The College uses Dispute Resolution (DR) to help resolve complaints regarding members of the profession. DR is voluntary and without prejudice to the parties. The outcomes of the process are similar to those that would be expected following a full investigation and/or contested hearing.
Summaries of the cases reported here are based on facts derived from agreements signed by the College Registrar and the member, which are ratifed by the Investigation Committee. Publication is a provision of the agreements.
dispute resolution
Member: Not identified
Decision: Admonishment, conditions
The Investigation Committee (IC) admonished a teacher for trying to act as a friend to her students, thereby violating student-teacher boundaries. The Native student adviser drove students to various social events unrelated to school, invited students to her home, gave them personal gifts and promised that they would receive board bursaries if they were friends with her. She also attended a student social event where alcohol was served and exchanged personal information with students on Facebook. After a verbal warning, the teacher’s behaviours continued. Consequently, the board fired her.
The IC ratified a memorandum of agreement in which the member undertook to complete a course in professional boundaries at her own expense within 90 days.
Member: Not identified
Decision: Caution
The Investigation Committee (IC) cautioned a vice-principal for failing to report a student’s allegation of sexual misconduct to the Children’s Aid Society (CAS).
The member was directed by his principal to call the CAS following a student’s complaint. The member called and asked for information, but failed to report and did not share names.
The IC ratified a memorandum of agreement and cautioned the member to ensure that, in the future, his conduct and behaviour are appropriate and consistent with laws concerning the duty to report to safeguard students under his supervision.
Member: Not identified
Decision: Caution
The Investigation Committee (IC) cautioned a principal for not adequately supervising a vice-principal to ensure that a report was made to the Children’s Aid Society to protect a female student, for not making a report to the CAS himself, and for contravening laws relevant to his suitability to hold a Certificate of Qualification and Registration that may have caused a student to be put at risk.
Even though the member directed the vice-principal to call the CAS to ensure that protection services were provided for a student who had complained about a sexual assault, the member did not follow up with the vice-principal or the CAS. The principal acknowledged his responsibility in the matter.
The IC ratified a memorandum of agreement and cautioned the member to ensure that, in the future, his conduct and behaviour are appropriate and consistent with laws concerning the duty to report to safeguard students under his supervision.
When the Discipline Committee finds a member guilty of professional misconduct, the member’s name may be published in Professionally Speaking. If a similar matter is disposed of by the Investigation Committee or DR at the investigation stage, and the result is a caution, the name of the member is not published. The College monitors compliance with all agreements reached through DR.
