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Three-member panels of the Discipline Committee conduct public hearings into cases of alleged incompetence or professional misconduct. Panels are composed of elected and appointed Council members. The certificate of a member found to be incompetent or guilty of professional misconduct may be revoked, suspended, and/or made subject to terms, conditions or limitations. In findings of professional misconduct, the committee may also reprimand, admonish or counsel the member, impose a fine, and order the member to pay costs.
Summaries of recent disciplinary cases are published on the following pages. Copies of the full decisions are available at oct.ca → Members → Complaints and Discipline → Decisions.
The College publishes professional advisories, available at oct-oeeo.ca/ advisories, which are intended to inform members’ professional judgment and practice. For more information about the Ethical Standards for the Teaching Profession, please visit oct-oeeo.ca/ethical.
Member: Francesco G. Canacari
Registration No: 194270
Decision: Revocation
A Discipline Committee panel revoked the teaching certificate of Francesco G. Canacari, College member and former teacher at the Greater Victoria School District in British Columbia, for criminal offences.
Canacari, who was certified to teach in October 1992, did not attend the public hearing on December 20, 2016, nor was he represented by legal counsel.
The panel heard that he was found guilty of one count of criminal harassment and two counts of unlawfully entering or being in a dwelling house. For each of the three counts, he received a two-month custodial sentence to be served in the community subject to a number of conditions, followed by two years’ probation.
The British Columbia Ministry of Education subsequently cancelled his teaching certificate.
The panel found Canacari guilty of professional misconduct and directed the Registrar to revoke his Certificate of Qualification and Registration.
In its written decision, the panel stated, “Criminal conduct by teachers, whether inside or outside the school context, is wholly unacceptable.”
Member: Roberto Castellano
Registration No: 212742
Decision: Revocation
A Discipline Committee panel ordered the revocation of the teaching certificate of Roberto Castellano, a Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board former teacher, for continuously engaging in verbally and sexually abusive conduct.
Certified to teach in February 1997, Castellano did not attend the hearings on November 28 and 29, 2016, and was not represented by legal counsel.
His conduct was very serious, involving the repeated abuse of female students in his classes through sexual comments and sexual touching over a number of years.
The panel heard that Castellano was using pet names for students, making sexual innuendos, and touching female students repeatedly without justification.
He also committed sexual acts such as grabbing a student’s buttock, pushing a student into her chair with his hands close to her breasts, and pressing up against the back of a student and whispering in her ear.
Other examples of inappropriate conduct included:
He was charged with sexual assault. The charges were subsequently dropped after he signed a peace bond not to be on school/board property and not to have contact with the students who made the allegations.
The Discipline Committee panel found Castellano guilty of professional misconduct and directed the Registrar to revoke his Certificate of Qualification and Registration.
In its decision, the panel stated, “Rehabilitation of Mr. Castellano is not realistic at this time. His pattern of misconduct has escalated over time, despite attempts to correct his behaviour through a caution issued by the principal and coursework assigned on boundary violations. Mr. Castellano has shown that he is not willing or able to reform his behaviour.”
Member: Barbara Jeffries (formerly
Cheechoo), OCT
Registration No: 585421
Decision: Reprimand
A Discipline Committee panel reprimanded College member Barbara Cheechoo for failing to communicate effectively with parents and school administration.
Certified to teach in June 2010, the member was represented by legal counsel, but neither she nor her counsel attended the hearing on December 8, 2016.
The panel heard that Cheechoo’s teaching duties included planning, chaperoning and fundraising for an annual school trip. The parents and guardians of students signed contracts with the member requiring students to keep up with school work and to raise funds for the trip.
Over the course of the year, she became aware that some students were keeping the money they raised from fundraising activities and that some were not keeping up with their school work as required.
As a result, the member advised her vice-principal that she was cancelling the trip.
Some students were upset about the cancellation. Their parents were also upset because they had heard about the cancellation from their children and not from the member or the school. The parents called the school and requested to meet with the member. The member did not return their calls.
She eventually advised her principal that she was stepping down from the responsibility of the trip.
Subsequently, some parents, including two board members, discussed the issue further at a board meeting. At that meeting, the board directed that the member and parents work out the issue. The parents attempted to meet with the member so they could take over the planning and organization of the trip, but the member refused to meet with them.
The Discipline Committee panel found Cheechoo guilty of professional misconduct and ordered that she receive a reprimand.
In its decision, the panel stated, “The written reprimand will allow the Committee to address its concerns with the Member and will serve as a specific deterrent.”
