Council reprimand for drug bust teacher

CAUTION: Woman lied that cannabis plants found during police probe into break-in were for personal use

An “exemplary” Mearns teacher who lied to police about a mini-cannabis cultivation in her home has been reprimanded by a professional watchdog.

Shona Gray received a police caution following the drugs bust on March 13 when officers investigating a reported break-in at her Stonehaven home found plants there.

Ms Gray, a support for learning teacher at Mackie Academy as well as two local primaries, admitted she had initially lied to police to protect her son by telling them the plants were for her personal use.

She later told officers that because of a poor sense of smell she did not detect the aroma from three plants which were found growing under lights in the bath, adding that she had not gone to that part of the house, where a friend of her son’s was staying.

Ms Gray subsequently became the subject of a full General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) hearing which first heard evidence last September before resuming in May.

In evidence to the GTCS panel she denied growing the plants, but said: “I was trying to protect my son. He’s my number one priority. I haven’t smoked cannabis since I was 21.”

Hearing witnesses had described Ms Gray as “an exemplary teacher who is highly regarded by her peers.”

In newly-issued findings, the GTCS said: “It was not suggested that the respondent had any involvement in the production of the cannabis.

“Instead, the case against her was that she tolerated cannabis being grown at her address.

“Furthermore, there was no evidence to suggest that this was anything other than an isolated incident.

“In the panel’s view, those factors meant that the respondent’s conduct was not at the most severe end of the spectrum and that her conduct was capable of remediation.

“The respondent had shown insight into why her decision to lie to the police was wrong and how this reflected badly on her as a teacher.”

The judgment continued: “The evidence showed the respondent to be an exemplary and highly regarded teacher.

“To her credit, the respondent had shown some insight and remorse and had taken steps to change her home circumstances.

“For all of those reasons the panel considered that a reprimand appropriately indicated to the profession and to the public the seriousness of the matter at issue.

“The panel was however satisfied, due to the element of dishonesty involved in the respondent’s conduct, that the reprimand should be recorded for a period of two years.”

The evidence showed the respondent tobean exemplary and highly regarded teacher. To her credit, the respondent had shown some insight and remorse