Merzak Damou

The Ontario College of Teachers brought a discipline proceeding against a retired member for professional misconduct involving inappropriate physical contact and boundary violations with female students.

The member had a history of similar misconduct and prior discipline.

The member pleaded no contest to the allegations.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct and accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand, a two-month suspension of his certificate, and mandatory coursework on boundary violations should he return to teaching.

The Member, a teacher, pleaded guilty to professional misconduct before the Discipline Committee of the Ontario College of Teachers.

The misconduct stemmed from a criminal conviction for domestic assault and a history of abusive classroom conduct while teaching in Alberta, which included yelling at students, kicking furniture, and throwing objects.

The Member had previously been disciplined by the Alberta Teachers' Association.

The Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a written reprimand, a two-year suspension of the Member's certificate of qualification and registration, and the successful completion of coursework on classroom management and anger management prior to returning to teaching.

The member faced allegations of professional misconduct for verbally and psychologically abusing students, making racist and homophobic comments, engaging in workplace violence against a colleague, and having an inappropriate romantic relationship with a recently graduated former student.

The member did not attend the hearing but submitted an agreed statement of facts and guilty plea.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct and, accepting a joint submission on penalty, ordered the immediate revocation of the member's teaching certificate.

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

The parties agreed to the withdrawal in exchange for an Undertaking and Acknowledgment in which the Member, who had already resigned her membership, agreed never to teach again in Ontario unless she successfully obtains reinstatement after completing pre-approved coursework on maintaining appropriate boundaries with students.

The Discipline Committee granted the motion, finding the resolution reasonable and in the public interest.

The member, a teacher, pleaded guilty to professional misconduct after dropping a binder on a disruptive student's fingers to get his attention.

The Discipline Committee accepted the agreed statement of facts and found the member guilty of failing to maintain the standards of the profession, failing to comply with the Education Act, and engaging in unprofessional and unbecoming conduct.

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

The Member, a teacher, pleaded guilty to professional misconduct for verbally and physically abusing a special needs student and acting unprofessionally toward a colleague.

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

The Member was found guilty of professional misconduct and ordered to receive a reprimand and complete an anger management course focused on dealing with special needs students.

The Member, a teacher, faced a discipline hearing for professional misconduct after stealing textbooks, shin pads, and money from a colleague's wallet at his school.

The Member admitted to the facts and pled guilty to professional misconduct.

The Discipline Committee accepted the joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand and requiring the Member to complete an ethics course.

The Member, a teacher, pleaded guilty to professional misconduct for failing to maintain the standards of the profession and engaging in conduct unbecoming a member.

The misconduct arose from her handling of a cancelled Grade 8 school trip, including failing to communicate with parents and school administration, and refusing to meet with parents or provide necessary records.

The Discipline Committee accepted the agreed statement of facts and joint submission on penalty, ordering a written reprimand and mandatory publication of the decision with the Member's name.

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

The withdrawal was sought in exchange for the Member's Undertaking, Acknowledgment and Consent, which required the Member to complete an Additional Qualification course and undergo a performance appraisal upon returning to teaching.

The Discipline Committee granted the motion, finding that the withdrawal in exchange for the undertaking was reasonable and served to protect the public interest.