Member: Pascal Chéron, OCT
Registration No: 533351
Decision: Reprimand, conditions
A Discipline Committee panel reprimanded Pascal Chéron, a teacher at the Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud, for his involvement in irregular practices related to the development of Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
Certified to teach in September 2008, Chéron attended the hearing on March 8, 2017, and was represented by legal counsel.
The Discipline Committee panel found Chéron guilty of professional misconduct and directed that he appear before it immediately after the hearing to receive a reprimand.
Within 120 days of the decision, Chéron must also successfully complete, at his own expense, a course on professional ethics.
In its decision, the panel stated that it “acknowledges that the member was obeying his supervisors’ instructions, that he was on probation and that he was genuinely fearful of losing his job when he became involved in irregular practices related to the development of the IEPs, but he failed to maintain the standards of the profession and his misconduct must be addressed.”
Member: James Robert Mervyn Coulter
Registration No: 205068
Decision: Revocation
A Discipline Committee panel revoked the teaching certificate of James Robert Mervyn Coulter, a former teacher at the Toronto District School Board.
The revocation is related to criminal convictions for accessing and possessing child pornography. He was sentenced to six months’ incarceration and three years’ probation for his crimes.
Coulter, who was certified to teach in June 1994, was self-represented and did not attend the public hearing on January 17, 2017.
The panel found him guilty of professional misconduct and directed the Registrar to revoke his Certificate of Qualification and Registration.
In its written decision, the panel stated, “The Member’s conduct is a serious breach of public trust, and he must not be permitted to teach in Ontario.”
Member: Adam Terrance Thomas Coysh
Registration No: 623508
Decision: Revocation
A Discipline Committee panel revoked the certificate of Adam Terrance Thomas Coysh, a former teacher at the Toronto District School Board, for engaging in the sexual abuse of a student.
Certified to teach in September 2011, Coysh attended the hearing on March 9, 2017, and was self-represented.
He was found criminally guilty of sexual exploitation, sentenced to 90 days in jail to be served intermittently, and 12 months’ probation.
The Discipline Committee panel found Coysh guilty of professional misconduct and ordered that his Certificate of Qualification and Registration be revoked.
In its decision, the panel stated, “The Committee finds that the Member has abused his position of trust and authority, and that through his sexually abusive conduct he failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with a student.”
Member: Remi Gagnon
Registration No: 106296
Decision: Revocation
A Discipline Committee panel revoked the teaching certificate of Remi Gagnon, a Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario teacher, due to a sexual relationship with a student.
Gagnon, who was certified to teach in June 1995, did not attend the public hearing on December 14, 2016, nor was he represented by legal counsel.
Gagnon engaged in an inappropriate personal relationship with a student. The relationship was sexual in nature.
Gagnon was criminally charged with and found guilty of sexual exploitation. However, the Superior Court allowed his appeal and ordered a new trial.
The panel found Gagnon guilty of professional misconduct and directed the Registrar to revoke his Certificate of Qualification and Registration.
In its written decision, the panel stated that his conduct was reprehensible. “Sexual relationships between teachers and students are strictly prohibited and have severe consequences.”
Member: John Robert D. Gerwin
Registration No: 264903
Decision: Suspension, reprimand,
conditions
A Discipline Committee panel suspended John Robert D. Gerwin, a teacher at the Upper Grand District School Board, for boundary violation issues.
Certified to teach in June 1990, Gerwin attended the hearing on January 26, 2017, with his legal counsel.
His misconduct includes failing to maintain the standards of the profession in committing boundary violations with a female student through unwanted actions and conversations.
He disregarded his employer’s instructions “not to discuss personal problems with students and not to be alone with any student,” which led to his failure to comply with this requirement.
Gerwin engaged in multiple conversations with the student, which made her uncomfortable. He invaded her personal space by touching her arm and shoulder. He also made comments about her physical appearance that made her uncomfortable, which was brought to his attention by both the student and her boyfriend.
His employment with the board was subsequently terminated. After three years without work and pay from the board, he was eventually reinstated by the board to teach adult students.
The Discipline Committee panel found Gerwin guilty of professional misconduct and suspended his Certificate of Qualification and Registration for three months. He was directed to appear before the committee immediately after the hearing to receive a reprimand.
He must also successfully complete, at his own expense, courses of instruction regarding appropriate professional boundaries and classroom management. He needs to do so prior to returning to a teaching position or any position for which a Certificate of Qualification and Registration is required.
