Colleagues were ‘suspicious’ of sex case teacher

Co-workers of a teacher who had sex with students had twice raised concerns about her close relationship with students before the police were alerted, investigations reveal.

The former teacher in her 30s, who cannot be named, was sentenced to two years and six months' imprisonment at the Blenheim District Court on Tuesday for sexual relations with two students aged under 16.

She had pleaded guilty to seven charges of having sexual connections with young people, and two charges of exposing young people to indecent material, between May and December last year.

But an independent investigation commissioned by the school board found that the woman's co-workers were worried months before the scale of the misconduct came to light.

Lawyer Mike Hardy-Jones was hired by the board for an external review, about 10 days after the board was notified of the allegations on May 8, the board chairman said in a letter to parents on Wednesday.

Hardy-Jones found that the woman's co-workers had first raised concerns about her ‘‘closeness with students'' in November last year. But when staff discussed this with her, she provided ‘‘plausible reasons'', such as counselling or tutoring a student. ‘‘The teacher said she would alter her behaviour accordingly and detailed some changes to maintain professional boundaries.''

A staff member raised ‘‘a more serious concern'' with a senior staff member in mid-February this year, but no further action was taken.

The board and principal were unaware of the concerns until May. At that stage, Oranga Tamariki, police, the Ministry of Education and the Teaching Council were

‘‘The teacher said she would alter her behaviour accordingly and detailed some changes to maintain professional boundaries.’’ Report by lawyer Mike Hardy-Jones

immediately notified, and the woman was placed on leave.

She later resigned, before police laid charges in July.

During her 12 years at the school, she had formed sexual relationships with ‘‘a number of students'', who tended to be from more vulnerable families and were usually involved in sport, the court heard.

Judge Tony Zohrab said the woman had ‘‘seriously compromised her obligations'' in a role where parents trusted her with their children.

He also refused final name suppression, but the woman's lawyers said they would appeal the decision, so interim suppression was continued.

The board chairman said after sentencing that the teacher's actions had a wide-ranging impact. ‘‘Everyone associated with the college is appalled and devastated.''

The external review recommended a series of changes to prevent similar offending, focused on encouraging clear reporting of concerns.

‘‘There must never again be a situation where the seriousness of the message is not understood,'' the review said. ‘‘There must be a new culture developed whereby staff feel comfortable discussing concerns with the principal direct.''

Pastoral support for students and families would extend even after students left the school, the chairman said.