Queensland teacher’s license stripped for allegedly kissing, touching students
In a text message sent to one of the students and submitted to the court, the participant said he “should have known better.”
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“I guess I can only hope and ask if you can guarantee it. [sic] “Keeping it between us may cause me to lose my job and my chance for another job forever,” he wrote to the student.
“Even though she didn’t cross any lines, it still wasn’t right and once again, I’m so sorry, I feel bad for making you feel that way.”
QCT said the teacher spent time with students before school and during lunch breaks without a valid teaching reason.
After the students graduated, he invited students back to his home four times, documented between December 2019 and February 2020.
QCT said two of these times would result in him being home alone with his former pupil, and on one occasion he allegedly supplied alcohol to a 17-year-old former pupil for a house party and then invited them to spend the night.
It was stated that a former student who was involved in some incidents was “afraid of dropping off and picking up his siblings at school” in case he encountered the man.
QCT stopped the teacher from renewing his license in 2022 and Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal president Dominic Henley Katter upheld the decision.
“There is no evidence that the defendant expressed remorse for his actions, took any steps to correct his behavior, or participated in any remedial programs,” Katter said.
In his decision in November, Katter banned the teacher from re-applying for one month.
Future re-applications will require standard background checks including a police and criminal background check, Blue Card check and details of any QTC disciplinary action or refusal to register.
Katter also ruled that the teacher should receive a psychological evaluation that shows improvement in maintaining professional boundaries, especially with children and youth.
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