In its decision, the panel stated, “The coursework will remind the Member of his obligations as a teacher and will help him to make better decisions in any future interactions with students.”
In 2014, Gerwin was also found guilty of professional misconduct for an inappropriate relationship with a student.
Member: Michel Joseph Guilbault
Registration No: 580243
Decision: Revocation
A Discipline Committee panel revoked the teaching certificate of Michel Joseph Guilbault, a former teacher at the Conseil scolaire catholique de district des Grandes Rivières, for engaging in an inappropriate personal relationship with a student, and exchanging romantic and sexual communications.
Guilbault, who was certified to teach in July 2009, did not attend the public hearing on January 30, 2017, nor was he represented by legal counsel.
The panel heard that the inappropriate communications between him and the student took place using various methods, including MSN Instant Messenger, text messages and Facebook.
He was arrested and charged with one count of communicating by means of telecommunication with a person under the age of 16 for the purpose of facilitating sexual interference. The criminal charges were subsequently withdrawn in exchange for a peace bond.
The panel found Guilbault guilty of professional misconduct and directed the Registrar to revoke his Certificate of Qualification and Registration.
In its written decision, the panel stated, “The Member abused the trust and authority associated with his role as a teacher and undermined public confidence in the teaching profession.”
Member: Eric William Hamm
Registration No: 622716
Decision: Revocation
A Discipline Committee panel revoked the certificate of College member Eric William Hamm, a former teacher, for engaging in the sexual abuse of a student.
Certified to teach in July 2011, Hamm was represented by a lawyer, but neither he nor his lawyer attended the hearing on March 1, 2017.
Hamm was not criminally charged, but his name is noted as having been a suspect in a sexual assault investigation. This means that his name will appear on any vulnerable sector screening.
The Discipline Committee panel found Hamm guilty of professional misconduct and ordered that his Certificate of Qualification and Registration be revoked.
In its decision, the panel stated, “The Member’s conduct in having a romantic and sexual relationship with Student 1 was reprehensible conduct. This student was particularly vulnerable because she was a foreign student away from home and under the Member’s care as resident supervisor.”
Member: Nicole Laura Jones, OCT
Registration No: 571310
Decision: Reprimand, conditions
A Discipline Committee panel ordered that Nicole Laura Jones, a Grand Erie District School Board teacher, be reprimanded for improper evaluation practices.
Certified to teach in August 2009, she attended the January 18, 2017, hearing with her legal counsel.
Jones worked with students in an alternative program composed of co-operative education placements and independent study assignments.
Three of her students received final report card marks and comments for work that had not been completed by the students and/or assessed by the member.
Following a school’s investigation, she received a letter of discipline and was suspended from her employment, without pay, for four days.
The Discipline Committee panel found her guilty of professional misconduct and directed that she appear before the committee immediately following the hearing to receive a reprimand.
In addition, she must successfully complete, at her own expense, a course regarding assessment and evaluation of students.
In its decision, the panel stated, “The Committee finds that the Member’s improper evaluation practices warrant a reprimand by her peers. “The reprimand will allow the Committee to directly address its concerns with the Member and will serve as a specific deterrent.”
Member: Roman Zenon Kalarus, OCT
Registration No: 441145
Decision: Reprimand
A Discipline Committee panel reprimanded Roman Zenon Kalarus, a teacher at the Toronto District School Board, for making offensive and disrespectful comments about a colleague. He also acted disgracefully and disrespectfully toward a student.
Certified to teach in May 2001, Kalarus attended the hearing on March 10, 2017, and was represented by legal counsel.
The Discipline Committee panel found Kalarus guilty of professional misconduct and directed that he appear before it immediately after the hearing to receive a reprimand.
In its decision, the panel stated, “The Member’s actions were the antithesis of the respectful, inclusive behaviour a teacher is expected to model.”
Member: Steven Michael Kastner, OCT
Registration No: 459836
Decision: Reprimand, conditions
A Discipline Committee panel reprimanded Steven Michael Kastner, a former teacher at the York Region District School Board, for a repeated pattern of inappropriate and unethical conduct.
Kastner, who was certified to teach in August 2002, attended the December 19, 2016, hearing and had legal representation.
The panel heard that the unethical conduct included:
He subsequently resigned from the board.
The Discipline Committee panel found Kastner guilty of professional misconduct and ordered that he appear before the panel immediately after the hearing to receive a reprimand.
In addition, he was directed to complete, at his own expense, a course of instruction in ethics.
