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HearingsThree-member panels of the Discipline Committee conduct public hearings into cases of alleged incompetence or professional misconduct. The panels are a mix of elected and appointed Council members. If found guilty of professional misconduct or incompetence, a member's certificate may be revoked, suspended or limited. In cases of professional misconduct only, the committee may also reprimand, admonish or counsel the member, impose a fine, publish its order in Professionally Speaking, or order the member to pay costs. Panels of the Discipline Committee have ordered summaries of these recent disciplinary cases to be published in Professionally Speaking. Member: Mary E. Michelle Dayfoot A Discipline Committee panel held a public hearing on May 21, 2008 into allegations of professional misconduct against Mary E. Michelle Dayfoot for using inappropriate language with students and a parent, using unnecessary force against a student and disregarding the direction of her principal. Dayfoot, who was certified to teach in June 1981 and worked as a teacher of students with autism spectrum disorder for the Peel DSB, attended the hearing and was represented by counsel. The panel heard evidence that Dayfoot used loud, aggressive language with her students and applied unnecessary and unacceptable physical discipline, using her body weight to restrain an aggressive male student. She spoke loudly and aggressively with a parent whom she believed had violated the safe drop-off of a student. Dayfoot also refused to heed her principal's direction to remain off school grounds following her suspension from the school. "Teachers should know that using physical force and aggressive language is not effective or acceptable in managing behaviour," the panel said. "Teachers must be able to demonstrate patience, respect for others and self-control." Having considered the evidence, an agreed statement of facts, a plea of no contest, a joint submission on penalty and the submissions of counsel, the panel reprimanded Dayfoot for professional misconduct. Further, the panel directed Dayfoot to have her employer conduct a performance appraisal within 12 months and submit the report to the Registrar. "The provision of the teacher performance appraisal serves as a monitoring component of the penalty and protects the public interest," the panel said. The panel’s decision appears on the College’s public register. Member: Michel Réal Mondor A Discipline Committee panel held a public hearing on April 21, 2008 into allegations of professional misconduct against Michel Réal Mondor related to a criminal court finding of guilt for the assault of a male student. Mondor, who was certified to teach in 1970, did not attend the hearing nor was he represented by counsel. The panel heard evidence from a victim that Mondor squeezed the boy’s buttocks during a woodworking class. A few days later, during an exam, Mondor put his arms around the student from behind and rubbed the boy’s chest, thighs and groin through his clothing. Consequently, the student said, he felt judged and isolated at school, which caused him to drop out of school and move from the region. Mondor, who was originally charged in a criminal court with sexual exploitation and assault, pleaded guilty to assault and was given an absolute discharge. The panel considered the student a credible witness who gave his evidence in a clear, calm and forthright manner. Having considered the evidence, onus and standard of proof, the victim’s testimony and the submissions of College counsel, the panel found Mondor guilty of professional misconduct and directed the Registrar to revoke his Certificates of Qualification and Registration. "This decision confirms the position of the College that this kind of behaviour is completely unprofessional and unbecoming of a member, and lowers the image and trust of the profession in the eyes of the public," the panel said. The panel’s decision appears on the College’s public register. Member: Michael Patrick Stack A Discipline Committee panel held a public hearing on July 8, 2008 into allegations of professional misconduct against Michael Patrick Stack related to criminal charges for forgery and stealing school funds. Stack, who was certified to teach in June 1981 and worked as a secondary school principal for the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic DSB, did not attend the hearing and was not represented by counsel. The panel heard evidence that Stack forged the signature of a former principal of the school to acquire more than $80,000 from school accounts for his own use over six years, beginning in January 2000. He faces 13 counts of theft, fraud and forgery under the Criminal Code. Having considered the evidence, a plea of no contest, an agreed statement of facts, a joint submission on penalty and the submissions of College counsel, the panel found Stack guilty of professional misconduct and directed the Registrar to revoke his Certificates of Qualification and Registration. In its decision the panel wrote: "The member signed or issued, in his professional capacity as a principal, documents related to school funds for the purpose of misappropriating funds for his personal use. He also forged the signature of a former principal of the school on cheques and/or documents related to school funds. In doing so the member committed acts that were disgraceful, dishonourable and unprofessional and conduct unbecoming a member." The panel said that Stack's misappropriation of funds would have had a negative effect on the school’s students, program, staff morale and community. "This lack of ethical leadership warrants the most serious consequences and revocation under these circumstances