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, as well as on the College website and CanLii.
Sarah Louise Cameron
DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE ORDER
Suspended Sarah Louise Cameron’s Certificate of Registration (registration number 24718) for a period of six months.
Terms, Conditions and Limitations on the Member’s Certificate of Registration that includes mentorship.
Contribution of $1,000 towards the College’s prosecution and hearing costs.
Agreed facts: Sarah Louise Cameron (the “Member”) was employed as a Registered Early Childhood Educator at the Tillsonburg Children’s Centre (the “Centre) in Tillsonburg, Ontario. The Member was supervising a group of preschool aged children at the Centre’s playground, when, during a transition, the child remained outside, unsupervised and became stuck inside a storage shed for approximately one hour.
A woman who was passing by heard the child calling for help and returned him to the Centre. The child was in tears and had soiled himself. The Member was unaware the child was missing. After the incident, the Centre updated its policies and procedures regarding monitoring supervision and also added safeguards to the shed.
Finding: The Member was found guilty of several acts of professional misconduct (Ontario Regulation 223/08), including that she failed to supervise adequately a person who was under her professional supervision, that she failed to maintain the standards of the profession, that she acted or failed to act in a manner that, having regard to the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional, and that she acted in a manner that is unbecoming a member.
Penalty: The panel directed the College’s Registrar to suspend the Member’s Certificate of Registration for a period of six months and to impose terms, conditions and limitations on the Member’s Certificate of Registration, including mandatory mentorship sessions. In addition, the Member was required to contribute $1,000 to the College’s prosecution and hearing costs.
In its decision, the panel stated, “the Member failed to adequately supervise the Child. By so doing, the Member contravened the standards of practice when she placed the safety of a child at risk by failing to ensure proper supervision”.
To read the full decision, click here.
Sarah Ashley Walton
DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE ORDER
Suspended Sarah Ashley Walton’s Certificate of Registration (registration number 57836) for a period of five months.
Terms, Conditions and Limitations on the Member’s Certificate of Registration that includes mentorship.
Contribution of $1,000 towards the College’s prosecution and hearing costs.
Agreed Facts: Sarah Ashley Walton (the “Member”) was employed as an Early Childhood Educator at the Bizzy Bees Day Care Center (the “Centre”) in Ilderton, Ontario. The Member and two other ECEs were supervising a group of preschool aged children to visit a local post office when a 2 ½ year old boy (the “child”) remained unsupervised at the Centre’s yard.
The Child walked a short distance by himself before a passerby returned the child to the group approximately 10-12 minutes after the group arrived at the post office. The Member did not notice that the Child was missing. As a result of the incident, the Member’s employment at the Centre was terminated.
Finding: The Member was found guilty of several acts of professional misconduct (Ontario Regulation 223/08), including that she failed to supervise adequately a person who was under her professional supervision, that she failed to maintain the standards of the profession, that she acted or failed to act in a manner that, having regard to the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional, and that she acted in a manner that is unbecoming a member.
Penalty: The panel directed the College’s Registrar to suspend the Member’s Certificate of Registration for a period of five months and to impose terms, conditions and limitations on the Member’s Certificate of Registration, including mandatory mentorship sessions. In addition, the Member was required to contribute $1,000 to the College’s prosecution and hearing costs.
In its decision, the panel stated, “the Member failed to conduct a headcount to ensure all of the children were present and did not do a physical walk around the yard prior to leaving the Centre. She then left the Centre with her class but failed to notice that the Child was not with the group, resulting in the Child remaining unsupervised in the Centre’s yard.
To read the full decision, click here.
Amanda Ring
DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE ORDER
Suspended Amanda Ring’s Certificate of Registration (registration number 44104) for a period of seven months.
Terms, Conditions and Limitations on the Member’s Certificate of Registration that includes mentorship or coursework.
Contribution of $1,000 towards the College’s prosecution and hearing costs.
Agreed Facts: Amanda Ring (the “Member”) was employed by the Hub Child & Family Centre as an Early Childhood Educator at the Queen Elizabeth School Summer Camp Program (the “Centre”) in Picton, Ontario. The Member was supervising a group of children at the Centre when a ten-year-old child with special needs became upset and began hitting and kicking children and staff.
The Member attempted to kick the child, but missed him. The Member then stepped on the child’s toes, hurt him and drag him by his ankles to another room to yell at him. As a result of the incident, the Member’s employment at the Centre was terminated.
Finding: The Member was found guilty of several acts of professional misconduct (Ontario Regulation 223/08), including that she physically abused a child, that she psychologically or emotionally abused a child, that she acted or failed to act in a manner that, having regard to the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional, and that she acted in a manner that is unbecoming a member.
Penalty: The panel directed the College’s Registrar to suspend the Member’s Certificate of Registration for a period of seven months and to impose terms, conditions and limitations on the Member’s Certificate of Registration, including mandatory mentorship or coursework sessions in behavior guidance and inclusion in early childhood education and addressing the needs of children with disabilities. In addition, the Member was required to contribute $1,000 to the College’s prosecution and hearing costs.
In its decision, the panel stated, “the RECE has a particular responsibility to promote the full inclusion of all children, including those with special needs. Every RECE has a professional responsibility to treat all children with dignity, and in this case the Member’s conduct neglected the unique, individual needs of the child.”
To read the full decision, click here.
Asma Ather Kidwai
DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE ORDER
Suspended Sarah Asma Ather Kidwai’s Certificate of Registration (registration number 00740) for a period of four months.
Terms, Conditions and Limitations on the Member’s Certificate of Registration that includes mentorship.
Contribution of $1,000 towards the College’s prosecution and hearing costs.
Agreed Facts: Asma Ather Kidwai (the “Member”) was the Executive Director at Eden Daycare Incorporated (the “Centre”), a child care centre in Mississauga, Ontario.
The Member received multiple complaints about an employee’s behaviour and did not report the incidents to Peel Children’s Aid Society (“CAS”). As a result of the incidents, the staff called CAS to report the employee’s behaviour.
Finding: The Member was found guilty of several acts of professional misconduct (Ontario Regulation 223/08), including that she failed to supervise adequately a person who was under her professional supervision, that she failed to maintain the standards of the profession, that she acted or failed to act in a manner that, having regard to the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional, she failed to comply with theAct, the regulations, or by-laws, and that she acted in a manner that is unbecoming a member.
Penalty: The panel directed the College’s Registrar to suspend the Member’s Certificate of Registration for a period of four months and to impose terms, conditions and limitations on the Member’s Certificate of Registration, including mandatory mentorship sessions. In addition, the Member was required to contribute $1,000 to the College’s prosecution and hearing costs.
In its decision, the panel stated, “the evidence shows that the Member was in possession of significant information regarding a registered early childhood educator that would have triggered her mandatory reporting obligations. The failure to make a report when she should have is a failure to properly supervise children and a break of standards.”
To read the full decision, click here.
