Christine Poirier

The Ontario College of Teachers alleged that the Member committed professional misconduct by physically and verbally abusing students in her Grade 7/8 class.

The allegations included hitting a student with test papers, throwing a sandwich at a student, and making inappropriate comments.

After hearing testimony from students, the vice-principal, and the Member, the Discipline Committee found the evidence insufficient to prove the allegations on a balance of probabilities.

The Committee noted inconsistencies in the students' testimony and concluded that any physical contact was likely accidental rather than intentional abuse.

The allegations were dismissed.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought disciplinary proceedings against a member for professional misconduct involving an inappropriate relationship with a student.

The member entered a plea of no contest, admitting to exchanging inappropriate personal emails, conducting sexual conversations, and engaging in inappropriate sexual actions with the student.

The Discipline Committee accepted the joint submission on penalty, revoking the member's teaching certificate, directing that he not apply for reinstatement for at least five years, and ordering the publication of his name and a summary of the findings.

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

The allegations were based on three unsatisfactory Teacher Performance Appraisals.

Since the filing of the allegations, the member completed a course and received a satisfactory appraisal.

The Discipline Committee granted the motion on consent, finding the withdrawal reasonable and in the public interest.

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

The allegations were based on two unsatisfactory performance appraisals conducted by the same person within a short period, which were vague and subjective.

The Discipline Committee granted the motion on consent, finding that it would be difficult to prove incompetence on this basis and that withdrawal served the public interest.

The member, a teacher, pleaded guilty to professional misconduct for fastening a student to a chair with masking tape as a joke and calling him 'pig-headed'.

The Discipline Committee accepted the guilty plea, finding that her actions failed to maintain the standards of the profession and were disgraceful, dishonourable, or unprofessional.

The Committee ordered the member to appear in person for a verbal reprimand, complete a specified course on respecting boundaries, and directed that a summary of the decision be published without identifying the member.

The member pleaded guilty to professional misconduct for making inappropriate comments and engaging in boundary violations with female students.

The conduct included sending an e-mail stating certain students received privileges because they were pretty, writing a limerick about a student, and making inappropriate jokes.

The Discipline Committee accepted the guilty plea and the joint submission on penalty.

The member was reprimanded, ordered to complete a course on respecting boundaries, and a summary of the decision was ordered to be published.