Hearings

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. Where the name of an employer is withheld, it is typically to protect the identity of students or to comply with a publication ban ordered by a court or the tribunal. 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: Christina Marie Albini
Registration No: 453340
Decision: Revocation, reprimand

A Discipline Committee panel revoked the Certificate of Qualification and Registration of Christina Marie Albini, a teacher formerly employed by the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, for sexually abusing a male student.

Licensed to teach in June 2002, Albini did not attend the hearing on May 7, 2019, and had no legal representation.

Albini and the student exchanged messages and pictures of a sexual nature and met at her home to engage in sexual intercourse.

In a criminal court, Albini was sentenced to 12 months’ incarceration followed by three years’ probation. She was also made the subject of a number of ancillary orders.

The Discipline Committee panel found her guilty of professional misconduct and directed the Registrar to revoke her Certificate of Qualification and Registration. It also directed that she receive a written reprimand.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “The Committee is satisfied that the penalty is appropriate in the circumstances and meets the principle of serving and protecting the public interest.”

Member: Jean-Christophe Béarez
Registration No: 424071
Decision: Suspension, reprimand, conditions

A Discipline Committee panel suspended the certificate of Jean-Christophe Béarez, a teacher employed by the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, for inappropriate conduct.

This matter was heard by the panel on April 3, 2019. Neither Béarez, who was certified to teach in June 1999, nor his legal counsel attended the hearing.

Béarez behaved inappropriately and made inappropriate remarks to three teachers. His conduct showed poor professional judgment and constituted sexual harassment.

The Discipline Committee panel found Béarez guilty of professional misconduct and ordered that his teaching certificate be suspended for six months. He was directed to appear before it to receive a reprimand.

The panel also ordered him to successfully complete, at his own expense, three courses on professional ethics, maintaining appropriate boundaries and effective interpersonal communication. He needs to do so prior to accepting any position for which a Certificate of Qualification and Registration is required.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “The Member’s inappropriate and repeated conduct occurred over several school years, involved several colleagues and damaged the reputation of the teaching profession.”

Member: Rachel Elizabeth Crowther
Registration No: 477479
Decision: Revocation

A Discipline Committee panel revoked the teaching certificate of Rachel Elizabeth Crowther, a teacher formerly employed by the Durham District School Board, for engaging in an inappropriate personal relationship with a male student over the course of several months.

Certified to teach in June 2004, Crowther did not attend the hearing on March 20, 2019, but had legal representation.

Crowther’s conduct involved extreme boundary violations, which included:

exchanging about 5,000–6,000 text messages of a personal nature with the student over approximately four months;
spending time together alone at her home where the student occasionally babysat her child;
driving the student in her car;
going for walks (including alone in a forest) or for coffee together;
making lunches for the student and including personal notes in them; and
texting the student at night, saying “good night” and “I love you.”

Crowther abruptly ended the personal relationship with the student after her husband discovered the text messages. The cessation of the relationship was emotionally distressing to the student.

The panel found Crowther guilty of professional misconduct and ordered that her Certificate of Qualification and Registration be revoked.

In its decision, the panel stated, “The Member ought to have known that her behaviour with the Student was very inappropriate and that it could be confusing and emotionally distressing for the Student. The Member’s conduct also undermined the public’s trust in the teaching profession, and therefore reflects poorly on the profession as a whole.”

Member: Martin Frederick S. Danio
Registration No: 240729
Decision: Revocation, reprimand

A Discipline Committee panel revoked the Certificate of Qualification and Registration of Martin Frederick S. Danio, a teacher formerly employed by the Peel District School Board, for criminal conduct.

Danio was licensed to teach in June 1974. He did not attend the hearing on April 12, 2019, and had no legal representation.

He was found guilty in a criminal court of one count of possession of child pornography.

He was sentenced to a 15-month custodial sentence, less credit for pretrial custody, to be followed by 18 months’ probation. He was also made subject to a number of ancillary orders.

The Discipline Committee panel found him guilty of professional misconduct and directed the Registrar to revoke his Certificate of Qualification and Registration. It also directed that he receive a reprimand.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “His disgraceful, dishonourable and unprofessional conduct has jeopardized the public’s perception of teachers in the province and must be denounced in the strongest terms.”

Member: A. Jay Fiocca
Registration No: 190848
Decision: Revocation, reprimand

A Discipline Committee panel revoked the Certificate of Qualification and Registration of A. Jay Fiocca, a teacher formerly employed by the Niagara Catholic District School Board, for criminal conduct.

