Latest news with #teacher misconduct
CTV News
09-07-2025
- CTV News
‘Not a pedophile': B.C. teacher suspended for one day for touching students in gym class
The floor of a school gymnasium is seen in this stock image. (Credit: Shutterstock) A teacher in B.C.'s Interior who 'periodically' touched students during fitness class has been handed a one-day suspension by the regulatory body. Todd Erin Graham entered a consent agreement with the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation last month in which he admitted to professional misconduct. The decision was posted publicly online Wednesday. The commissioner says while teaching a fitness and conditioning class called Human Performance 12 between September and December 2022, Grahm separated the girls from the boys for a meeting. 'In that meeting, Graham told the girls that he was 'not a pedophile' but that he might have to 'grab them' to show them proper form or to spot them,' the decision reads. 'Graham then told them that he had no attraction to them as he was 62 and they were 15. The students reported feeling uncomfortable following this meeting.' The commissioner says Graham would 'periodically' touch students during exercises, which some female students reported feeling uncomfortable about, and gave three examples. In one instance, the teacher touched the side of a student's chest while she was doing a bench press and asked, 'can you feel that?'. In another, he pushed a student's hips while she did squats, according to the document. In a third incident Graham complimented a student's legs while she was using the leg press machine, a remark she reported feeling uncomfortable with. The school district issued a letter of discipline and required Graham to attend a boundaries course as a result. The consent agreement also addressed comments Graham made in 2022 and 2023. In one incident, Graham singled out a 'diverse learner' in front of the class and described them using an 'unflattering term,' the regulator says. He also singled out an Indigenous student 'in a manner which was demeaning to (the student) specifically and to Indigenous peoples generally.' For those comments, the district issued a disciplinary letter and required him to complete a course on reconciliation. As a result of its investigation, the commissioner suspended Graham's teaching qualification for one day, and required he take the course Reinforcing Respectful Professional Boundaries at the Justice Institute of B.C. by September. Factors considered in the decision, the regulator says, included that the teacher failed to create a positive learning environment, adversely impacted students, failed to respect appropriate boundaries, and harmed First Nations students in a way that did not contribute to truth and reconciliation.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Yahoo
'Not a pedophile': Two B.C. teachers suspended for crossing boundaries with students
Two B.C. teachers have agreed to short suspensions of their certificates after admitting to dealing with students in ways that crossed professional boundaries and left them feeling hurt and uncomfortable. Todd Erin Graham was teaching high school in a district in the B.C. Interior in the 2022-23 school year when the following happened: He singled out a student — described in a consent resolution agreement with the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation as a 'diverse learner' — in front of classmates and used an unflattering term. Graham also made a comment to an Indigenous student that was 'demeaning' to the student specifically 'and to Indigenous peoples generally.' In early 2024, the district issued a letter of discipline and ordered to take a course on reconciliation at a First Nations university. Later that year, the district reported another incident from 2022 when Graham was teaching a fitness class. 'During the first class, Graham separated the girls from the boys for a meeting,' said the signed agreement. 'In that meeting, Graham told the girls that he was 'not a pedophile' but that he might have to 'grab them' to show them proper form or to spot them.' He told them he wasn't attracted to them because he was 52 and they were 15. 'The students reported feeling uncomfortable following this meeting.' He would 'periodically touch students to help them with their form or identify muscle groups they were working,' making some female students feel uncomfortable. One student was lying on a bench to do a bench press when Graham touched her chest and said, 'Can you feel that?' Another student had her hips pushed by Graham while doing squats, and a third was complimented by Graham on her legs while doing another exercise. In early 2023, Graham was issued another letter of discipline about his conduct and ordered him to take a course on boundaries. The commissioner investigated and decided a one-day suspension and another course on professional boundaries was warranted, because Graham failed to create a positive learning environment or model appropriate behaviour, his conduct 'adversely impacted students' and made them uncomfortable, and his word choices and comments showed a lack of respect for First Nations. In an agreement also posted online Tuesday, Hussan Ali Riasat