DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE OF THE ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TEACHERS
DECISION AND REASONS ON MOTION
IN THE MATTER OF the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996 and the Regulation (Ontario Regulation 437/97) thereunder;
AND IN THE MATTER OF a discipline proceeding against
Debbie Marie Louise Hadley, a member of the Ontario College of Teachers.
BETWEEN:
ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TEACHERS
– and –
DEBBIE MARIE LOUISE HADLEY (REGISTRATION #505415)
PANEL: Linda Staudt, OCT, Chair Rachelle Coleman Jim Marinow
HEARD: June 11, 2025
Ava Arbuck, for the Ontario College of Teachers No one appearing for Debbie Marie Louise Hadley Emily Graham, Independent Legal Counsel
PUBLICATION BAN: Pursuant to subsection 32.1(3) of the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996, no person shall publish the identity of, or any information that could disclose the identity of any person who is under 18 years old and is a witness in a hearing or is the subject of evidence in a hearing.
1On June 11, 2025, counsel for the Ontario College of Teachers (the “College”) brought a motion to seek leave from a panel of the Discipline Committee (the “Panel”) to withdraw the allegations against Debbie Marie Louise Hadley (the “Member”) as set out in two Notices of Hearing,each dated August 16, 2024 (Exhibit 1 and Exhibit 2). In accordance with rule 8.01 of the Rules of Procedure of the Discipline Committee and of the Fitness to Practise Committee (the “Rules”), this proceeding was heard electronically.
2The Member did not attend the proceeding and had legal counsel who was not in attendance. The Panel notes that they have the authority to proceed in the absence of the Member pursuant to subsection 7(3) of the Statutory Powers Procedure Act, RSO 1990, c. S.22. The Panel was also satisfied that the Member was aware of this proceeding given she had signed an undertaking in relation to the proceeding.
A. PUBLICATION ban
3The Panel ordered a publication ban pursuant to subsection 32.1(3) of the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996 (the “Act”), which makes such an order mandatory. Accordingly, no person shall publish the identity of, or any information that could disclose the identity of, any person who is under 18 years old and is a witness in a hearing or is the subject of evidence in a hearing.
B. RESIGNATION, UNDERTAKING AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
4Counsel for the College advised the Panel that the parties had agreed to the withdrawal of the allegations against the Member as set out in the two Notices of Hearing dated August 16, 2024 in light of the Resignation, Undertaking and Acknowledgment of Debbie Marie Louise Hadley (the “Resignation, Undertaking and Acknowledgment”) dated April 16, 2025 (Exhibit 3), in which the Member agreed to the following terms, conditions or limitations:
I hereby resign as a member of the College and irrevocably surrender my Certificate of Qualification and Registration (certificate number 505415), effective immediately.
I undertake that following my resignation, I will never teach in any public or private school in Ontario or work in any position which requires membership in the College.
I acknowledge that having resigned and irrevocably surrendered my Certificate of Qualification and Registration pursuant to this Resignation, Undertaking and Acknowledgment, I will not be entitled in the future to seek reinstatement of my Certificate of Qualification and Registration, or membership in the College.
I acknowledge that my status on the Public Register of the Ontario College of Teachers will be “Resigned-Cancelled” and the notation will read as follows:
“On April 16, 2025, the member resigned her membership with the Ontario College of Teachers and has undertaken not to teach in any public or private school in Ontario or to work in any position that requires membership in the Ontario College of Teachers, and not to seek reinstatement of her Certificate of Qualification and Registration. The member resigned her membership while a disciplinary proceeding was pending.”
I understand and agree that this Resignation, Undertaking and Acknowledgment is legally binding on me, and that if I breach this Resignation, Undertaking and Acknowledgment, the College may take legal action against me in order to enforce it.
I acknowledge and understand that the decisions and reasons of the Discipline Committee in these matters will be available on the College’s website.
I acknowledge my understanding about the scope, purpose and effect of my execution of this Resignation, Undertaking and Acknowledgment, and am executing same voluntarily, unequivocally, and having had the opportunity to obtain the advice of legal counsel.
C. DECISION
5On June 11, 2025, upon hearing the submissions of College Counsel, the Panel authorized the College to withdraw the allegations against the Member as set out in the two Notices of Hearing dated August 16, 2024, in light of the Resignation, Undertaking and Acknowledgment of the Member dated April 16, 2025.
D. REASONS FOR DECISION
6The Panel has jurisdiction to make the order requested pursuant to rule 13.13 of the Rules. College Counsel explained that they sought to withdraw the allegations of professional misconduct for several reasons. These include the vulnerability of the young witnesses, many of whom would find testifying at a hearing overwhelming and anxiety-inducing. Withdrawing the allegations avoids putting students through that process and spares the College the time and expense of two potentially contested hearings. In addition, the Member has not taught since September 2022. Her permanent and irrevocable resignation from the profession and undertaking never to work again in a position requiring a certificate of qualification and registration ensures the protection of students and is in the best interests of the public.
7The Panel accepts the submissions of College Counsel and notes that the College retains the right to