The Discipline Committee hears matters regarding allegations of professional misconduct and/or incompetence. When it makes a finding of guilt, a summary of its decision and reasons must be published in the College’s newsletter, Connexions.
DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE ORDER
- Suspend Susan Eusebio’s Certificate of Registration (registration number 32557) for four months
- Terms, Conditions and Limitations on Certificate of Registration that includes mentorship and completing an educational course in behaviour guidance
Agreed Facts: Susan Eusebio was supervising a group of toddlers, when she observed a 23-month-old boy hitting other children with a toy. The boy did not stop when she asked him to and did not comply with her direction to go to the sink in the classroom. Eusebio grabbed the toddler by his arm, pulled him to the ground, dragged him across the floor of the classroom and swung him along the floor to the sink. The boy was screaming and crying, and Eusebio yelled at him to stop. Two parents observed the incident and were upset by what they had seen.
Finding: A panel of the Discipline Committee found Eusebio guilty of multiple violations of the professional misconduct regulation (Ontario Regulation 223/08). Of particular note, Eusebio was found guilty of physically, verbally, psychologically and/or emotionally abusing a child who was under her professional supervision.
In its finding the panel stated, “Early childhood educators are expected to be caring, empathetic and fair professionals who act with integrity. They are to value the rights of children, respecting the uniqueness, dignity and potential of each child. Rather than demonstrating these qualities in her interactions at the Centre, the Member used physical force and verbal abuse, disregarding children’s rights as individuals.”
Penalty: The panel directed the College’s Registrar to suspend Eusebio’s Certificate of Registration for four months. In addition to the suspension, the Panel directed the Registrar to impose terms, conditions or limitations on Eusebio’s Certificate of Registration, which includes a requirement for Eusebio to enter into a mentorship relationship with an RECE mentor pre-approved by the College, as well as a requirement that she complete an educational course in behavioural guidance. Eusebio was also ordered to contribute $1,250 towards the College’s prosecution costs and costs of conducting the hearing.
DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE ORDER
- Suspend Jessica Lealess’ Certificate of Registration (registration number 09567) for four months
- Terms, Conditions and Limitations on Certificate of Registration that includes mentorship
Agreed Facts: Jessica Lealess and another staff member (who was not an RECE) were responsible for supervising a group of 16 children in the senior preschool classroom at the Centre. During a transition period, a two-year-old child who had been transitioned into Lealess’ care, left the room unsupervised, followed the parent of another child, and went out the front door and onto the sidewalk (a few feet outside the front door). Another staff member found the child and promptly returned him to the classroom. According to Lealess, the child had left the room after she told her colleague she was assisting children in the washroom. Her colleague did not recall Lealess telling her that. Neither the member nor the staff member had noticed that the child had left the room during the approximately five minutes that he had been away. In addition to this, Lealess did not report the incident to Centre management, even though she went to the Director’s office at the end of her shift on the day of the incident.
Finding: A panel of the Discipline Committee found Lealess guilty of multiple violations of the professional misconduct regulation (Ontario Regulation 223/08). Of particular note, Lealess failed to adequately supervise a person who was under her professional supervision.
In its finding the panel stated, “The Member neglected to properly watch over the children and allowed a child to wander off alone unsupervised for an extended period of time. In this regard, the Member failed to supervise a person in her care. This was a major breach of the standards of the profession, which exposed the child to grave physical risk. It is obvious from this behaviour that the Member did not make it her foremost responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of a child who was under her professional supervision.”
Penalty: The panel directed the College’s Registrar to suspend Lealess’ Certificate of Registration for four months. In addition to the suspension, the Panel directed the Registrar to impose terms, conditions or limitations on Lealess’ Certificate of Registration, which includes a requirement for Lealess to enter into a mentorship relationship with an RECE mentor pre-approved by the College. Lealess was also ordered to contribute $1,000 towards the College’s prosecution costs and costs of conducting the hearing.
