The Discipline Committee hears matters regarding allegations of professional misconduct and/or incompetence which have been referred by the Complaints Committee following investigation.
The College is mandated to publish a summary of its disciplinary decisions and reasons when the Discipline Committee makes a finding of guilt. These disciplinary decisions are then published on the College’s website, on our blog and on CanLII, the Canadian Legal Information Institute’s website.
Jina Kim, RECE # 45364
Facts: Following a contested hearing, the Discipline Committee made the following findings of fact.
After returning from lunch to the toddler classroom where the Member regularly worked with two colleagues, the Member saw a concerning interaction between one of her colleagues and a child. The Member intervened to support her colleague and asked the child to apologize to her colleague. The Member did not raise her voice to the point of concern. She did not use belittling or demeaning language towards the child. When the child became frustrated, the Member anticipated an outburst from the child and responded by picking up the child and moving the child from the classroom to the hallway for the safety of the child and the well-being of the other toddlers who were napping.
The Member then moved the child from the hallway to the washroom by lifting the child under their arms. Once the child was moved, the Member placed her hands lightly on the child’s mouth in an attempt to soothe them. At the same time, the Member verbally reassured the child using soothing words and tone. Although the Member used physical contact to move the child, the nature of the physical contact was not forceful, rather, it was more like a physical redirection. The Member did not use excessive force, nor did she intend to hurt the child. The purpose and intent of her conduct was to provide the child with a safe space to regulate their emotions as well as to support the other toddlers simultaneously.
Finding: In its decision, the panel found that the evidence did not support findings of professional misconduct.
The Member was found not guilty of several acts of professional misconduct (Ontario Regulation 223/08), including that she did not verbally abuse a child under her professional supervision, she did not physically abuse a child who was under her professional supervision, she did not psychologically or emotionally abuse a child under her professional supervision, she did not fail to maintain the standards of the profession, she did not conduct herself in a manner that, having regard to the circumstances would reasonably be regarded by Members of the profession to be disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional and she did not conduct herself in a manner that is unbecoming a Member.
The full decision can be found here, linked under the heading “Special Notices”.
Cristina Cammisa, RECE # 61841
Facts: The Member pled guilty to professional misconduct. Following an uncontested hearing, the Discipline Committee accepted the following admissions as facts.
The Member and her colleague were responsible for supervising a group of 12 children in an unfenced forested area of the Centre’s campus. One of the children, who was non-verbal with special needs, wandered away from the group unnoticed. The child was found by campus security 7 to 10 minutes later near one of the driveways exiting the campus. The security guard took the child to the campus security office and called the police and the supervisor of the Centre. The supervisor called the Member and her colleague to confirm the child’s identity. Up until that time, the Member and her colleague did not realize the child was missing.
Finding: In its decision, the panel found that the evidence supported findings of professional misconduct.
The Member was found guilty of several acts of professional misconduct (Ontario Regulation 223/08), including failing to supervise adequately a person who was under her professional supervision; failing to maintain the standards of the profession; acting or failing to act in a manner that, having regard to the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by Members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional; and conducting herself in a manner that is unbecoming a Member.
The panel stated: “The Member did not provide the children under her care with a safe environment. She failed to model appropriate behaviour and comply with relevant legislation and regulations, as well as the College’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Her conduct reflects on the profession as a whole and erodes public confidence in RECEs. Although other staff were present, the Member is responsible for performing her duties independent of other staff.”
Penalty: The Committee directed the Registrar to suspend the Member’s certificate of registration for five months and to impose terms, conditions and limitations on the Member’s certificate of registration. The Committee also required the Member to appear before it to be reprimanded and ordered the Member to pay $1,000 to reimburse the College for a portion of the prosecution and hearing costs.
The full decision can be found here, linked under the heading “Special Notices”.
Carolyn General, RECE # 08648
Facts: The Member pled guilty to professional misconduct. Following an uncontested hearing, the Discipline Committee accepted the following admissions as facts.
The Member was supervising a group of preschool children, including one child with autism who was physically unwell. Despite the Member and other staff knowing the child was unwell, the child was transitioned to the Centre’s outdoor play area. During this time, the Member allowed the child to lay on cold concrete, during cold (-2 to -4 degree Celcius) and snowy weather, for a period of approximately 15 minutes. During this time, the child remained largely motionless. Despite being encouraged by other staff and being directly asked by the child’s parent to bring the child inside, the Member chose to leave the child outside.
Finding: In its decision, the panel found that the evidence supported findings of professional misconduct.
The Member was found guilty of several acts of professional misconduct (Ontario Regulation 223/08), including failing to supervise adequately a person who was under her professional supervision; failing to maintain the standards of the profession; acting or failing to act in a manner that, having regard to the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by Members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional; and conducting herself in a manner that is unbecoming a Member.
The panel stated: “Through her actions the Member neglected to provide a safe, healthy and inclusive environment. Her actions failed to model professional behaviour with children and colleagues.”
Penalty: The Committee directed the Registrar to suspend the Member’s certificate of registration for at least six months and to impose terms, conditions and limitations on the Member’s certificate of registration. The Committee also required the Member to appear before it to be reprimanded and ordered the Member to pay $1,000 to reimburse the College for a portion of the prosecution and hearing costs.
The full decision can be found here, linked under the heading “Special Notices”.
Sophia Shanae Phillips, RECE # 57246
Facts: The Member pled not guilty to professional misconduct. Following a contested hearing, the Discipline Committee made the following findings of fact. The Member was a party to a conversation where her colleague made comments about the sexual orientation of a three-year-old child while in the classroom. The Member was present and laughed when her colleague instructed and/or encouraged the child to expose his penis in the presence of other staff and/or other children. The Member was also present and laughed when her colleague instructed and/or encouraged the same child to touch his genital area and/or touch the genital area of other children and to kiss other children on the lips, and to lie on top of other children. The Panel found that the member did not respond appropriately to discourage the misconduct of her colleague and thereby put the learning environment and children at risk.
Finding: In its decision, the panel found that the evidence supported findings of professional misconduct.
The Member was found guilty of several acts of professional misconduct (Ontario Regulation 223/08), including failing to supervise adequately a person who was under her professional supervision; failing to maintain the standards of the profession; acting or failing to act in a manner that, having regard to the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional; and conducting herself in manner that is unbecoming a member.
Penalty: The Committee directed the Registrar to suspend the Member’s certificate of registration for at least four months and to impose terms, conditions and limitations on the Member’s certificate of registration. The Committee also required the Member to be reprimanded and ordered the Member to pay $6,600 to reimburse the College for a portion of the prosecution and hearing costs.
The full decision can be found here, linked under the heading “Special Notices”.