Panels of the Discipline Committee have ordered the summaries of recent disciplinary cases to be published in Professionally Speaking.

Member: George Fred Abdallah
Registration Number: 257688
Decision: Suspension and Conditions

The College held a public disciplinary hearing on November 8 and 9, 1999 into allegations of professional misconduct against George Abdallah, 37, was certified to teach in 1991 and was a teacher with the Kent County Roman Catholic Separate School Board. Abdallah was present and represented by counsel.

The allegations of professional misconduct against Abdallah included failing to maintain the standards of the profession, failing to comply with the Ontario College of Teachers Act and the Education Act or the regulations made under the acts, contravening a law relevant to a member's suitability to hold a certificate of qualification and registration, engaging in conduct that would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional and engaging in conduct unbecoming a member.

Abdallah pleaded guilty to all the allegations except those charging he engaged in conduct that would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional and that he engaged in conduct unbecoming a member.

The panel found that Abdallah had been convicted of sexual assault and unlawful confinement and that he had been sentenced to serve a total of two years less a day in prison. The charges involved two adult women who had no connection with the school system.

The panel in its decision noted that the presiding judge in the criminal case did not accept as true Abdallah's account that he had done nothing against the consent of the complainants and that the judge found Abdallah showed no remorse.

The panel accepted evidence that Abdallah was considered a good teacher and worked as a community volunteer.

The panel found Abdallah guilty of all charges and suspended his Certificate of Qualification until August 31, 2000. Reinstatement was made contingent on the Registrar of the College receiving a report from a licensed psychiatrist indicating that Abdallah is not likely to re-offend and that he understands the importance of the gender issues involved in this case. George Abdallah has fulfilled these conditions and been reinstated as a member in good standing.

The decision of the panel appears on the College's public register.

Member: Leanne Carla Hanselman, now known as Leanne Carla Robinson
Registration Number: 260625
Decision: Certificates of Registration and Qualification Revoked

The College held a public disciplinary hearing on February 13, 2003 into allegations of professional misconduct or incompetence against Leanne Hanselman of Simcoe.

Hanselman, 37, was certified to teach in 1991 and employed as a teacher by the Grand Erie District School Board. Hanselman chose not to attend the hearing or to be represented by counsel.

The allegations of professional misconduct against Hanselman included failing to maintain the standards of the profession, abusing a student physically, sexually, verbally, psychologically or emotionally, failing to comply with the Ontario College of Teachers Act and the Education Act or the regulations made under the acts, engaging in conduct that would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional, engaging in conduct unbecoming a member and engaging in sexual abuse of a student or students.

The notice of hearing alleged that Hanselman encouraged a friendship with a female Grade 12 student, who was 17 years old at the time, inviting her to dinner and drinks with her at restaurants and at her apartment in Simcoe.

In May 2000, Hanselman showed the student a pornographic videotape and kissed her. From May to October 2000, Hanselman engaged in sexual activity on a number of occasions with the student or with Hanselman's boyfriend and the student.

The panel accepted a memorandum of agreement in which Hanselman pleaded guilty to all allegations and accepted the particulars of the allegations contained in the notice of hearing.

Under the terms of the memorandum of agreement, Hanselman's certificates were revoked. Hanselman also undertook not to apply for reinstatement in the College for three years and that she would not teach in any public, private or separate school at any time in the future.

The decision of the panel appears on the College's public register.

Member: Herbert James Mollenhauer
Registration Number: 231943
Decision: Suspension and Reprimand

The College held a public disciplinary hearing on May 5, 2003, into allegations of professional misconduct or incompetence against Herbert James Mollenhauer. Mollenhauer, 54, was certified to teach in 1991 and was employed as a teacher by the Peel District School Board. Mollenhauer was present and represented by counsel.

The allegations of professional misconduct against Mollenhauer 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 or the regulations made under that act, engaging in conduct that would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional, engaging in conduct unbecoming a member and displaying a lack of knowledge, skill or judgment that demonstrates a disregard for the welfare of students, to the extent that the member is either unfit to carry out professional duties or that his certificate should be subject to terms, conditions or limitations.

The allegations arise from a complaint that Mollenhauer made inappropriate sexual remarks, advances and observations to a Grade 12 female student. In conversations, he made remarks about her physical appearance and discussed personal matters with her.

Mollenhauer entered a plea of no contest to the allegations. He signed an agreed statement of facts in which he acknowledged that he had a number of personal conversations with the student who raised matters relating to her boyfriend and her sexual relationship.

The statement of facts also acknowledged that Mollenhauer never inappropriately touched the student nor engaged in any sexual activity.

A conversation in January 2002 was recorded by the student without Mollenhauer's knowledge. Soon after the tape recording was brought to the attention of the school administration.

The panel accepted an agreed statement of facts, a plea of no contest and a joint submission on penalty and found Mollenhauer guilty of professional misconduct.

The panel directed that Mollenhauer's certificate be suspended for nine months, retroactive to September 1, 2002, and that he appear before the panel for a reprimand.

The decision also required him to be instructed by Mary Louise Arnold of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto regarding maintaining appropriate student/teacher relationships and the impact of breaches of student/teacher boundaries on the adolescent learner.

