Rollande Lavictoire

The Discipline Committee held a penalty hearing after finding the Member guilty of professional misconduct for physically, verbally, psychologically, or emotionally abusing four students.

The College sought a six-month suspension, reprimand, psychiatric report, publication, and travel costs.

The Member argued for a lesser penalty, citing a psychiatric report indicating minimal risk of re-offending.

The Committee ordered a six-month suspension, a reprimand, ethics training, and publication of the Member's name with a summary of the decision.

The Committee declined to order the Member to pay travel costs or submit a further psychiatric report.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought disciplinary proceedings against a teacher for allegedly using inappropriate physical force and restraint on several students in a special education class.

The teacher argued that the students were aggressive and that he used approved restraint techniques to ensure safety.

The Discipline Committee heard expert testimony on the appropriate use of physical restraint, establishing that it must only be used as a last resort when there is an imminent risk of injury.

The Committee found that in multiple incidents, the teacher used physical force and restraint when there was no imminent danger and without attempting other intervention methods.

The Committee concluded that the teacher's actions constituted professional misconduct, including abusing students, failing to maintain professional standards, and engaging in disgraceful and unprofessional conduct.

The Ontario College of Teachers alleged that the member, a high school teacher, was incompetent and guilty of professional misconduct based on three consecutive unsatisfactory Teacher Performance Appraisals conducted by his principal.

The member did not attend the discipline hearing.

The Discipline Committee found that the evidence, which consisted primarily of the subjective observations and opinions of a single principal without corroborating testimony from students, parents, or peers, was insufficient to meet the clear and convincing standard of proof required.

The Committee found the member not guilty of professional misconduct and not incompetent.

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

The member consented to the motion.

Pursuant to section 4.1 of the Statutory Powers Procedure Act, the Discipline Committee granted the motion and authorized the withdrawal of the allegations without a hearing.

The member, a secondary school teacher, pleaded guilty to professional misconduct for failing to maintain professional boundaries with a student who was not in his class.

The member engaged in personal telephone conversations with the student, met her after school hours, and gave her rides in his car.

The Discipline Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand, a one-month suspension (deferred and cancelled upon successful completion of a boundaries course), and publication of the decision.

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

Upon consent of the parties, the Discipline Committee granted the motion and authorized the withdrawal of the Notice of Hearing, finding it reasonable and in the public interest.