is appropriate." The panel's decision appears on the College’s public register. Member: Paul Gary Bedard A Discipline Committee panel held a public hearing on July 8, 2008 into allegations of professional misconduct against Paul Gary Bedard related to a criminal conviction for the assault, sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a female student. Bedard received his BEd in 1990 and taught for the Sudbury Catholic DSB. He resigned his College membership in 2004. Bedard did not attend the hearing and was not represented by counsel. The panel heard evidence that Bedard was convicted of sexually assaulting a student, jailed for nine months, and prohibited from possessing weapons or firearms for 10 years. Having considered the evidence, a plea of no contest, an agreed statement of facts, submissions on penalty and the submissions of College counsel, the panel found Bedard guilty of professional misconduct and directed the Registrar to revoke his Certificates of Qualification and Registration. "The member, by grooming young women under his supervision who were vulnerable and susceptible to him, abused the power and trust vested in him as a teacher," the panel wrote in its decision. "The manner in which the member groomed this vulnerable student over a period of time and then violated her trust adds to the aggravation. He caused emotional, psychological and sexual harm to a student for his own gratification. Given the facts, the appropriate penalty is to revoke the member's Certificates of Qualification and Registration." The panel's decision appears on the College’s public register. Member: Roderic Russell Brawn A Discipline Committee panel held a public hearing on August 20, 2008 into allegations of professional misconduct against Roderic Russell Brawn for inappropriate behaviour toward students, colleagues and school administrators. Brawn was certified to teach in August 1997 and worked as an occasional teacher for the Thames Valley DSB. Brawn was absent from the hearing but was represented by counsel. In an agreed statement of facts, Brawn acknowledged speaking inappropriately to colleagues and students on various occasions between 2001 and 2005, bumping into the back of a student, yelling at a principal in front of colleagues and a parent and talking with students about drinking tequila and rum on the beach in the Bahamas. Having considered the evidence, a plea of no contest, an agreed statement of facts, a joint submission on penalty and the submissions of counsel, the panel found Brawn guilty of professional misconduct. Brawn was directed to complete, at his own expense, courses in classroom management and professional interactions with students, staff and administration within six months of the panel decision and to provide proof of successful completion to the Registrar within 30 days of the end of the courses. Brawn's lawyer argued against publication of his name, saying his actions were not at the serious end of the spectrum and were a collection of minor comments with one incident of physical contact that resulted in no apparent injury. The panel disagreed. "Seeing his name in print will serve as a specific deterrent to the member not to repeat his actions," the panel wrote, adding that it will remind all College members of the professionalism that is expected of teachers. The panel also said that Brawn was an occasional teacher who was employed in a number of schools and that events occurred over several years in various locations. Publishing the member's name serves to inform others in the education community. In its decision, the panel said the courses would help to remediate and rehabilitate Brawn. “The member's behaviours indicated a lack of understanding of appropriate boundaries within a school setting. The course in classroom management and the course addressing professional interactions with students, staff and administration will clarify for, and reinforce for the member, the need to maintain these boundaries." The panel's decision appears on the College’s public register. Member: David Alan Ditchfield A Discipline Committee panel held a public hearing on August 18, 2008 into allegations of professional misconduct against David Alan Ditchfield related to a criminal conviction for escaping custody following arrest for possession of an unlicensed shotgun and for using a computer to lure a person he thought was under 14 for sex. Ditchfield, a resident of the Township of Leeds and Thousand Islands, was certified to teach in June 1974 and was qualified as a supervisory officer. At the time of his arrest, Ditchfield worked as a manager of the information technology department in the Faculty of Education at Queen’s University. He did not attend the hearing and was not represented by counsel. The panel heard evidence that, from October 2004 to January 2005, Ditchfield used a computer to talk with someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl named Sarah in an Internet chatroom called "littlegirlsfordaddy." In reality, he was chatting with an OPP officer in a sting operation. On several occasions, the chats were lewd and captured Ditchfield masturbating on web cam. He suggested meeting "Sarah" in a hotel, but was arrested in January 2005 before a meeting could be arranged. He was found to possess an unlicensed shotgun at the time and tried to escape police custody. The court sentenced Ditchfield to 18 months under house arrest within the community followed by three years' probation. The court restricted his computer use and also prohibited Ditchfield from being in the company of anyone under 14 for a period of 10 years unless accompanied by a person over the age of 21. Having considered the evidence, onus and standard of proof, and the submissions of College