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Panels of the Discipline Committee ordered the summaries of recent
disciplinary cases to be published in Professionally Speaking.
A panel of the College’s Discipline Committee held a public hearing on January 15 into allegations of professional misconduct against Lorraine Racicot, 49, of London. Racicot was certified to teach in 1993 and was employed as a teacher by the Board of Education for the City of London, now the Thames Valley District School Board. She chose not to attend or be represented at the hearing. The allegations of professional misconduct against Racicot included providing false information or documents to the College; failing to maintain the standards of the profession; signing or issuing a document that she knew or ought to know contained false, improper or misleading statements; failing to comply with the Ontario College of Teachers Act; committing an act that would be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable, or unprofessional; engaging in conduct unbecoming a member; failing to co-operate in a College investigation; failing to take reasonable steps to ensure that information requested by the College was provided in a complete and accurate manner; and displaying a lack of skills and/or judgement of a nature that demonstrates the member is either unfit to carry out her professional responsibilities or that the member’s certificate should be made subject to terms, conditions or limitations. The panel heard evidence that the member enrolled in the Bachelor of Education program at the University of Ottawa in 1992 when she knew or should have known she didn’t have the academic qualifications. She had obtained 27 credits towards her Bachelor of Arts at the Université de Sherbrooke when she knew she needed 90 for Ottawa’s teacher education program. In 1993, the member was issued an Ontario Teacher’s Certificate and provided false information and gained employment with the Board of Education for the City of London. When informed by the University of Ottawa in November 1994 that her Bachelor of Education had been granted in error, Racicot replied in writing that she had not completed her Bachelor of Arts degree and was prepared to take all the courses necessary but would need time to do so. In February 1995, the university informed the Ministry of Education in writing that Racicot had not fulfilled the requirement for the degree. A copy of the letter was also sent to Racicot. In 1998, Racicot obtained a Certificate of Qualification from the Ontario College of Teachers that she was not entitled to hold and enrolled in Additional Qualifications courses at the University of Western Ontario, stating that she held a Bachelor of Arts degree, which she didn’t. Racicot failed to reply to the College when asked to provide proof of her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1999. The discipline panel agreed that Racicot does not have a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Université de Sherbrooke and misrepresented her professional credentials in obtaining a Certificate of Qualification. The panel found Racicot guilty of professional misconduct and ordered her Certificates of Registration and Qualification revoked. The panel also imposed a $2,000 fine payable to the provincial finance ministry. The decision of the panel will appear on the College’s public register.
A panel of the College’s Discipline Committee held a public hearing on July 17 and 18, 2000 into allegations of professional misconduct against teacher T. The panel ordered a publication ban on the name of the teacher and any other identifier because of threats made to the member’s family. T was certified to teach in 1976 and was both an artist and an art teacher. He attended the hearing and was represented by counsel. The allegations of professional misconduct against T included failing to maintain the standards of the profession; releasing or disclosing information about a student to a person other than that student; abusing students physically, sexually, verbally, psychologically or emotionally; failing to comply with the Education Act; committing acts that would be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional; and engaging in conduct unbecoming a member. An agreed statement of facts involving 17 students was presented to the panel and three students also testified. The panel heard evidence from the first witness that T drank alcohol to the point of obvious intoxication in the presence of students, guests and teachers. On one occasion in 1989, a student accompanied T home to make sure he was safe. T offered the student an alcoholic drink, which the student declined, kissed her and touched her genital area in an attempt to stimulate her sexually without her consent. Two years later T asked the student to pose nude for him when she returned to the school as a speaker. The second witness, who was a student of T from Grades 10 to 12, testified that the teacher made a plaster body cast and sculpture of her, having first applied vaseline to her body. T put his hands underneath her bathing suit and touched her breast and genital areas. He also took pictures of her in the nude, chained, blindfolded as well as in other positions. The pictures were taken at the teacher’s home, at his camp, at the school and at other locations. Some of the pictures, or parts of them, were displayed on T’s office walls at the school. T also showed the student a portion of a book he was writing. T told the student that some parts of the book were autobiographical and that one character referred to a student. The writings included the teacher and the student having sex. The third student testified that T drank and allowed underage students to have alcoholic drinks. He told her about and showed her pictures of a number of students having modelled nude for him. T took pictures of the student in which she appeared chained or tied, wearing ripped clothing. He also asked to use nude pictures of her for an art book. The panel also heard evidence about T ignoring the advice of his colleagues not to place himself in compromising situations. He also used his position of trust and authority to persuade students to pose for him. In March 1997, the district school board started an investigation into allegations that T was taking nude, semi-nude or provocative pictures of students. In July 1997, T resigned his position as a teacher. The panel accepted a joint submission from counsel that T resigned his Certificates of Registration and Qualification. The panel found T guilty of professional misconduct on all the allegations except that he released or disclosed information about a student to a person other than that student. Because he had already resigned his Certificates of Registration and Qualification, the panel ordered that T be reprimanded and that the reprimand be recorded on the College’s register for an unlimited period. The member’s resignation and the finding of professional misconduct will also appear on the register.