Fiocca was licensed to teach in April 1996. He did not attend the hearing on May 15, 2019, and had no legal representation.

He was found guilty in a criminal court of possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to six months of imprisonment, received a three-year probation order, and was made subject to a number of ancillary orders.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “The Committee denounces the Member’s misconduct in the strongest terms.”

Member: Vasilios Georgiopoulos
Registration No: 515861
Decision: Suspension, reprimand, conditions

A Discipline Committee panel suspended the certificate of Vasilios Georgiopoulos, a teacher employed by the Simcoe County District School Board, for inappropriate conduct.

This matter was heard by the panel on May 23, 2019. Georgiopoulos, who was certified to teach in March 2007, did not attend the hearing, but had legal representation.

Georgiopoulos yelled at students, and used his cellphone and fell asleep during instructional time.

The Discipline Committee panel found Georgiopoulos guilty of professional misconduct and ordered that his teaching certificate be suspended for one month. He was directed to appear before the panel to receive a reprimand and to do so immediately following the hearing or within 90 days of the date of the order.

The panel also ordered him to successfully complete, at his own expense, a course on maintaining appropriate professional boundaries with students. He needs to do so within 90 days of the date he returns to or starts a position for which a Certificate of Qualification and Registration is required.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “Members of the profession are expected to be role models for students and to promote student learning. They should be engaged in their lessons and make good use of instructional time.”

Member: Shawn David Alan James, OCT
Registration No: 594443
Decision: Reprimand, conditions

A Discipline Committee panel reprimanded Shawn David Alan James, a teacher employed by the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, for a pattern of inappropriate classroom management.

This matter was heard by the panel on April 2, 2019. James, who was certified to teach in June 2010, attended the hearing with his legal counsel.

On several occasions, James demonstrated a failure to use appropriate classroom management techniques, and his interactions with students were unnecessarily aggressive.

The Discipline Committee panel found James guilty of professional misconduct and directed him to appear before it to receive a reprimand.

It also ordered him to successfully complete, at his own expense, a course on classroom management. He must do so prior to returning to a teaching position or to any position requiring a Certificate of Qualification and Registration.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “Members of the teaching profession are expected to promote safe and supportive learning environments and to model appropriate, respectful and professional behaviour. By failing to adequately supervise students, by using physical interventions to address student behaviour, and by using a sharp voice with students in front of their peers, the Member failed to meet these expectations.”

Member: Ryan Edward Jarvis
Registration No: 506091
Decision: Revocation, reprimand

A Discipline Committee panel revoked the Certificate of Qualification and Registration of Ryan Edward Jarvis, a teacher formerly employed by the Thames Valley District School Board, for egregious conduct.

Jarvis was licensed to teach in July 2006. He had no legal representation and did not attend the hearing on April 8, 2019.

Jarvis targeted, observed and objectified students by video recording intimate parts of their bodies for a sexual purpose. He did so over a period of two years.

He was convicted of voyeurism by the Supreme Court of Canada. The Court held that Jarvis had made the video recordings of the students in circumstances that gave rise to a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Initially, Jarvis was acquitted of voyeurism by the Superior Court of Justice (Ontario), whose decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal (Ontario), after using a pen camera to take secret videos of his female students at school. The College intervened at the Supreme Court to argue for strong protections for student privacy in learning environments under the Criminal Code.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “The Member’s criminal conduct was sexually abusive and completely unacceptable. By engaging in this behaviour, the Member has undermined the reputation of the teaching profession.”

Member: Kristen Michelle Johnson
Registration No: 439280
Decision: Suspension, reprimand, conditions

A Discipline Committee panel suspended the certificate of Kristen Michelle Johnson (also known as Kristen Michelle Tamburrino), a teacher employed by the District School Board of Niagara, for unethical and dishonest conduct.

This matter was heard by the panel on April 11, 2019. Johnson, who was certified to teach in June 2001, did not attend the hearing but had legal representation.

Johnson falsified her attendance records when she reported two consecutive absent days as “Family Care Days.” She improperly used those days to participate in the Boston Marathon.

This is Johnson’s second matter before the Discipline Committee.

The Discipline Committee panel found her guilty of professional misconduct and ordered that her teaching certificate be suspended for three months. She was directed to appear before it to receive a reprimand.

