Tribunal told teacher ripped man’s shirt and touched his testicles
A PRIMARY school teacher touched a colleague’s testicles and ripped his shirt in a “sexually-motivated” way, a tribunal has heard.
Helen Elizabeth Evans, who taught at Llanishen Fach Primary School in Cardiff, is accused of “unacceptable professional conduct” for her actions while employed at the school.
Miss Evans, a teacher of 22 years’ experience who wasn’t present at the hearing at the Mercure Hotel in Cardiff, is facing several allegations.
They include calling two colleagues “dumb and dumber”, marking pupils’ books with phrases like “love it babes” and demonstrating “unacceptable behaviour of a bullying and/or dismissive nature towards members of staff”.
The allegedly sexually motivated incident happened in 2014 at what was described as a “teaching event”.
She allegedly ripped the man’s shirt and touched his testicles, leaving him “intimidated and upset”. He then went on to leave, citing her behaviour as one of the reasons.
Speaking at the hearing, the school’s head teacher Sarah Coombes said the man claimed Miss Evans’ behaviour displayed “attitude, contempt and anger” towards him in front of staff and children. She said he felt “threatened” and his self esteem was lowered.
Ms Coombes said the matter was referred to the police, but the Crown Prosecution Service did not take it any further.
Miss Coombes told the hearing that in 2015 Ms Evans failed to conduct a risk assessment by allowing a pupil to bring in a snake.
She said senior staff weren’t told about the snake and should have been under school regulations.
A colleague of Ms Evans, Colleague C, was due to take her class that day and had a phobia of snakes.
Ms Coombes, said: “The snake couldn’t be allowed like this. We didn’t know what type of snake it was. She should’ve informed senior leaders, with the breed of the snake.”
She said that Ms Evans’ response was that she felt it “was not a health and safety risk”.
The hearing heard that parents in year one had complained their children were not being involved in Christmas productions.
Ms Coombes said she had warned Ms Evans to include all pupils, which she agreed. However, she said Colleague D overheard Ms Evans say she was “boycotting” the Christmas carol assembly.
When questioned by Ms Coombes, Miss Evans said her “children were playing with toys”, and they were asked “what they wanted to do”.
Ms Coombes said Ms Evans was reminded her behaviour was not appropriate and that all children must feel “included”.
In January 2015, Ms Evans is alleged to have referred to two members of staff as “dumb and dumber”.
Ms Coombes said Colleague B described Miss Evans’ behaviour as “rude, abrupt and confrontational”.
Ms Coombes said Colleague B said that the alleged bullying behaviour had been going on for some time and that it had “impact on her health and well-being,” but she “tolerated it for the school and children”.
It was alleged that during the 2014/15 academic year, Ms Evans did not participate in lesson planning and relied on colleagues to do this for her.
She was accused of failing to complete field observations and did not complete the marking of pupils’ school books. It was alleged she also made inappropriate comments in marking and reports, such as “wicked dude” and “love it babes”.
Her reports were described as “illogical” and also mixed up gender references. Pupils’ books were also found to have no work in them despite being three months into term.
Ms Coombes said: “The books were not marked. Progress they should’ve been making was not evident.”
In or around October 2014, on parents’ evening, Miss Evans allegedly failed to share all pupils’ books with parents and claimed the books were in her car.
Ms Evans was dismissed in April 2015 over her behaviour, despite constant guidance.
Ms Coombes stated that a Facebook page was set up to support the dismissed teacher. Miss Evans was described as an “integral part of the page” and comments from her partner were regular.
A crowdfunding page was also set up to take the school to court.
Ms Coombes tearfully said: “The Facebook page was the most difficult to deal with as we were aware it was set up by her friend. It has had such a great impact and time has been wasted. Helen showed clear disregard to these things.”
She added: “Certain people refused to be in the same area as her, and had to take stress assessments. It became an intolerable workplace for many.”
Colleague C said: “I have a huge phobia of snakes and I was due to cover Ms Evans’ lesson that day. The fact that I didn’t like snakes was common knowledge among staff following a trip to the zoo.
“Teachers have daily brief meetings and she failed to say on the day. It is important because it should’ve been risk assessed. The animal could carry a disease, or children may have had allergies or phobias. There is a difference between a pet animal and a snake.”
Colleague C said she believed Ms Evans’ behaviour was detrimental to the school.
She added: “It made me feel awful. I wanted to remain professional but she made it difficult. I am quite a strong person but this made me feel small and awkward. She is an extrovert and favoured certain pupils, but pupils responded to her.”
Ms Evans is accused of eight counts including failing to follow management instructions, behaving unacceptably towards colleagues, making inappropriate comments, providing inaccurate information in school reports, behaving in a sexually-motivated way to a colleague and being “dishonest” in her monitoring of pupils.
The hearing continues.