OCT 2011

The Ontario College of Teachers brought disciplinary proceedings against a member for failing to display appropriate sensitivity to a special needs student.

The member pleaded no contest to allegations of professional misconduct, including verbal abuse, taking away occupational therapy devices, and distributing non-peanut-safe treats despite the student's severe allergy.

The Discipline Committee accepted the joint submission on penalty, ordering the member to be counselled, complete a course on professional boundaries and student sensitivities, and directing publication of the decision without the member's name.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought allegations of professional misconduct against a member for making inappropriate comments and employing physical discipline with students.

The member pleaded no contest to the allegations, admitting to verbal and physical abuse, and unprofessional conduct.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct.

The Committee ordered a reprimand, required the member to complete a course in classroom management with an emphasis on positive discipline strategies, and directed publication of the decision without the member's name.

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

The parties consented to disposing of the proceeding without a hearing pursuant to the Statutory Powers Procedure Act.

The Discipline Committee granted the motion, allowing the withdrawal of the Notice of Hearing in exchange for the member's undertaking to complete an Additional Qualification course in reading and to obtain a satisfactory performance appraisal upon returning to work.

The Committee found the resolution reasonable and in the public interest.

The Member, a Vice-principal, pleaded no contest to professional misconduct for failing to report an incident of sexual assault involving a student to the proper authorities, contrary to school board policy.

The Discipline Committee initially found the Member guilty and ordered a reprimand, completion of an ethics course, and publication with name.

The Committee later reconsidered its decision because it had erroneously relied on a withdrawn allegation regarding a failure to report to the Children's Aid Society.

Upon reconsideration, the Committee affirmed its original penalty, including publication with the Member's name, emphasizing the serious nature of failing to report a sexual assault and the need for general and specific deterrence.

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

College counsel indicated there was no reasonable prospect of a finding of professional misconduct, and counsel for the Member consented.

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

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

The College advised that the particulars leading to the allegations had been addressed by another Committee of the College, resulting in terms, conditions, and limitations on the member's certificate.

The Discipline Committee granted the motion and authorized the withdrawal of the allegations, finding it was not in the public interest to proceed to discipline.

The member, a teacher, pleaded no contest to allegations of professional misconduct after being criminally convicted of three counts of assault against three female students.

The misconduct involved inappropriate physical contact, including tickling, wrestling, and pinning the students, which caused physical and emotional harm.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct, revoked his certificate of qualification and registration, and ordered publication of the decision with his name.

The College brought a discipline proceeding against a teacher who pushed and jumped on a female colleague from behind in jest.

The member pled no contest to the allegations and agreed to a joint submission on resolution.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct, noting the behaviour was on the low end of the scale and did not involve students.

The Committee ordered the member to complete a course on appropriate professional relationships and directed publication of the decision without the member's name.

Counsel for the Ontario College of Teachers brought a motion seeking leave to withdraw the allegations of professional misconduct against the Member, as there was no reasonable prospect of a finding of professional misconduct.

The Member's counsel consented.

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

The Member, a teacher, pleaded no contest to professional misconduct for failing to maintain the standards of the profession.

While on supervisory lunch duty, the Member kicked students' shoes that were not placed against the wall, making contact with a student who fell and suffered minor scraping.

The Discipline Committee accepted the plea and found the Member guilty.

The Committee ordered the Member to be counselled and directed publication of the findings and order in summary form without the Member's name, noting the minor nature of the incident, the Member's cooperation, and prior remedial steps.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought disciplinary proceedings against a member who engaged in a sexual relationship with a student and subsequently breached bail conditions prohibiting contact with her.

The member had previously pled guilty to criminal charges of sexual exploitation and breach of recognizance.

The member did not attend the discipline hearing but submitted a plea of no contest and an agreed statement of facts.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct, including sexual abuse of a student.

Accepting a joint submission on penalty, the Committee ordered the immediate revocation of the member's Certificate of Qualification and Registration and directed publication of the decision.

The member, a secondary school teacher, pleaded no contest to allegations of professional misconduct involving inappropriate relationships and sexual abuse of four male students over a four-year period.

The Discipline Committee accepted the uncontested facts and found the member guilty of professional misconduct.

Accepting a joint submission on penalty, the Committee ordered the immediate revocation of the member's teaching certificate.

Despite the member's request for anonymity, the Committee ordered the publication of the decision with the member's name, citing the egregious nature of the conduct, the serial pattern of abuse, and the need for general deterrence and transparency.

The Member, a teacher, pleaded no contest to professional misconduct after engaging in an unprofessional confrontation with a student in the school office in the presence of others.

The Discipline Committee accepted the joint submission on penalty, ordering the Member to be counselled, complete an anger management course, and directing publication of the decision without the Member's name, noting his long, successful career and the isolated nature of the incident.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought disciplinary proceedings against a member who had been convicted of multiple criminal offences, including sexual assault, sexual interference, and making child pornography involving a minor.

The member did not attend the hearing but submitted a plea of no contest and an agreed statement of facts.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct, noting his actions constituted a severe breach of trust and an abuse of his position of authority.

The Committee ordered the immediate revocation of the member's teaching certificate and directed the publication of the decision.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought a discipline proceeding against the Member, alleging professional misconduct and incompetence.

The College withdrew the professional misconduct allegations, and the Member pleaded no contest to the allegation of incompetence.

The Member's performance had been assessed as unsatisfactory in multiple areas, including classroom management, lesson planning, and assessment practices, and he failed to remediate these deficiencies despite additional supports.

The Discipline Committee found the Member incompetent under subsection 30(3) of the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996.

The Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering that terms, conditions, and limitations be placed on the Member's Certificate, requiring him to successfully complete an approved Additional Qualification course before returning to teaching.

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

College counsel determined there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations and no reasonable prospect of obtaining a finding of professional misconduct.

The member's counsel consented.

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

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

The College advised that a finding of professional misconduct was unlikely if the matter proceeded to a hearing.

The member consented to the motion.

The Discipline Committee granted the motion, finding that the withdrawal of the allegations served the public interest.

The member, a school principal, was found guilty of professional misconduct for publishing a weekly newsletter containing inappropriate and offensive jokes over a 23-week period.

The jokes referenced staff members, students, sexual content, race, and disabilities.

The Discipline Committee ordered that the member be reprimanded, complete a pre-approved course on professional boundaries before returning to any teaching position, and have the findings and order published with his name in the College's official publication.

The Member, an elementary school teacher, pleaded no contest to allegations of professional misconduct relating to boundary violations with two female students.

The Member developed a close friendship with the students and their families, gave them gifts, became overly protective, and made inappropriate personal comments.

The Discipline Committee found the Member guilty of unprofessional conduct and conduct unbecoming a Member.

The Committee ordered a reprimand to be recorded on the Register and publication of the findings in summary form without the Member's name, noting the misconduct was at the low end of the scale and the Member had already completed mandatory counselling and a boundary course.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought disciplinary proceedings against a member for professional misconduct relating to the inappropriate physical discipline of students over several years.

The member pleaded no contest to the allegations, admitting to incidents including hitting a student, blowing a whistle loudly near a student, and demonstrating an exaggerated spanking motion.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct.

Given the member's history of similar conduct despite previous warnings, suspensions, and courses, the Committee ordered a reprimand, a three-month suspension of his teaching certificate, completion of an anger management course, and publication of the decision including the member's name.