Early childhood teacher keeps licence despite theft

A woman who stole almost $5000 for her gambling addiction has been allowed to keep her teaching licence.

Theresa Manihira Coldstream was the manager of Levin’s Learning Adventure Centre when she was caught stealing money by a colleague in 2018.

A recent New Zealand Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal decision, released in February, details how Coldstream tried to hide her theft with lies and false receipts before colleagues began to notice money that was given to the school by parents was missing.

It was concern over amissing envelope filled with money for children’s books that led to Coldstream admitting she had stolen all of the cash received by the centre over an 18-month period, from 2017 to 2018, totalling $4735.

As manager of the centre, Coldstream had control over the finances for the school.

Ameeting was called with the area manager on April 27, 2018, after Coldstream’s colleague put two-and-two together after noticing the envelope was gone. Coldstream had also pulled money from her bra to pay for another staff member’s farewell gift.

But Coldstream didn’t admit to the theft, instead saying it was an ‘‘honest mistake’’, the decision stated.

However, Coldstream came clean later in the day after another colleague came forward urging her to fess up.

It was a gambling addiction that led her to steal the funds, Coldstream told the area manager.

She was stood down and dismissed from the centre following an investigation into her theft.

Coldstream told her area manager she had justified the theft to herself as ripping off the centre, not the children she taught.

Her actions were a ‘‘significant breach of trust,’’ the committee stated.

The tribunal’s Complaints Assessment Committee submitted that the public ‘‘have the right to expect that the teachers will act honestly and with integrity’’.

Her conduct was calculated, the committee stated. ‘‘She had stolen the money to the detriment of her employer, the parents and the caregivers of children attending the centre and the centre themselves.’’

Following the investigation Coldstream showed remorse, the committee stated, and was undertaking counselling sessions for problem gambling.

Coldstream told the tribunal at the hearing, with her new manager for another centre supporting her nearby, she was sorry for what she had done and would take full responsibility for her actions.

She told the tribunal she was working on her gambling problem, cutting up her credit cards, cancelling her online gambling subscriptions, and opening up to her family for support.

In the decision, the tribunal said Coldstream had an exemplary teaching record and obviously had a love for teaching. ‘‘That level of passion is something we would want to remain in the profession.

‘‘[However,] she stole from people that trusted her and that whakama¯ [embarrassment] is something that she must carry with her forever.’’

Coldstream was ordered to inform any current or prospective employers of the tribunal’s decision, not to undertake any role handling or managing finances for three years and attend a gambling support service for 18 months.