The course of instruction is to be completed at the member's expense. Proof of successful completion of the program is to be received by the Registrar of the College from the member before the member's return to any teaching duties.

The panel also required Mollenhauer to provide the College with proof he is fit to return to teaching and that students are safe in his care.

Such proof is to be in the form of a psychiatric report prepared by a registered psychiatrist approved by the College and to be received by the Registrar prior to the member's return to any teaching duties.

The panel rejected a request that the name of the member not be published, determining that the public interest outweighed any other considerations.

The decision of the panel appears on the College's public register.

Member: Alain Poisson
Registration Number: 106382
Decision: Suspension and Reprimand

The College held a public disciplinary hearing on January 17, 2003 into allegations of professional misconduct or incompetence against Alain Poisson of Wawa.

Poisson, 40, was certified to teach in 1989 and employed by the Conseil scolaire de district du Grand Nord de l'Ontario. Poisson chose not to attend the hearing or to be represented by counsel.

The allegations of professional misconduct against the member included failing to maintain the standards of the profession, failing to comply with the Education Act or the regulations made under that act, contravening a law which may cause a student under his supervision to be or remain at risk, engaging in conduct that would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional and engaging in conduct unbecoming a member.

An agreed statement of facts confirmed that Poisson was arrested in September 2001 in the Township of Michano in northeastern Ontario and charged with cultivating or assisting in the cultivation of marijuana in a field near Wawa either for his personal use or for the purposes of trafficking.

Poisson pleaded guilty in criminal court to the charge of producing an illegal substance. All other charges were withdrawn. He was given a suspended sentence of one year and ordered to make a donation of $1,500 to the École Carrefour Supérieur-Nord at Wawa plus $1,500 to another charity.

The panel accepted Poisson's plea of guilty to the charges of professional misconduct. The panel ordered that Poisson's certificate be suspended for two years beginning September 1, 2002 and that he inform the Registrar of any criminal charges made against him during the period of his suspension. The panel also ordered the member be reprimanded.

The decision of the panel appears on the College's public register.

Member: Name Withheld
Decision: Resignation and Undertaking Never to Re-apply to College for Certification

The College held a public disciplinary hearing on November 14, 2001 into allegations of professional misconduct or incompetence against a member of the College. The member chose not to attend the hearing but was represented by counsel.

Both counsel requested that the notice of hearing be withdrawn and submitted a draft resignation and undertaking agreed to by the College and the member.

The complaint related to incidents in which the member, while acting as a supply teacher for a Grade 6 class, physically assaulted five students in the class by grabbing all or some of them by the neck and squeezing, slapping all or some of them on the head and by kicking or attempting to kick one of them, and by shoving or pushing all or some of them in the back.

The Discipline Committee agreed to accept the signed resignation and undertaking by the member who agreed never again to carry on the profession of teaching and not to re-apply to the College at any time in the future for certification as a teacher.

The decision of the panel appears on the College's public register.

Member: Name Withheld
Decision: Certificates of Registration and Qualification Revoked

The College held a public disciplinary hearing on September 23, 2002 into allegations of professional misconduct against a member of the College. The member chose not to attend the hearing but was represented by counsel.

The allegations of professional misconduct against the member 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 or the regulations made under that act, engaging in conduct that would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional, engaging in conduct unbecoming a member and displaying a lack of knowledge, skill or judgment that demonstrates a disregard for the welfare of students, to the extent that the member is either unfit to carry out professional duties or that her certificate should be subject to terms, conditions or limitations.

The panel received evidence indicating that the member had conducted a sexual relationship with a
16-year-old male student whom she taught and coached.

The member continued the relationship despite being told by the student's parents to discontinue any inappropriate contact and being warned by her principal to avoid meeting the student other than in school settings.

The panel received and reviewed a written psychiatric report and ordered that as it contained personal and third-party information it should be sealed except for any further hearings of the Discipline Committee.

The panel accepted the member's plea of no contest and found the member guilty of professional misconduct and revoked her certificate. It ordered that the findings of the hearing be published but accepted a joint submission from counsel and ordered the name of the member, the student and other identifying factors be withheld. All other aspects of the publication ban were lifted.

The decision of the panel appears on the College's public register.

Member: Name Withheld
Decision: Resignation and Undertaking

The College held a public disciplinary hearing on January 18, 1999 into allegations of professional misconduct or incompetence against a member of the College. The member was present and represented by counsel.

The allegations of professional misconduct against the member 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 or the regulations made under that act, contravening a law, which may cause a student under his supervision to be or remain at-risk, and engaging in conduct that would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional.

An agreed statement of facts stated that the member was convicted of sexual assault on a 17-year-old female student in a high school where he taught. He was sentenced to a conditional discharge and probation of 24 months.
After he was charged, but before he was tried, the member formally retired from the school board that employed him at the time of his arrest.

The panel accepted that the member had an inappropriate relationship with the student in that he engaged in sexual touching.

This activity resulted in a criminal conviction of guilt on the charge of sexual assault.

The member was found guilty of professional misconduct and the panel accepted his resignation on the condition that he never apply for reinstatement with the Ontario College of Teachers.

The decision of the panel appears on the College's public register.

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