investigations

The College investigates and considers complaints about members that relate to alleged professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity. If the Investigation Committee concludes that a complaint does not relate to one of those three matters or is frivolous, vexatious or an abuse of process, it does not proceed with the complaint.

Approximately four out of five complaints are not referred to the Discipline Committee but are dismissed or resolved by other means. Examples of cases considered by the Investigation Committee and not referred to a hearing are provided here.

Case #1

Complaint: Failure to adequately supervise a student
Outcome of investigation: Not referred

The parent of a Primary-level student filed a complaint against her child’s classroom teacher, stating that the teacher had failed to notice when the complainant’s child left the school ahead of the rest of the class and wandered beyond the yard area supervised by the teacher.

A panel of the Investigation Committee determined that the information before it did not support the complaint and that the matter had been appropriately resolved at the school level. Consequently, the panel directed that no further action should be taken regarding the complaint.

Case #2

Complaint: Physical abuse of a student and inappropriate comment to parent
Outcome of investigation: Written caution

A school board notified the College that a teacher had physically mistreated a student by placing the student in a headlock while forcibly removing from the student’s hands materials that did not belong to the student. It was also reported that, while discussing the incident with the student’s parent, the teacher made an inappropriate negative comment regarding the student.

The matter was fully investigated, and a panel of the Investigation Committee cautioned the member to avoid any physical contact with students, except in situations of self-defence or protection of students or staff members, and to avoid situations that could be interpreted as physical abuse. Regarding the teacher’s comment to the child’s parent, the panel directed that the matter be dismissed as it does not rise to the level of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity.

Case #3

Complaint: Misleading a teacher regarding a transfer to a new school
Outcome of investigation: No investigation

A teacher complained that an administrator, also a member of the College, specifically identified the school the teacher would be transferred to while discussing the possibility of a transfer, but that once he did accept the transfer, he was assigned to a different school at a location much further from his home.

A panel of the Investigation Committee refused to investigate the complaint, stating its opinion that, even if proven true, it did not relate to professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity.

Case #4

Complaint: Inappropriately assisting students during Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) assessments
Outcome of investigation: Written caution

The school board notified the College that a teacher improperly assisted students during EQAO testing by, for example, directing them to review incorrect answers and to complete unfinished sections or pages. The teacher indicated that she improperly administered the assistance unintentionally, due to lack of knowledge and training.

The panel provided a written caution, advising the teacher to follow board and provincial guidelines with respect to the administration of provincial tests.