The panel also ordered her to successfully complete, at her own expense, a course on professional ethics. She needs to do so no later than 90 days prior to commencing or resuming any teaching position for which a Certificate of Qualification and Registration is required.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “The Member’s falsification of her attendance records and deception to her employer demonstrate a significant lapse in professional judgment.”

Member: Terry Ann M. Laforge
Registration No: 204242
Decision: Suspension, reprimand, conditions, undertaking

A Discipline Committee panel suspended the certificate of Terry Ann M. Laforge, a teacher formerly employed by the Thames Valley District School Board, for engaging in an ongoing pattern of inappropriate conduct.

This matter was heard by the panel on June 3, 2019. Laforge, who was certified to teach in June 1993, did not attend the hearing but had legal representation.

Laforge’s misconduct included:

making inappropriate comments to students;
failing to maintain professional boundaries;
encouraging students to fight;
attending meetings while under the influence of alcohol;
causing a student to fall to the ground; and
making a racist comment to a taxi driver.

The Discipline Committee panel found her guilty of professional misconduct and ordered that her teaching certificate be suspended for one month. She appeared before the panel by video conference immediately after the hearing to receive a reprimand.

The panel also ordered her to successfully complete, at her own expense, a course(s) on appropriate boundaries and supervision. She needs to do so prior to starting or resuming any teaching position or any position for which a Certificate of Qualification and Registration is required.

Laforge also entered into an “undertaking and acknowledgment” with the College, which sets out conditions that must be met before she can hold a position for which a certificate is required.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “Given the ongoing and repeated nature and severity of the Member’s conduct, the Committee finds that a one-month suspension is reasonable and appropriate.”

Member: Joel Robert Lewsaw
Registration No: 197828
Decision: Suspension, reprimand, conditions

A Discipline Committee panel suspended the certificate of Joel Robert Lewsaw, a teacher employed by the Greater Essex County District School Board, for inappropriate conduct.

This matter was heard by the panel on May 17, 2019. Lewsaw, who was certified to teach in June 1995, attended the hearing with his legal counsel.

Lewsaw made comments to students that were of an inappropriate and racial nature, including comments regarding a student’s sexual orientation. He also created a class list with nicknames or descriptions of students with a derogatory and/or sexual overtone, and used profanity.

The Discipline Committee panel found Lewsaw guilty of professional misconduct and ordered that his teaching certificate be suspended for four months. He was directed to appear before it to receive a reprimand.

The panel also ordered him to successfully complete, at his own expense, a course on classroom communication and boundaries. He needs to do so within 90 days of its order.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “Members of the profession are expected to maintain appropriate boundaries with students at all times, to act as positive role models and to create safe and supportive learning communities.”

Member: Martine Marie Mackenzie
Registration No: 211970
Decision: Suspension, reprimand, conditions

A Discipline Committee panel suspended the certificate of Martine Marie Mackenzie, a teacher formerly employed by the District School Board of Niagara, for submitting false health-care claims.

This matter was heard by the panel on April 12, 2019. Neither Mackenzie, who was certified to teach in November 1993, nor her lawyer attended the hearing.

Mackenzie submitted multiple false health-care claims over a period of five years and received payment for the false claims in the amount of $13,280.

The Discipline Committee panel found her guilty of professional misconduct and ordered that her teaching certificate be suspended for nine months. She was directed to appear before it to receive a reprimand.

The panel also ordered her to successfully complete, at her own expense, a course on ethics. She needs to do so if she returns to teaching.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “Though the Member’s conduct did not directly involve students, it has nevertheless undermined the public’s confidence in teachers and tarnished the reputation of the teaching profession.”

Member: Tahir Mahmood
Registration No: 620232
Decision: Suspension, reprimand, conditions

A Discipline Committee panel suspended the certificate of College member Tahir Mahmood for failing to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with a female student.

This matter was heard by the panel on April 2, 2019. Mahmood, who was certified to teach in February 2013, did not attend the hearing and did not have legal representation.

Mahmood abused his position and failed to maintain appropriate boundaries over a period of six months by:

picking the student up in his car in the evening and taking her for ice cream and sweets alone, without the consent of the student’s guardian;
discussing personal issues with her, including her views on dating;
texting about personal issues outside school hours; and
permitting her to pinch his hand at school or in the car.

He also attempted to assist the student with her mental health issues without informing or consulting with the school’s administration or the student’s guardian.

The Discipline Committee panel found him guilty of professional misconduct and ordered that his teaching certificate be suspended for three months. He was directed to appear before it to receive a reprimand and needs to do so within three months of the panel’s order.