was suspended two days for getting into complicated, overly personal and sometimes profane exchanges in 2021 with students he labelled as 'bullies.' Also a high school teacher, Riasat intervened in a conflict among several Grade 10 students who weren't getting along. While trying to mediate, he shared details about his personal life, 'writing them overly personal and inappropriate messages' and leaving a lengthy inappropriate voice message with two students. In another message sent on MS Teams, Riasat called one of the students 'insanely childish and rude' and accused both students of engaging in 'attention-seeking behaviour and guilt-tripping.' When Riasat contacted another student asking them to help with the conflict, he told that student one of the others had a 'bitchy attitude' and called both 'manipulative.' At the end of the 2021 school year, Riasat made a report to the vice-principal that was highly critical of the students' behaviour and told at least one other teacher the students were bullies. When school resumed in fall, Riasat became frustrated at the continuing conflict among students and approached the president of a school club, telling the student one of the others in the club was a bully. That student was expelled from the club. In October 2023, the district disciplined Riasat with a five-day suspension without pay and ordered to take a course on boundaries. Then in May 2024, Riasat walked past a group of students and heard one make a comment about someone being bald. He turned and said, 'What the f— did you just say to me?' A Grade 9 student responded, 'Who the f— are you talking to?' to which Riasat responded, 'You.' He then said, 'F— you, bitch.' Based on these and other incidents when Riasat made poor decisions in dealing with students, the commissioner ordered a further two-day suspension that was served late last month. Riasat must also complete another course on boundaries. The commissioner did not name the school district where either Graham or Riasat worked to protect the students involved. jruttle@ B.C. teacher suspended an extra day for sharing stories with students of a 'sexual nature' Former elementary school principal in B.C. disciplined for spanking a student
BBC News
08-07-2025
- BBC News
Chorley teacher banned after police sting over explicit pictures
A teacher who sent pictures of his genitals to someone he believed was a 12-year-old girl has been sacked and banned from teaching after a police sting Bayley, 36, of Wigan, sent sexually suggestive messages and photos on Kik and Snapchat. He taught at St Michael's Church of England High School, Chorley, but the incident is not connected to the was arrested and admitted sending indecent photos to a child for sexual gratification and attempting to communicate with a child under 16, a professional conduct panel had been chatting to an undercover officer posing as a schoolgirl in April 2024 and received a six-month sentence in October, suspended for 18 months. 'Serious and concerning' behaviour A professional conduct panel hearing in June this year heard Bayley began a private message with the officer, believing they were a asked about relationships and said "men know how to treat a lady", before exchanging photographs and talking about "cute stuff", like taking her on a trip to the zoo or the park, and about making out in the back row of the cinema, the panel was told. He later started to send indecent photographs of panel said his "serious and concerning" behaviour represented a failure to act in accordance with his responsibility as a teacher to protect children, and he had referenced his being a teacher in his noted he had no previous convictions and showed remorse, but found the seriousness of his behaviour was relevant to his continuing suitability to was banned from teaching indefinitely with no provision for a review period.A spokesman for St Michael's Church of England High School said: "As soon as the school became aware of the allegation, the member of staff in question was immediately suspended as per the school's disciplinary policy, and was subsequently dismissed. "Our staff undertake regular and comprehensive training on safeguarding and pupils' wellbeing is high priority for all." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Telegraph
03-07-2025
- Telegraph
Drunk teacher gave ‘rave-like lesson' and called children ‘little ‘s---s'
A teacher has been struck off for drinking alcohol from a water bottle during a 'rave-like lesson'. Alice Ashton, 31, allegedly called her class 'little s---s' and asked pupils to 'dance the Macarena' during a class in January last year. A fitness to practice hearing was told the 'out-of-control' lesson at Ysgol Bro Caereinion school in Welshpool, Wales, turned to a 'mini rave with loud music, shouting, and dancing'. Pupils raised concerns about her behaviour after they said they could smell alcohol from an Evian bottle she was drinking from. The Education Workforce Council (EWC) panel heard the lesson took place just four months after Ms Ashton had been convicted of drink driving. Ms Ashton was described as 'smiley and happy' before she started to become 'agitated'. Drinking on the job Giving evidence in person, a 16-year-old schoolgirl said