Latest news with #Laurent
The Citizen
a day ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Nearly 3% of school staff flagged for criminal activity
Despite being slightly lower than the previous year, the statistics still indicate that 1 in every 34 school employees had a criminal record. Almost 3% of South African school staff screened for employment between March 2024 and February 2025 were flagged for criminal activity. This is according to new data released by TPN, a leading provider of background screening services. The figures raise serious questions about the rigour of vetting procedures in schools and come as the Department of Justice pushes for phased public access to the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO). 'Between March 2024 and February 2025, 2.95% of school staff screened through TPN's systems were flagged for possible illicit activity,' said Ashleigh Laurent, Legal Counsel at TPN. 'This includes not just educators, but also grounds staff, temporary hires, coaches, and others in contact with minors. While slightly lower than the 3.08% recorded the previous year, the statistic still means that 1 in every 34 individuals working at schools had a criminal record. Convictions include assault, theft, and murder Of those flagged, 1.22% had criminal records related to abuse or sexual offences, a decrease from 2.63% in 2022, but still alarming. 'Theft emerged as the most prevalent crime, accounting for 18.29% of all convictions,' Laurent said. 43.9% of those with criminal records were convicted of serious offences such as: Assault (23.17%) Drug trafficking (12.2%) Housebreaking (3.66%) and Murder (2.44%) 'While there were no recorded convictions or pending trials for rape or child neglect between 2023 and 2025, over 1.06% of school employees screened are currently awaiting trial, a reminder that pre-employment checks must extend beyond convictions,' she said. ALSO READ: Gauteng education announces 2026 school admission dates: Here is what you need Assault and theft top the list According to Laurent, the TPN tracked the Case Awaiting Trial (CAT) indicators, revealing that 1.06% of school staff screened in the 2024–2025 period are facing legal proceedings. The most common charges pending court proceedings include: Road traffic violations (30.56%) Assault (19.44%) Theft (15%) Reckless driving (5.56%) Malicious damage to property (2.78%) 'While these individuals have not yet been found guilty, the nature of the allegations still raises cause for concern,' Laurent added. ALSO READ: Department scrambles to fix curriculum chaos at Gauteng school after delayed start Schools face legal duties in vetting staff Despite delays in fully opening the NRSO due to confidentiality laws under the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Act (SORMAA), schools remain legally obligated to screen all staff using the NRSO and Part B of the National Child Protection Register. 'Failure to comply could result in criminal or civil liability and long-term reputational damage,' Laurent warned. According to Laurent, teachers registering with the South African Council for Educators (SACE) must submit a police clearance certificate that is no older than six months. The SACE Code of Professional Ethics enforces conduct standards and disciplinary processes. SORMAA also places responsibility on individuals to disclose past sexual offence convictions. 'An employee in the employ of an employer, who is or was convicted of a sexual offence against vulnerable persons, irrespective of whether or not such offence was committed or allegedly committed during the course of his or her employment, must without delay disclose such conviction or finding to his or her employer,' SORMAA ALSO READ: No party favourites: Minister defends appointment of Mantashe's son to Seta board Early intervention critical According to TPN, the decline in sexual offence-related convictions suggests that improved screening is beginning to take effect. However, even small percentages represent significant risks when children are involved. 'The protection of children cannot be compromised,' Laurent said. NOW READ: 'Looting using matric papers': Why did NW printing job price jump by around R100m?
Wall Street Journal
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
A Savory Tart So Delicious, Your Guests Will Happily Help Make It
What makes one party stand out from another? I can only say with confidence that this pissaladière, served with a biting glass of Champagne, definitely helps. This onion-anchovy-olive tart from the South of France is the blueprint for elegant offhandedness. Turn up to a friend's house with a big tin of Scalia anchovy fillets, four packets of Dufour puff pastry, a basket of onions and a few jars of Kalamata olives. That's what our friends Laurent and Anne-Laure do every year for our Bastille Day bash. We cook a lot of delicious French food for this feast, but year after year, the pissaladière is the star.
