on a matter with no reasonable prospect of success.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought a discipline proceeding against a member for professional misconduct involving two students.

The member admitted to hitting one student in the face with a duo-tang and grabbing another student by the jacket collar, lifting him off the ground.

The Discipline Committee accepted the member's guilty plea and found him guilty of physical and psychological abuse, failing to maintain professional standards, and engaging in disgraceful, dishonourable, or unprofessional conduct.

The Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand and requiring the member to complete a course on classroom management and adolescent development.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought disciplinary proceedings against a member for professional misconduct, including the sexual abuse of a student.

The member had previously been convicted of sexual exploitation under the Criminal Code and sentenced to eight months of imprisonment.

The member pled guilty to the professional misconduct allegations and admitted to the facts.

The Discipline Committee accepted the joint submission on penalty, ordering the immediate revocation of the member's Certificate of Qualification and Registration, as mandated by the Ontario College of Teachers Act for this type of sexual abuse, and a written reprimand.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought disciplinary proceedings against a member for professional misconduct involving verbal and physical abuse of students.

The Discipline Committee found that the member consistently yelled at students and engaged in inappropriate physical contact, including shoving a student, hitting a student on the head, and grabbing students by their clothing.

The Committee concluded that the member failed to maintain the standards of the profession, abused students verbally and physically, and engaged in disgraceful, dishonourable, and unprofessional conduct.

The member's certificate of qualification was suspended for six months, and he was ordered to receive an oral reprimand and complete coursework in classroom and anger management.

The Discipline Committee of the Ontario College of Teachers held a hearing regarding allegations of professional misconduct against the member.

The member was self-represented but did not attend the hearing.

Applying the balance of probabilities standard, the Committee found that the member engaged in acts of professional misconduct as alleged.

A penalty hearing was to be scheduled at a later date.

The Member pleaded guilty to professional misconduct after failing to adequately supervise students on a school trip.

The Member purchased alcohol for underage students, allowed them to drink in their hotel room, drank with them, and left them unsupervised on multiple occasions.

The Discipline Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand, a two-month suspension of the Member's certificate, and the completion of a course on ethical standards and maintaining appropriate boundaries.

The Member, a teacher, pled guilty to professional misconduct after a physical altercation with a student who attempted to leave the classroom without permission.

The Member blocked the door and held the student's arm, leading to a struggle where the student fell.

The Discipline Committee accepted the joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand and acknowledging that the Member had already completed remedial courses in classroom management and stress and anger management.

The Member, a teacher, pleaded no contest to allegations of professional misconduct after he entered a designated changing area for female students on two occasions and stared at students who were in various states of undress.

The Discipline Committee found the Member guilty of professional misconduct, including failing to maintain the standards of the profession and abusing students psychologically or emotionally.

Accepting a joint submission on penalty, the Committee ordered a reprimand, a three-month suspension of the Member's certificate, and the completion of coursework and counselling regarding professional boundaries.

The Discipline Committee of the Ontario College of Teachers found the member guilty of professional misconduct in his absence.

The Committee ordered a reprimand, a six-month suspension of his Certificate of Qualification and Registration, and imposed conditions requiring the successful completion of courses in classroom management and anger management with a focus on student sensitivity training.

The Member, a teacher, faced allegations of professional misconduct for insubordinate and inappropriate communications with colleagues and supervisors, failing to cooperate with school administration, and demonstrating shortcomings in teaching practice.

The Member pleaded guilty to professional misconduct based on an Agreed Statement of Facts.

The Discipline Committee accepted a Joint Submission on Penalty, ordering a reprimand, a six-month suspension of his teaching certificate, and the completion of coursework on boundary issues and teaching methodology before returning to practice.