The Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal has charged a provisionally registered teacher with serious misconduct after he began a series of inappropriate relationships with three students.

The teacher began intimately texting and calling the students late at night, and attempted to act as a counselor despite having no qualifications or authority by the school to do so. The teacher also wrote messages, listed romantic songs and drew hearts on school letter head, and sent a birthday card to one of the student’s on her 16^th birthday.

The Tribunal considered that de-registration was needed to satisfy their obligations to protect the public and to uphold the integrity of the profession. The Tribunal took into account the teacher’s young age and inexperience but considered that he had been provided with a significant amount of information referring to teacher-student relationships. The Tribunal also noted that the principal had directly warned him against inappropriate relationships, which he had ignored.

The Tribunal held that although there was no physical contact between the teacher and the students the teacher had encouraged the relationships, and had their interactions not been revealed they may have become physical. The Tribunal were of the opinion that had it not been for the maturity of the students the relationship would have intensified.

The Tribunal found that the teacher’s lack of understanding of the seriousness of the situation and his ability to justify his actions put him at risk of re-offending. The Tribunal noted that his conduct indicated predatory behaviour but hoped that over time the teacher would mature and gain a proper understanding of proper professional standards.

The Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal censured the teacher for his admitted serious misconduct and ordered his deregistration plus the payment of over $3,290 in costs.

 

Alan Knowsley

Education Lawyer

Wellington