In its written decision, the panel stated, “The coursework will remind the Member of his obligations as a teacher and will help him to make better decisions in the future.”
Member: Riaz Khamis, OCT
Registration No: 429402
Decision: Reprimand, conditions
A Discipline Committee panel reprimanded Riaz Khamis, a Toronto District School Board teacher, for violating boundaries with female students.
Certified to teach in August 1999, Khamis attended the hearing on February 28, 2017, and was represented by legal counsel.
The panel heard that Khamis took photos of female students without their knowledge or consent. He betrayed their trust and violated their sense of security. As well, the member gave a student access to his phone, knowing that it contained downloaded pictures of naked women.
The board suspended him for three days without pay and required him to provide his principal with evidence that he had satisfactorily addressed his professional development needs regarding parameters that define appropriate interactions between students and teachers.
The suspension was subsequently reduced to two days upon resolution of his grievance.
The panel was troubled by the fact that, years before, the member had been suspended by his school board and administratively transferred to another school, along with other conditions, for similar professional misconduct.
The Discipline Committee panel found Khamis guilty of professional misconduct and directed that he appear before it immediately after the hearing to receive a reprimand.
In addition, he must successfully complete, at his own expense, a course in appropriate professional boundaries with students.
In its decision, the panel stated, “The coursework should address an apparent pattern of misconduct regarding the Member’s insensitive and inappropriate treatment of female students.”
Member: Marc Lamoureux
Registration No: 262654
Decision: Suspension, reprimand,
conditions
A Discipline Committee panel suspended Marc Lamoureux, a former vice-principal with the Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud, for his involvement in irregular practices related to the development of Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and the administration of EQAO tests.
Certified to teach in June 1994, Lamoureux attended the February 13, 2017, hearing with his legal counsel.
His irregular practices included:
The board returned him to a teaching position with no possibility of attaining a management or senior administrative position within the board for a period of one year.
The Discipline Committee panel found Lamoureux guilty of professional misconduct and suspended his Certificate of Qualification and Registration for eight months. He was directed to appear before the committee immediately after the hearing to receive a reprimand.
He must also successfully complete, at his own expense, a course on professional ethics. He needs to do so within 90 days of the date of the order. If he does so successfully, the last two months of the suspension will not take effect.
In its decision, the panel stated, “School principals and vice-principals must fulfil the role and responsibilities entrusted to them, and provide a model example of respect for professional ethics. The Member failed to live up to these expectations and contravened the instructions issued by the EQAO and the Ministry of Education.”
Member: Sheila Angela O’Shea
Registration No: 421862
Decision: Suspension, reprimand,
conditions
A Discipline Committee panel suspended Sheila Angela O’Shea, a Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board teacher, for verbally and physically abusive conduct.
Certified to teach in September 1998, O’Shea attended part of the hearings on March 23, 2016, and January 12, 2017, and was self-represented.
The panel heard that she had yelled at students, made physical contact with them, disciplined students by sending them into the hallway without instructing them to go to the principal’s office and without notifying the office, and yelled at staff and administrators (which included threatening to sue her principal).
Examples of her physical abuse include:
The panel also heard that her misconduct occurred at three different schools and took place over a significant period of time.
The Discipline Committee panel found O’Shea guilty of professional misconduct and suspended her Certificate of Qualification and Registration for six months. She was directed to appear before the committee to receive a reprimand. She needs to do so prior to starting a teaching position or any position for which a certificate is required.
She must also successfully complete, at her own expense, a course(s) regarding anger management and appropriate boundaries and boundary violation issues.
In its decision, the panel stated, “Members of the teaching profession, regardless of their personal circumstances, are all expected to treat students and staff with respect and to provide a safe learning environment.”
Member: David Andrew Renn
Registration No: 527319
Decision: Revocation
A Discipline Committee panel revoked the teaching certificate of David Andrew Renn, a Grand Erie District School Board former teacher, for repeated conduct toward students that formed a reprehensible pattern of behaviour.
Renn, who was certified to teach in January 2008, did not attend the public hearing on January 31, 2017, nor was he represented by legal counsel.
The panel heard that Renn sent inappropriate and sexually explicit text messages to a student, and knowing that it was unacceptable, asked that she delete these messages.
He also made inappropriate and lewd remarks containing sexual innuendo to the student in class, which made her feel uncomfortable.
He exchanged personal and inappropriate text messages with another student, in which he made reference to drinking and drugs, among other things.
