A former elementary teacher with the Catholic school board accused of inappropriate behavior with students has lost his teaching certificate.
According to the Ontario College of Teachers, Joshua Allan Eric Reid was found guilty of professional misconduct for physical, sexual and psychological or emotional abuse of students.
Reid faced two sets of allegations. Both were dealt with in a single hearing early this month, ending with his teaching certificate, which had been suspended, being revoked.
The college’s discipline committee is currently writing its decision, which will be publicly released later on its web site. Reid did not attend the hearing.
An earlier notice posted by the college said Reid faced allegations of inappropriate behavior from six students.
He was accused of developing a personal relationship with a female student. In the summer of 2019, he took the student to a hotel, where he digitally penetrated her and used a vibrator on her, according to the college’s notice of hearing.
Other female students said Reid instructed them to wear short shorts and tank tops, entered a change room while they were changing and pressed himself against one student.
The discipline committee looked at text messages from Reid to a student, who attended a different school than the one he was teaching in. He called her one of his “dearest friends” and said he left a gift for her in the closet of a bedroom in her home.
The college said Reid told that student he loved her and sent her numerous inappropriate text messages. Reid earlier told another student that he loved her, according to the college.
Another student said the teacher covered a classroom window with a black piece of paper to meet with a female student and temporarily stopped her from leaving when she asked him to move.
When contacted last year by Postmedia, Reid declined to respond to questions on the advice of his lawyer but said the allegations against him were unsubstantiated and one-sided.
On Friday, Reid contacted Postmedia via email. While Reid confirmed his license to teach was revoked, he said in the email that the information on the Ontario College of Teachers website is out of date. He further said the OCT accepted an uncontested statement of facts and a plea of no contest that varies greatly from the original allegations made by the college.
Reid was fired by the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board in February 2020. A spokesperson said the board takes any allegation of misconduct seriously and prioritizes the health and safety of students and staff.
Since Postmedia first reported on the allegations against Reid, a seventh student, from a Brantford school, came forward. The student said Reid touched her back during class, tried to get her personal email account and pursued her after she graduated.
Both sets of accusations were heard by the discipline committee Dec. 2.
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