Charges withdrawn against Interlake teacher

Winnipeg Free Press

3 days ago

School employees are being warned not to text students in the wake of now-withdrawn charges against an Interlake teacher accused of sending late-night messages inviting a teenage girl to join him in a hot tub.
The man was charged July 28 with luring a child via telecommunications and sexual interference, court records show.
The student's father — whose name is not being published to protect the underage teen — said he sat in on Wednesday's court hearing and was frustrated to hear both counts had been dropped.
(Dreamstime/TNS)
School employees are being warned not to text students after an Interlake teacher was accused of sending late-night messages inviting a teenage girl to join him in a hot tub.
'(The teacher) should not be put in any position of trust with kids again,' he told the Free Press.
The accused's employer — Lakeshore School Division — and Manitoba's commissioner of teacher professional conduct confirmed that separate investigations are ongoing.
An iPhone text message conversation reviewed by the Free Press suggests that at about 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 13 the teacher asked a then-16-year-old girl he taught and coached to join him in his hot tub.
The opening text of the exchange — released by the student's family — declares: 'Party time!!!!'
In response to the recipient's multiple questions about the sender's identity, the instigator replied with a teacher's last name and 'You coming(?)'
That followup text was later modified, replacing that name with another; iPhone users can edit a message within 15 minutes of sending it.
The texter's number was the same as the one a teacher at the girl's school had used to communicate with her and other student athletes in a text group chat.
Karyn Kibsey of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection said cases such as this one underscore the need for schools to have clear policies on staff and student communications.
Correspondence should be 'transparent, accountable, tied to a clear professionally sanctioned purpose, and authorized by school administrators,' the senior manager of education and training said in a statement.
It should also respect appropriate boundaries in terms of subject manner, medium, timing and frequency, Kibsey said.
The organization's 2022 review of roughly 300 cases of misconduct or criminal charges of a sexual nature involving Canadian teachers found 'inappropriate use of communication' was the most common violating behaviour.
'This type of boundary transgression is also often a precursor for further, more severe forms of harm against students,' Kibsey said.
The recent charges provided 'a little bit of validation' as an Interlake family has been grappling with gossip in their hometown, the girl's father said.
After attending court Wednesday, he expressed concerns that his daughter would be perceived as a liar.
'Is she supposed to get felt up or groped or raped before they do something?' he said in an interview as he recalled an earlier conversation he had with the presiding Crown attorney, who informed him there wasn't enough evidence to back criminal charges.
The father said he was told RCMP discovered the suspect's phone had been 'wiped clean' upon seizing it.
Police detectives had the girl's iPhone in their possession for several months as part of the investigation. Mounties confirmed that the investigation involved a single student.
Both of her parents said other students teased and blamed their daughter for the well-liked teacher's sudden disappearance last year.
The household received a July 30 letter from the provincial Justice Department to inform them of the rights of child victims in Manitoba.
The family has felt 'in the dark' for the better part of the last eight months, the father said.
He recalled contacting school administration immediately to inform them of the texts and warn that his daughter would not be attending if the teacher in question remained on duty.
Both he and his wife said the principal made hurtful remarks when they met with her before the winter break. The teen was made to feel responsible for the situation, they said.
Lakeshore administration acknowledged a staff member had been charged with offences under the Criminal Code of Canada related to interactions with minors.
Donald Nikkel, superintendent of human resources, said in a statement that the division has taken undisclosed 'interim measures.'
Nikkel noted division's investigative process, which he said prioritizes 'student safety and well-being while ensuring a fair process for staff,' is separate from both the courts and commissioner's office.
Manitoba's public teacher registry shows the educator in question remains in good standing.
Commissioner Bobbi Taillefer confirmed his certificate has not been suspended pending the outcome of an ongoing disciplinary process.
'What I can say is, at this current state, he is not in the classroom,' said the government appointee who oversaw the rollout of a new disciplinary process at the start of the calendar year.
Asked about her advice on contacting students outside instructional hours, Taillefer said she has long been a proponent of corresponding directly with guardians.
'Electronic communications should be with parents and not students,' she said, noting she has urged colleagues not to contact students directly throughout her 30-year career in various school and union roles.
The Manitoba Teachers' Society declined comment.
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The Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association indicated it defers to school and division-level policies on communications between coaches and student athletes.
The teacher alleged to have sent suggestive texts on Dec. 13 did not respond to requests for comment.
The father of the student who reported his messages said the teacher did not show up to court on Wednesday.
There needs to be 'a better system' for monitoring messages between school staff and students, the father said.
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Maggie MacintoshEducation reporter
Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie.
Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative.
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