Ms Ashton drank orange liquid which smelled of alcohol while playing music from her laptop. The student, referred to as Pupil H, said fellow classmates discussed afterwards how odd the teacher's behaviour had been. She said Ms Ashton had taught her 'boring' Personal and Social Education numerous times before and the lessons were usually about alcohol and drug awareness, but not on that day. The pupil said she had been sitting in the front row of the class and could smell alcohol from the Evian water bottle filled with orange liquid. She told the hearing the bottle was full at the start of the lesson and almost empty by the end. Pupil H said: 'She was very, very close to us. There was a slight alcoholic smell. She was very, very lively and quite animated and speaking with her hands. In other lessons she was more reserved and quiet. 'Alice Ashton had an Evian bottle with orange juice. I noticed she was regularly taking swigs from the bottle. 'I recall Alice Ashton asked the class to make the Macarena. She played music and we were not doing work.' The teenager said Ms Ashton 'kept jumping up from her desk' but became 'irritated' as the lesson went on. The hearing was told one schoolboy was walking around the classroom 'annoying' people when Ms Ashton told him to leave but 'not to snitch'. Pupil H said: 'She began to swear at him. She put her middle finger two to three inches from his face and continued to swear at him.' Another student said: 'She got us to dance the Macarena and she did not care about the lesson any more. She got some students dancing to the laptop and speakers and it spiralled out of control.' No remorse Ms Ashton, who was not present at the hearing, did not respond to the allegations. The hearing was told she had previously emailed the EWC to say she was no longer working as a teacher and had moved to England. The disciplinary panel said Ashton had shown no remorse or apology. It was proven that she appeared under the influence and/or smelled of alcohol whilst at work. She was struck off the teaching register indefinitely but may reapply in two years.
Irish Times
03-07-2025
- Irish Times
Allegations of relationship between teacher and Leaving Cert student heard at fitness-to-teach inquiry
A fitness-to-teach inquiry on Wednesday heard allegations of a romantic relationship between a secondary school teacher and one of her Leaving Cert students 'during the summer' of 2018. It was also alleged that between June 14th and June 20th, 2018, while the student was sitting his Leaving Cert, there were daily communications via the social media platform Snapchat between him and the teacher, and subsequently until he received his results on August 14th. The teacher, who has been on the Teaching Council register since 2014 and was an English teacher at the Dublin school in question, denies these allegations. She now works in another school in a different area of Dublin. The director of the Teaching Council further alleged that on a date unknown in early August 2018 the teacher had a sexual encounter with the student, which the teacher has admitted to. READ MORE The director submitted that these allegations of professional misconduct amounted to disgraceful or dishonourable professional conduct of such seriousness as to bring the profession into disrepute. The director also submitted that the allegations amounted to conduct contrary to provisions of the Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers including developing positive relationships with students that are characterised by professional integrity and judgment. A number of witnesses were called to give evidence including the then partner of the teacher at the time of the allegations. Both he and the teacher had purchased a house in north Dublin, for which he received the keys in August 2018. He detailed how the teacher's behaviour towards him began to change significantly, particularly at the time of a school trip she went on in August 2018 after the Leaving Cert results were published. The witness also outlined how their relationship came to an end with both he and her communicating via handwritten notes even though they were both living in their home at the time, albeit sleeping in separate bedrooms. He further described how he took screenshots of pages of a diary he claims the teacher kept. Excerpts of this alleged diary included: 'I know what I did was wrong … I was unhappy. Did I not love [ex-partner's first name] anymore?'. The next witness called was a former colleague of the teacher at the Dublin school, who outlined how she and another colleague were made aware in October 2018 by the teacher's then partner of the allegation that the teacher was having an affair with the student. When this witness and the other colleague confronted the teacher by phone the teacher denied she was having an affair with the student but admitted to having a 'one-off' sexual encounter with him in early August 2018. As the teacher did not inform her principal of this sexual encounter, her two colleagues did and this was followed by a school disciplinary process and the principal making a complaint to the Teaching Council. The inquiry reconvenes on Thursday to facilitate cross-examination of the ex-partner of the teacher.