A panel of the College’s Discipline Committee held a public hearing on February 12 into allegations of professional misconduct against Heidi Franziska Coleman, 53, of Georgetown. Coleman was certified to teach in 1970 and was employed as a supply teacher by the Halton Board of Education, now the Halton District School Board. Coleman did not attend the hearing and chose not to be represented. The allegations of professional misconduct against Coleman included failing to maintain the standards of the profession; abusing a student physically, sexually, verbally, psychologically or emotionally; failing to comply with the Education Act; contravening a law that is relevant to her suitability to hold a Certificate of Qualification, committing an act that would be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable, or unprofessional; and engaging in conduct unbecoming a member and displaying a lack of knowledge, skill or judgement or a disregard to the welfare of her students. The panel heard evidence from a witness that Coleman engaged in a sexual relationship with him when he was 13 years old. The witness was a student in Coleman’s class at the time. The witness, who is now in his 30s, testified that he felt the need to come forward with the information as his own son is now the same age he was when the abuse took place. The victim also testified that the abuse has had long-term negative effects on him. He has difficulty maintaining relationships with women and dealing with people in positions of authority. The witness, who left school in Grade 10, testified that he finds it difficult to go to any school and has not been able to attend school meetings or events for his son. Coleman pleaded guilty in October 1998 to a charge of gross indecency and was sentenced to an 18-month conditional sentence to be served in the community, followed by 18 months’ probation. She was also ordered to undertake 100 hours of community service within a year and abstain from contact with the victim. The panel found Coleman guilty of professional misconduct and ordered her Certificates of Registration and Qualification revoked. The panel also ordered Coleman to pay a fine of $2,000 to the provincial Ministry of Finance. The decision of the panel will appear on the College’s public register.
A panel of the College’s Discipline Committee held a public hearing on February 13 into allegations of professional misconduct against William Douglas Walker, 53, of Markham. Walker was certified to teach in 1973 and was employed as a teacher by the York Region District School Board, formerly the York Board of Education. Walker attended the hearing and was represented by counsel. The allegations of professional misconduct against Walker included failing to maintain the standards of the profession; abusing a student or students physically, sexually, verbally, psychologically or emotionally; failing to comply with the Education Act; committing an act that would be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable, or unprofessional; engaging in conduct unbecoming a member and displaying a lack of knowledge, skill or judgement or a disregard to the welfare of his students. A witness told the panel that Walker engaged in a sexual relationship with her that included sexual intercourse on numerous occasions on and off school property. The victim was a Grade 10 student in Walker’s music class at the time. She was also a member of various bands conducted by Walker. In an impact statement presented as evidence, the victim indicated that she has been a teacher for six years. She indicated “a sense of deep sorrow at the loss of my youth and my trust.” She stated, “Every day my face is rubbed in the mess Doug Walker made of my sense of self. Every day I am embarrassed at how I was taken in by this twisted man…I feel dirty and tainted by the exploitation of my childhood. I feel used and guilty that somehow it was I who should have known better. I was used and discarded.” She stated that she now recognizes that Walker used his position of trust and authority over her. She stated that as a teacher, she now fully comprehends the power teachers hold over students and why teachers must be vigilant “so that predators like Douglas Walker cannot scar our children.” The panel also heard evidence that Walker provided alcohol to underage students, sometimes allowing them to drink to the point of intoxication. The member also testified at the hearing. He stated that he felt deep remorse for his actions and embarrassment that his behaviour has caused himself, the victim, his family and members of the teaching profession. The panel found Walker guilty of professional misconduct and ordered that the member be verbally reprimanded. Walker had resigned from the College and left teaching before the hearing. The panel stated that had Walker not resigned from the College, they would certainly have revoked his Certificates of Registration and Qualification. The panel also ordered Walker to pay a fine of $2,000 to the provincial Ministry of Finance. The finding of professional misconduct is recorded on the College’s public register. |
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