OCT 2018

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.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought disciplinary proceedings against a teacher for allegedly calling a student by his last name, treating him differently, and commenting on his sexual orientation in front of other students.

The Discipline Committee found that while the teacher did call the student by his last name, there was insufficient evidence to prove she treated him differently based on her opinion of him.

However, the Committee found that the teacher did ask the student about his sexual orientation in front of his peers, which constituted verbal and psychological abuse.

The teacher was found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to maintain the standards of the profession, abusing a student, and engaging in disgraceful, dishonourable, and unprofessional conduct.

The member, a teacher, faced allegations of professional misconduct for physically slapping a student and making numerous inappropriate, profane, and disparaging comments to students over two academic years.

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

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct, including physical, verbal, and psychological abuse of students.

Accepting a joint submission on penalty, the Committee ordered a reprimand, a two-month suspension of the member's certificate, and the completion of coursework on boundaries and anger management, noting the member's prior discipline history and mitigating factors including a medical leave of absence.

The Member pleaded guilty to professional misconduct after making unwanted physical contact with a co-worker in a windowless storage room.

The Discipline Committee accepted the Agreed Statement of Facts and found the Member guilty of failing to maintain professional standards, engaging in disgraceful or unprofessional conduct, and conduct unbecoming a member.

Accepting a joint submission on penalty, the Committee ordered a reprimand, a two-month suspension of the Member's Certificate of Qualification and Registration, and the successful completion of a course on professional boundaries.

The Discipline Committee held a penalty hearing for a teacher found guilty of professional misconduct for making inappropriate comments to students and sexually harassing colleagues.

The College sought a 6-9 month suspension, while the self-represented member argued against any suspension, demonstrating a lack of insight into his behaviour.

The Committee ordered a reprimand, a 3-month suspension, and the completion of a culturally relevant professional boundaries course, finding this penalty proportionate and consistent with prior decisions.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought a discipline proceeding against a teacher for allegedly dismissing students early, allowing an unauthorized female visitor into the school during school hours, and engaging in sexual activity with the visitor in his school office.

The Discipline Committee found the teacher guilty of professional misconduct.

While the early dismissal of students was found not to constitute misconduct in the circumstances, the Committee accepted the evidence of the school principal and a custodian, corroborated by security footage, that the teacher violated the school's visitor policy and engaged in sexual intercourse on school property.

The Committee drew an adverse inference against the teacher for failing to call the visitor as a witness and concluded his actions breached the standards of the profession, the Education Act, and constituted disgraceful, dishonourable, and unbecoming conduct.

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

The College submitted that after interviewing potential witnesses and assessing the anticipated evidence, there was no reasonable prospect of obtaining a finding of professional misconduct due to insufficient evidence.

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 physically and sexually abusing a Grade 8 student.

The member had previously pled guilty to criminal assault for hugging and lifting the student.

The Discipline Committee found that the member also sexually abused the student by kissing her forehead and touching her breasts on two occasions.

The Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct, including physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, and ordered the immediate revocation of his Certificate of Qualification and Registration.

The Member, an elementary school teacher, faced allegations of professional misconduct for verbally and physically abusing two students.

The Member admitted to pulling one student by the shirt and yelling at her, and pulling another student by her clothing to get her back in line.

The Discipline Committee accepted an Agreed Statement of Facts and found the Member guilty of professional misconduct.

Accepting a Joint Submission on Penalty, the Committee ordered a reprimand and required the Member to complete a course in classroom management.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought a discipline proceeding against a retired member who had been convicted of two counts of sexual assault against former students.

The member did not attend the hearing.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct based on his criminal convictions for sexually assaulting two male students in the 1980s while offering after-school assistance.

The Committee ordered the revocation of the member's Certificate of Qualification and Registration, finding that his egregious abuse of his position of trust and authority warranted the most severe penalty available.

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

The Committee ordered that the member receive a reprimand, serve a three-month suspension of his Certificate of Qualification and Registration, and complete a pre-approved course on professional boundaries and boundary violations before returning to a teaching position.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought professional misconduct allegations against a teacher for her conduct over three school years at three different schools.

The College alleged that the teacher shouted at students, intimidated them, made them cry, and failed to immediately report the absence of a student who ran away from school during a blizzard.

The Discipline Committee heard evidence from several students and school principals, who were qualified as participant experts in classroom management.

The Committee found that the teacher's conduct constituted verbal, psychological, and emotional abuse, and that she failed to maintain the standards of the profession.

The allegations of physical abuse were not proven.

The teacher was found guilty of professional misconduct, with the penalty to be determined at a later date.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought a discipline proceeding against a member who pleaded guilty to professional misconduct.

The member had previously been convicted of fraud under $5,000 for filing false benefit claims totaling $3,368.47 with her school board's benefits provider.

Additionally, the member failed to inform the board of her court dates and falsely claimed a sick day to attend court.

The Discipline Committee accepted an agreed statement of facts and a joint submission on penalty.

The member was found guilty of professional misconduct and ordered to receive a reprimand and complete a course on ethical practice.

The Member, a teacher, pleaded guilty to professional misconduct for failing to report a student's disclosure of physical abuse by her father to the Children's Aid Society, contrary to his duty under the Child and Family Services Act.

Instead of reporting, the Member attempted to mediate the situation with the parents and told the student's homeroom teacher to make her own call.

The Member had previously pleaded guilty in criminal court to failing to report a child in need of protection.

The Discipline Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand and noting that the Member had already completed required coursework on professional boundaries and the duty to report.

The member, a teacher, pleaded guilty to professional misconduct for failing to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and engaging in inappropriate physical contact with a student.

The member signed the student out of class, drove her home, took her out for coffee or lunch, and kissed her on the cheek.

The Discipline Committee accepted an agreed statement of facts and a joint submission on penalty.

The member was reprimanded, suspended for three months, and required to complete a course on boundary violations.

The Member, a teacher, pleaded guilty to professional misconduct for a pattern of inappropriate behaviour towards students, parents, and colleagues, including yelling, making sarcastic comments, and disclosing confidential student information online.

The Discipline Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand, a one-month suspension of her teaching certificate, and the completion of coursework on classroom management and sensitivity training.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought a consent motion for an order requiring the Member to produce an investigation report and interview transcripts related to alleged misconduct in Nunavut.

The College had been unable to obtain the documents directly from the Nunavut Department of Education.

The Member consented to producing the documents, provided he was ordered to do so by the Discipline Committee to remain compliant with legal obligations from another proceeding.

The Committee granted the motion, finding it would promote a fair and effective hearing, assist in assessing the merits of the allegations, and serve the public interest without causing prejudice.

The College of Teachers brought a motion to withdraw an allegation of sexual abuse against the member, presenting an Agreed Statement of Facts and Guilty Plea that did not include an admission to sexual abuse.

The Discipline Committee rejected the joint submission and denied the motion to withdraw the allegation, finding that the admitted facts—which included inappropriate touching and remarks of a sexual nature—met the statutory definition of sexual abuse.

The Committee concluded that accepting the agreement would bring the administration of the discipline process into disrepute and be contrary to the public interest.

The College 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 withdrawal, noting that the alleged misconduct was accidental and could be corroborated by a colleague.

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