THE ALBERTA TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION

THE ALBERTA TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION DECISION OF THE HEARING COMMITTEE OF THE PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT COMMITTEE IN THE MATTER OF CHARGES OF UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AGAINST WADE STUART DEERING The hearing committee of the Professional Conduct Committee of the Alberta Teachers’ Association reports that charges of unprofessional conduct laid against Wade Deering of High Prairie, Alberta were duly investigat. [...] The hearing committee was concerned that the penalty was insufficient and outside of the range of “reasonable” penalties, given the severity of the charges and the nature of the conduct at issue. [...] The committee accepted the penalty that the parties proposed but determined that a fine should also be levied because of the nature of Deering’s actions and the resulting damage to the students, the community, and the teaching profession. [...] Due to the egregious nature of the offences, and due to a teacher’s position of trust in relation to students, and due to a teacher’s duty to act only in a manner that safeguards the interests of children generally, the hearing committee determined that a fine of $2500, a declaration that Deering is permanently ineligible for membership in the Association, and a recommendation to the minister of e. [...] In the case of Deering, the variety, repetition and duration of the unprofessional contact with students and the repeated behaviours require a penalty that is corrective, preventative, and will protect the interests of students and the public.