The Children’s Aid Society investigated the allegations. It did not verify child protection concerns based on the ages of the students. However, the Society concluded that there is significant future risk regarding Renn in a position of authority as he did not show remorse or take any responsibility for his actions.
His employment with the board was subsequently terminated.
The panel found Renn guilty of professional misconduct and directed the Registrar to revoke his Certificate of Qualification and Registration.
In its written decision, the panel stated, “The Member’s conduct was abusive towards students and it jeopardized the public’s trust in the teaching profession.”
Member: Gary George Somerfield
Registration No: 169611
Decision: Reprimand, conditions
A Discipline Committee panel reprimanded Gary George Somerfield, a former teacher at the Lakehead District School Board, for repeated episodes of inappropriate conduct in which he made a student feel frightened and uncomfortable.
Certified to teach in June 1986, Somerfield did not attend the hearing on October 13, 2016, and was not represented by legal counsel.
The panel heard that Somerfield was alone in his classroom with a female student. He had closed the door. He showed the student a photograph of her, which the member downloaded from the student’s Instagram account, and asked her if it looked familiar.
The student asked him where he got the photograph and he stuck out his hand and said to her, “I’m Gary.” The student did not shake the member’s hand and felt confused. He asked her if what he did made sense and she said it did not. He then told her, “Well, we need to talk then.” She repeatedly asked why and he said that he could not tell the student at that time.
The student left his classroom. She cried and felt very uncomfortable with the exchange. Somerfield subsequently retired from the board.
The Discipline Committee panel found Somerfield guilty of professional misconduct and directed that he appear before the committee to receive a reprimand. He needs to do so prior to commencing or returning to a teaching position or any position for which a Certificate of Qualification and Registration is required.
In addition, he must successfully complete, at his own expense, a course regarding appropriate boundaries and boundary violation issues prior to commencing or returning to a teaching position.
In its decision, the panel stated, “Teachers are expected to provide a safe learning environment for students, but the Member did the opposite.”
Member: William Douglas John White, OCT
Registration No: 432924
Decision: Reprimand, conditions
A Discipline Committee panel reprimanded William Douglas John White, a teacher at the Toronto District School Board, for repeated verbally and physically abusive conduct, despite having been previously counselled by his principal to model appropriate behaviour toward students and staff.
Certified to teach in November 2002, White attended the hearing on February 22, 2017, and was represented by legal counsel.
The inappropriate conduct included raising his voice and yelling at a student to get off the floor.
After the student refused the member’s request to take her seat and return to her assigned task, she sat down cross-legged on the floor. After she refused to get up, White put his left hand under her right armpit and put his right foot against her right thigh, as an attempt to pull her up off the floor. He pulled twice to lift her bottom off the floor; however, he was not able to lift her to her feet.
The student’s mother reported that her daughter had been complaining of a sore right arm since the incident.
The board suspended him for five days without pay. The suspension was reduced to two days following a grievance.
The Discipline Committee panel found White guilty of professional misconduct and directed that he appear before the committee immediately after the hearing to receive a reprimand. In addition, he must successfully complete, at his own expense, a course regarding anger management with a focus on dealing with students with special needs.
In its decision, the panel stated,
“Members of the profession are expected to treat students and staff with respect at all times. They must conduct themselves in a composed and professional manner, without resorting to the unnecessary use of physical force, even under difficult or challenging circumstances.”
Member: Carole Wilson
Registration No: 259137
Decision: Suspension, reprimand,
conditions
A Discipline Committee panel suspended Carole Wilson, a former principal at the Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud, for her involvement in irregular practices related to the development of Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and the administration of EQAO tests.
Certified to teach in June 1992, Wilson attended the February 13, 2017, hearing with her legal counsel.
Her irregular practices included:
The board demoted her to a vice-principal position with no possibility of promotion to a senior management position for one year.
The Discipline Committee panel found Wilson guilty of professional misconduct and suspended her Certificate of Qualification and Registration for nine months. She was directed to appear before the committee immediately after the hearing to receive a reprimand.
She must also successfully complete, at her own expense, a course on professional ethics. She needs to do so within 90 days of the date of the order. If she does so successfully, the last two months of the suspension will not take effect.
In its decision, the panel stated, “School principals should fulfil the role and responsibilities entrusted to them, and model respect for professional ethics. The Member failed to live up to these expectations and contravened the instructions issued by the EQAO and the Ministry of Education.”
Copies of the full decisions are available at oct-oeeo.ca/decisions.