The panel also ordered him to successfully complete, at his own expense, a course on boundary violations. He needs to do so within four months of the panel’s order.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “It is inappropriate for members of the profession to develop personal relationships with students.”

Member: Jeffery Murdock Morrison, OCT
Registration No: 520999
Decision: Reprimand, conditions

A Discipline Committee panel reprimanded Jeffery Murdock Morrison, a teacher employed by the Peel District School Board, for inappropriate conduct.

This matter was heard by the panel on June 4, 2019. Morrison, who was certified to teach in July 2007, attended the hearing with his legal counsel.

As part of a class project, Morrison made available a step-by-step instruction manual to his students on how to make and inject crystal methamphetamine, a strong and highly addictive drug.

The Discipline Committee panel found Morrison guilty of professional misconduct and directed him to appear before it to receive a reprimand.

The panel also ordered him to successfully complete, at his own expense, a course covering appropriate professional boundaries and teaching approaches based on an understanding of adolescent development.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “The Member should have … reviewed the content of the article to ensure that it was age appropriate and that it was pedagogically appropriate, before sharing it with students.”

Member: Towhid Noman, OCT
Registration No: 263312
Decision: Reprimand, conditions

A Discipline Committee panel reprimanded Towhid Noman, a teacher employed by the Toronto District School Board, for inappropriate conduct.

This matter was heard by the panel on May 14, 2019. Neither Noman, who was certified to teach in June 1994, nor his legal counsel attended the hearing.

Noman engaged in sustained and persistent efforts to disparage an individual’s personal and professional reputation in the community.

He sent many emails to the College and various government authorities in Canada and abroad, and repeated his claims about this individual in the press.

The Discipline Committee panel found Noman guilty of professional misconduct and directed him to appear before it to receive a reprimand.

The panel also ordered him to successfully complete, at his own expense, a course in professional ethics. He must do so prior to starting or returning to any teaching position requiring his Certificate of Qualification and Registration.

In its written decision, the panel Somerstated, “The coursework will remind the Member of his obligations as a professional colleague and will help him to make better decisions in any future interactions with fellow teachers, the educational community and the public.”

Member: Jeffrey Claude Pilon
Registration No: 618266
Decision: Revocation, reprimand

A Discipline Committee panel revoked the Certificate of Qualification and Registration of Jeffrey Claude Pilon, a teacher formerly employed by the Rainbow District School Board, for sexually abusing a female student.

Licensed to teach in July 2011, Pilon did not attend the hearing on November 14, 2018, but had legal representation. Pilon began an inappropriate personal relationship with the student, which developed into a sexual relationship about one month later. He engaged in sexual intercourse with the student and instructed her not to disclose the relationship to others.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “The Member’s misconduct has undermined the reputation of the teaching profession, and has seriously broken the trust that parents, students and the public place in teachers.”

Member: Christopher Anthony Prest, OCT
Registration No: 432495
Decision: Reprimand, conditions

A Discipline Committee panel reprimanded Christopher Prest, a teacher employed by the District School Board of Niagara, for using inappropriate language with students.

This matter was heard by the panel on April 29, 2019. Prest, who was certified to teach in August 2000, attended the hearing with his legal counsel.

Prest made offensive, demeaning and disrespectful comments in the presence of students.

The Discipline Committee panel found Prest guilty of professional misconduct and directed him to appear before it to receive a reprimand.

The panel also ordered him to successfully complete, at his own expense, a course in professional boundaries/boundary violations and a course on anger management. He must do so within 90 days of its order.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “Members of the teaching profession are expected to serve as positive role models and to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students.”

Member: Gary George Somerfield
Registration No: 169611
Decision: Revocation, reprimand

A Discipline Committee panel revoked the Certificate of Qualification and Registration of Gary George Somerstated field, a teacher formerly employed by the Lakehead District School Board, for criminal conduct.

Somerfield was licensed to teach in June 1986. He did not attend the hearing on April 29, 2019, and had no legal representation.

He pleaded guilty in a criminal court to possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to six months of imprisonment, three years’ probation, and was made subject to a number of ancillary orders.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “The Committee is satisfied that the penalty is appropriate in the circumstances and meets the principle of serving and protecting the public interest.”

Member: Michael Sperling
Registration No: 563124
Decision: Revocation, reprimand

A Discipline Committee panel revoked the Certificate of Qualification and Registration of Michael Sperling, a teacher formerly employed by the Waterloo Region District School Board, for criminal conduct.