counsel, the panel found Ditchfield guilty of professional misconduct and directed the Registrar to revoke his Certificates of Qualification and Registration. The possible risk to students, given that Ditchfield could return to active teaching or be in charge of a school or board, was of grave concern to the panel. "Child luring is a serious offence and must be dealt with seriously," the panel said in its decision. "Children are frequent users of the Internet. They are vulnerable members of society and must be safeguarded against predators who use the Internet to lure them into a situation where they can be sexually exploited and abused. The offence requires a denunciation and a deterrent." The panel's decision appears on the College’s public register. Member: Beverly Gail Williams A Discipline Committee panel held a public hearing on August 18, 2008 into allegations of professional misconduct against Beverly Gail Williams related to a criminal conviction for defrauding her board. Williams, who was certified to teach in June 1966, was employed as Superintendent of Programs for the Dufferin-Peel Catholic DSB. She did not attend the hearing and was not represented by counsel. The panel heard evidence that Williams defrauded her employer by submitting false invoices in the name of a defunct board program, The Teacher Centre, for consulting services and then converted the funds for personal use. As a superintendent, Williams had authority to approve third-party invoices for payment. From 1999 to 2001, she approved invoices from the centre amounting to $95,493.21 payable by the board. In 1998, Williams, through the centre, put the board at risk of losing $25,000. Then, in 2000, she used $1,000 in board funds to buy her family Christmas presents. She also acquired cash from the board amounting to $39,038 for her personal benefit. In 2001, Williams further defrauded the board for a publisher’s discount on textbooks. In total, Williams cost the board $194,357.21 in loss or risk of loss. She was found guilty of fraud over $5,000, sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay the board $159,000 in restitution. Having considered the evidence, a plea of no contest, an agreed statement of facts, a joint submission on penalty and counsel submissions, the panel found Williams guilty of professional misconduct and directed the Registrar to revoke her Certificates of Qualification and Registration. In its written decision, the panel said that Williams held a position of trust and power and that she abused her office for personal financial benefit. "This premeditated large-scale fraud over a prolonged duration is a serious breach of trust and professional misconduct. These fraudulent schemes resulted in the member’' receipt of funds that would have been directed to educational purposes. The member defrauded her employer and the community. The only appropriate penalty to restore public confidence in the teaching profession is revocation of the member’s certificate." The panel's decision appears on the College’s public register. Member: Kristian Kyle Coulombe A Discipline Committee panel held a public hearing on August 18, 2008 into allegations of professional misconduct against Kristian Kyle Coulombe related to a criminal conviction for the sexual assault and sexual exploitation of eight female students. Coulombe, who was certified to teach in June 1998, was a secondary school teacher with the Grand Erie DSB. He did not attend the hearing and was not represented by counsel. The panel heard evidence that Coulombe conducted a series of sexual assaults against girls aged 14 to 17 over a four-year period beginning in 1999. Coulombe engaged in sexual conversation with and later sexually assaulted a Grade 8 student shortly after his hiring as a replacement teacher in an elementary school in 1998-99 and continued his predatory behaviour throughout his career. "There was a pattern of grooming the victims, which resulted in a breach of trust to the victims, their parents, the employer, and the member’s profession and to the community," the Discipline Committee panel wrote in its decision. "Coulombe used the school as a recruiting ground to lure students who were young, trusting and emotionally susceptible into increasingly intense forms of sexual activity for his own gratification. The activities involved one or more students at a time," the panel wrote. "They consisted of oral sex performed on the member by the victims, sexual intercourse and attempted anal sex. These acts occurred in the school, in the classroom, in cars and in the member's home. "There was a significant element of predatory behaviour in the conduct of the member," the panel said. "He wore the mask of trust and authority to gain the confidence of these young victims. Without the mask, he would not have been in a position to commit these offences." The court convicted Coulombe of five counts each of sexual assault and sexual exploitation and sentenced him to four years in a federal prison. The Discipline Committee panel accepted the specific findings of fact in the court documents. Having considered the evidence, onus and standard of proof, and the submissions of College counsel, the panel found Coulombe guilty of professional misconduct and directed the Registrar to revoke his Certificates of Qualification and Registration. "The entrustment of children to teachers is a sacred trust," the panel wrote. "Teachers must not breach that trust. The fact that the member used his position of trust to create a long-term pattern of abuse, control and sexual exploitation of his students requires that he receive the maximum penalty, revocation of his Certificates of Qualification and Registration." The panel's decision appears on the College’s public register. |
