William Markle, Q.C.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought disciplinary proceedings against a Vice-Principal for professional misconduct relating to an inappropriate personal relationship with a student.

The Member brought a motion to adjourn the electronic hearing, arguing it would cause significant prejudice to his ability to cross-examine witnesses and the Panel's ability to assess credibility.

The Panel denied the motion, finding no evidence of significant prejudice.

On the merits, the Panel found that the Member engaged in professional misconduct by meeting the student for coffee, smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol with the student, going on an overnight camping trip, allowing the student to sleep over at his house, purchasing alcohol for the student, and sleeping in the same bed as the student.

The Panel found the Member breached the standards of the profession and engaged in disgraceful, dishonourable, and unprofessional conduct.

The Ontario College of Teachers alleged that the member committed professional misconduct by telling a student she felt violent and wanted to shoot her.

The member admitted to saying 'I could shoot you' out of frustration when the student lost an assignment, but denied mentioning a gun or feeling violent.

The Discipline Committee found that while the language was intemperate and inappropriate, it was inadvertent and did not breach a reasonable boundary of classroom management.

The Committee dismissed all allegations of professional misconduct, concluding that the member's conduct did not meet the threshold for a finding of professional misconduct.

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

With the consent of the parties and pursuant to section 4.1 of the Statutory Powers Procedure Act, the Discipline Committee granted the motion without a hearing.

The Committee concluded that the withdrawal of the allegations was reasonable and served the public interest.

The member, a teacher, faced allegations of professional misconduct including inappropriate comments and physical contact with students.

Following an agreed statement of facts and a guilty plea, the Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct for engaging in conduct unbecoming a member.

The Committee accepted the joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand to be recorded on the register and the publication of a summary of the findings and order.

The Ontario College of Teachers sought leave to withdraw the allegations set out in the Notice of Hearing against the Member due to insufficient evidence.

The Member consented to the withdrawal.

The Discipline Committee granted the application and ordered the Notice of Hearing withdrawn.

The member, a teacher, pleaded guilty to professional misconduct for conducting unauthorized searches of the personal belongings of students on the senior football team while they were away at a game.

The Discipline Committee accepted the Agreed Statement of Facts and found the member guilty of conduct unbecoming a member.

Pursuant to a joint submission, the Committee ordered a two-month suspension of the member's Certificate of Qualification and publication of the decision.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought discipline proceedings against the member for alleged professional misconduct or incompetence.

At the hearing, both counsel requested that the Notice of Hearing be withdrawn, submitting a draft Resignation and Undertaking to be signed by the member.

The Discipline Committee accepted the submissions, agreed to accept the signed Resignation and Undertaking, and withdrew the Notice of Hearing, conditional on the signed document being returned to the College.