He was licensed to teach in May 2009. He did not attend the hearing on April 30, 2019, and had no legal representation.

Sperling and a female student exchanged sexual photos, phone calls, videos and text messages. Their relationship escalated to fondling, kissing, oral sex and intercourse. He also exchanged text messages of a sexual nature with another female student.

In a criminal court, he was found guilty of sexual interference and luring a child. He was sentenced to two years’ incarceration, three years’ probation and a number of ancillary orders.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “The Member’s misconduct has greatly undermined the public’s trust in the teaching profession.”

Member: Joseph Keith Turner, OCT
Registration No: 245305
Decision: Reprimand, conditions

A Discipline Committee panel reprimanded Joseph Keith Turner, a teacher formerly employed by the Toronto District School Board, for inappropriate conduct.

This matter was heard by the panel on April 8, 2019. Turner, who was certified to teach in June 1989, attended the hearing with his legal counsel.

Turner failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with a female student when he made unsupportive and embarrassing comments to her in front of her peers.

The Discipline Committee panel found him guilty of professional misconduct and directed him to appear before it to receive a reprimand.

It also ordered him to successfully complete, at his own expense, a course in appropriate boundaries. He must do so prior to starting or resuming a teaching position or any position for which a Certificate of Qualification and Registration is required.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “Through his interactions with the Student, the Member showed a lack of professional judgment.”

Member: Hans Edouard Unruh
Registration No: 239790
Decision: Revocation, reprimand

A Discipline Committee panel revoked the Certificate of Qualification and Registration of Hans Edouard Unruh, a teacher formerly employed by the Niagara Catholic District School Board, for criminal conduct.

Unruh was licensed to teach in November 1992. He did not attend the hearing on June 3, 2019, and had no legal representation.

He was found guilty of one count of sexual exploitation in a criminal court.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “The Committee is satisfied that the penalty is appropriate in the circumstances and meets the principle of serving and protecting the public interest.”

Member: Jennifer Louise Wilson, OCT
Registration No: 437354
Decision: Reprimand, conditions

A Discipline Committee panel reprimanded Jennifer Louise Wilson, a teacher employed by the Toronto District School Board, for inappropriate conduct.

This matter was heard by the panel on May 6, 2019. Wilson, who was certified to teach in June 2000, attended the hearing with her legal counsel.

Wilson’s misconduct included:

inappropriate communication with students through social media;
inappropriate comments about students and a colleague; and
preferential treatment toward certain students.

The Discipline Committee panel found Wilson guilty of professional misconduct and directed her to appear before it to receive a reprimand.

It also ordered her to successfully complete, at her own expense, a course regarding professional boundaries and the appropriate use of electronic communication and social media. She must do so within 90 days of the panel’s order.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “Members of the teaching profession are expected to maintain professional boundaries with students at all times and to behave as role models. The Member failed to meet these expectations by making disparaging comments about students and a colleague, and by encouraging a student to act violently. Members of the profession are also expected to treat students equitably and with respect. It is completely inappropriate for a member to make demeaning comments about one student to another student.”

Member: Matthew Francis Chong Yen
Registration No: 278008
Decision: Suspension, reprimand, conditions, costs

A Discipline Committee panel suspended the certificate of Matthew Francis Chong Yen, a teacher employed by the Toronto District School Board, for inappropriate conduct.

This matter was heard by the panel on December 12 and 13, 2018. Chong Yen, who was certified to teach in August 1997, did not attend the hearing and had no legal representation.

Chong Yen used inappropriate language in the classroom, demeaned students, and modelled rude and inappropriate behaviour.

The Discipline Committee panel found him guilty of professional misconduct and ordered that his teaching certificate be suspended for three months. He was directed to appear before it to receive a reprimand, and must do so within three months of the panel’s order.

The panel also ordered him to successfully complete, at his own expense, a course on anger management and a course on professional boundaries with a focus on sensitivity toward students. He needs to do so prior to starting a teaching position or any position for which a Certificate of Qualification and Registration is required.

He was also ordered to pay $10,000 in costs as he was unco-operative with the College and refused to engage in the discipline process.

In its written decision, the panel stated, “Members of the profession must control their emotions and maintain their composure, even when dealing with challenging issues in the classroom.”

Copies of the full decisions are available at oct-oeeo.ca/decisions.