Former high school drama teacher facing allegations he abused students
John Nabben was a high-energy and unorthodox teacher, whom supporters say was driven to get the best out of his high school drama students at Walkerville Collegiate’s Centre for the Arts.
But the former secondary school teacher, fired in June by the Greater Essex County District School Board, is now accused of professional misconduct by the Ontario College of Teachers.
Nabben abused students “physically, sexually, verbally, psychologically or emotionally,” the college alleges in a disciplinary notice issued following its investigation. No hearing date has been set.
The public school board fired Nabben on June 7 after he had been removed from the classroom roughly a year earlier.
The allegations stem from complaints made by six students and span the decade he was at Walkerville after becoming a licensed teacher.
The Ontario College of Teachers notice of hearing refers to him by his full name, John Anthony Clark Nabben.
He is accused of belittling students and making inappropriate comments that included telling one female drama student she wasn’t acting “sexual enough” and to make her performance “more
orgasmic” during her monologue, according to the college.
It’s alleged Nabben told a female student in 2008 that she would not be allowed to participate in any productions if she continued to date her boyfriend because he “would ruin her acting ability.”
He’s accused by another female student of playing with her hair and touching her leg during rehearsals, and also of sending her a text message that said: “I love you.”
Later, he told her he was done with her and slammed a door in her face, according to the allegations before the college.
Nabben allegedly used profanity when telling another student she was the reason her group scene was terrible.
He frequently swore and at times told racist jokes, according to the allegations. In 2014-15, he allegedly said: “I don’t like Asians.”
Nabben frequently asked students about their personal lives and relationships, allowed students to use his vehicle during class time and attempted to turn students against other students “who disappointed him,” the college says.
During a school trip in August 2014, he is accused of talking behind closed doors — without another adult present — to a group of female students in their room about their personal lives in a late-night conversation that lasted roughly three hours.
Nabben is also accused of giving students inappropriate or false information about himself to elicit emotions before performances or to evoke sympathy. The claims he made on those occasions included that he had cancer, was getting his leg amputated and was leaving the school.
Nabben’s lawyer, Kirsty Niglas Collins, of Toronto, declined to comment on the allegations.
The college hasn’t yet set a date for Nabben’s hearing, said spokesman Brian Jamieson.
“Members are entitled to a fair, timely and open hearing. This is a matter to be decided by the discipline committee.”
Nabben received his certification from the college in 2004 after earning his bachelor of education degree from the University of Windsor the same year.
He then started teaching drama at Walkerville. He was eventually elevated to head of the school’s Centre for the Creative Arts. He was removed from that role and from teaching at the school in the spring of 2016, as allegations by students began to surface.
He was terminated by the school board in June.
The public school board declined to address Nabben’s case.
Shortly after Nabben stopped teaching at Walkerville, an online petition was launched calling on trustees to let Nabben continue teaching.
It was signed by 670 supporters, including previous students.
The petition cited Nabben’s “immeasurable dedication and commitment to excellence” as “the driving force behind the success of the program.”
Among comments from those who signed the change.org online petition were:
“Mr. Nabben is a remarkable man who cannot be replaced.”
“I’ve never met a man with more of a hard-work ethic and dedication towards his students and craft.”
“Although his teaching methods can be unorthodox and blunt, I believe he is the heart and soul of the program. Mr. Nabben has never settled for mediocrity and that is something, I think, most third parties have difficulty understanding.”