Teacher guilty of serious misconduct for inappropriately sending texts to a student…

The Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal has found a teacher guilty of serious misconduct for inappropriately sending texts to a student. 

The teacher and the student’s family had been in a long relationship of a social nature.  When that social relationship broke down the teacher sent inappropriate texts to the student.  The Tribunal found that these were highly inappropriate, but were not of a sexual nature.  The Tribunal said that the obligation was on the teacher to not get himself into a position where such conduct could occur.

The teacher was censured and his practicing certificate was suspended until the teacher provides sufficient evidence that satisfies the Teaching Council that he is not suffering from an impairment which would prevent him from returning to teaching.  If he returns to teaching, he has to complete a professional development course to assist him to develop and maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students and he would be required to inform any employer and prospective employer of this decision.




Alan Knowsley
Education Lawyer
Wellington