American Press
02-05-2025
- General
- American Press
History teacher emulates the educators who sparked his future
Shaun 'Tyler' Laurent is the Beauregard Parish School Board 2024-25 High School Teacher of the Year. (Special to the American Press) South Beauregard High School was always a home to Shaun 'Tyler' Laurent, 25, whether he knew it or not. He is the school's U.S. history and history 201 dual enrollment teacher. He is also the Beauregard Parish School Board 2024-25 High School Teacher of the Year. But seven years ago, he was a graduating senior. During high school, two teachers profoundly impacted him: Bryant Habetz, a history teacher, and Billie Stultz, an English teacher. Habetz reignited Laurent's passion for history with his energetic teaching style, while Stultz built up his confidence in writing and speaking through her constant encouragement and supportive classroom environment. These teachers didn't know they were influencing Laurent's career path. He didn't know, either. 'Initially, I had no desire to become an educator. I can remember sitting in Habz's class thinking that I enjoyed the class but would not want to do what he did.' He attended McNeese State University, earning a bachelor's in liberal arts with a concentration in history in 2021. Later, he earned his master's in history from a Liberty State University online program. History has been a passion since he was a child. Habetz recalled reading books on ancient Egypt with his mother and watching the Indiana Jones movies 'on repeat' with his grandfather. It wasn't until his sophomore year of college he decided to follow the path that was carved when he was young. 'I remember going through my biology and chemistry classes … and thinking that I really didn't enjoy school like I had before. I got to thinking about what I had really enjoyed. I remembered when I was younger and how I had wanted to become an archaeologist like Indiana Jones,' he recalled. 'I completely switched my focus to history and never looked back.' A month after graduating, he heard about a social studies position that opened at his old high school. He took this as a divine sign and jumped into the opportunity. He started in August 2021 as an eighth-grade Louisiana history teacher, but is now teaching history to high school juniors. Laurent enjoyed teaching eighth grade, but his long-term goal is to teach college courses. After just four years, he achieved this goal. He took on one more responsibility and began teaching dual enrollment history courses through McNeese, as well. He also helps coach football and track, and a lso used to coach wrestling. The pursuit and sharing of knowledge is a 'two-fold' aspect of teaching he loves. Education allows him to stay connected to the subject he loves while redirecting his passion to his classes. The enthusiasm for the curriculum is infectious and as a result, he has developed meaningful relationships with his students, emulating the educators who sparked his future. 'The impact that an educator can have on so many young individuals is profound, so having the opportunity to be a positive role model in some way for students is a blessing,' he said. In smaller communities like Longville and Ragley, K-12 education is especially important, as schools are the thread that connects nearly all residents, he said. 'Someone you know or even yourself has passed through those halls and had a similar experience in some way,' he said. 'For educators, it is our job to make sure that the experience everyone has is positive.' The relationships he builds with students vary depending on who you ask — football players might joke about doing burpees and planks in class. But his approach is rooted in honesty and high expectations. He challenges students to strive for academic excellence while remaining authentic and approachable. By being 'as much as an everyday person as possible,' he aims to encourage his students to be genuine and honest. This supports his class mission statement, 'push yourself to be better every day.' He instills this principle in his students with the hope that it bleeds into their personal lives. Laurent believes these are lessons best learned in an educational environment, which are 'fundamental parts of societal growth.' ' If everyone would put value in education and then push each other to be better in everything, the world would have a much more informed and functional population,' he explained. 'There is value in everything. You just have to find it for yourself.'
Associated Press
30-04-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Nonprofit Launches Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy for Psychiatric Disability
Nonprofit provides ketogenic metabolic therapy education and support, removing barriers to psychiatric recovery for individuals on disability. 'Our deeper aim is empowerment. Helping individuals realize they don't have to wait for the healthcare system to catch up. We're removing gatekeepers and creating a parallel track to wellness, now.'— Nicole Laurent, LMHC VANCOUVER, WA, UNITED STATES, April 30, 2025 / / -- A nonprofit is expanding access to psychiatric recovery education and support specifically for individuals on government disability. Brain Fog Recovery Source, a 501(c)(3) founded in 2022, has launched the Metabolic Psychiatric Recovery Program, a new virtual initiative helping people implement Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy (KMT) as part of their recovery from serious mental illness. Founded by Nicole Laurent, a licensed mental health counselor and nutritionist with advanced training in ketogenic metabolic therapy, Brain Fog Recovery Source serves individuals who have not responded to standard psychiatric treatments. The program provides structured guidance in using therapeutic ketogenic diets to target metabolic dysfunction in the brain, a root cause increasingly recognized in the emerging psychiatric literature. 'People on disability are often told they will never get better,' said Laurent. 'But when we address the metabolic factors now recognized as playing a significant role in mental illness, we see changes. People stabilize. They start to function again. They return to school and work. The changes we see go far beyond symptom control. They reflect restored function and real recovery.' Over the past three years, the nonprofit has served 60 individuals and their support persons from around the world, primarily from the United States and Canada. Although not providing clinical treatment, it offers structured education and support, allowing individuals to have access to a ketogenic metabolic therapy professional on their treatment team. The people who most need this knowledge are those on government disability because of psychiatric illness. Yet they are often the least able to access it. This approach is not yet standard of care, and many clinicians remain unaware of its application in psychiatric settings. As a result, private pay access remains out of reach for most. With growing public interest, national media coverage, and multiple high profile recovery stories, the nonprofit expects significant demand following its April 30 public announcement. Nicole Laurent, LMHC Brain Fog Recovery Source [email protected] Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
New York Times
08-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Belgian Prince Seeks Pension Benefits
For attending galas, cutting ribbons and meeting diplomats, a Belgian prince takes home a royal allowance of 100,000 euros, nearly $110,000, a year. But what will happen when he stops working? For that, Prince Laurent of Belgium is seeking government benefits. A court this week agreed in part, recommending that the country's lawmakers consider drawing up regulations for a federal pension for the prince, even as it dismissed his argument that his royal duties were in essence a job and that his incurred expenses were comparable to being self-employed. His lawyer, Olivier Rijckaert, said in an interview Tuesday that the court had effectively placed the prince in a special category, akin to a 'super public servant.' Only one other person is in that category, his lawyer said: the prince's older sister, Princess Astrid. The prince, who is 61, will now decide whether to wait for the law to be passed or to challenge the court's ruling, hoping to speed the process, his lawyer said. Prince Laurent, the younger brother of King Phillippe, brought the case in 2023, suing Belgium's National Institute for the Social Security of the Self-employed. He argued in court that without a pension, his wife, Princess Claire, and their three adult children would be left financially vulnerable upon his death or if he halted his duties, according to court documents. The prince receives a stipend of €400,000 a year, three-quarters of which is used to cover his staff's salaries plus various trips and entertainment expenses, according to his lawyer. Prince Laurent is required to provide supporting documents for all of those expenses, Mr. Rijckaert said. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
