Naughty corner: SA educators including teachers, principals and childcare workers being suspended on pay for up to three years

Teachers, principals and childcare workers in trouble in SA are serving out long suspensions – often with pay – for everything from mere accusations to serious crimes. See the list.

Heidi Marie Tomkins, a special-education teacher, outside the District Court. Picture: Emma Brasier

South Australian teachers are being suspended for up to three years, mostly on pay, amid claims of misconduct or crimes of violence, illegal sex, domestic abuse, guns and drugs.

A state government league table, released under Freedom of Information laws, shows 32 Adelaide and country-based school educators are currently suspended.

The official data revealed more than half of suspended staff were teachers and almost a fifth classed as principals or “leaders”.

Others included two Adelaide Aboriginal education workers, an early childhood educator at an Adelaide preschool, a metropolitan children’s centre bus driver, a groundsperson along with a “government service employees” in facilities or in maintenance.

The group included a teacher suspended for more than three years and eight educators for at least 12 months.

The vast majority were paid but five had their salary docked. Almost a third were regional.

Authorities did not disclose specific reasons, or identities, because of active police investigations or court cases.

An Education Department spokeswoman said charges have related to violence, sexual assault, domestic abuse, illegal firearms use or drug offences.

The FOI data showed the longest length of time was for an Adelaide teacher, also an Education Department head office worker, who has been suspended for 167 weeks.

A country school “leader” who has been suspended for 123 weeks (two years and three months) while an Adelaide principal has reached 70 weeks, or almost a year and a half.

Opposition spokesman, former Education Minister John Gardner, said it was important cases are dealt with “as quickly as possibly and fairly”.

“But when you’re dealing with these matters, the best interests of our children comes first and foremost,” he said.

Tomkins pleaded guilty to drug trafficking but escaped immediate jail. Picture: Emma Brasier/ NCA Newswire

Primary Principals Association president, Tobias O’Connor, said it was important that people had a chance to defend themselves in a timely way but said underperformance criteria was tighter.

“It’s gone from open ended – pretty much take as long as you like – to ensure you’re up to scratch in 10 weeks,” he said.

The department spokeswoman said the longest suspended worker was found guilty of drug offences this year and sentenced, having not been paid since June 2020.

“This matter has taken significant time to investigate due to the (police) investigation and appropriate judicial process,” the spokeswoman said.

“(We are) in the process of terminating that person’s employment.”

In July, veteran educator Heidi Marie Tomkins, 42, of Mawson Lakes, escaped immediate jail despite admitting trafficking almost $250,000 worth of drugs, including methylamphetamine.

District Court judge Rauf Soulio ordered she serve a six-year sentence on home detention after she pleaded guilty to trafficking MDMA – or ecstasy – and meth in May and August 2020.

She worked as a department educator and behaviour support coach for almost 19 years, which included extensive work with primary school students in Gawler and Port Pirie.

The spokeswoman outlined other reasons why pay is removed, including for a charged employee whose bail conditions stopped them seeking or undertaking “child related work”.

Another teacher had their registration cancelled after being declared a prohibited person under state law, which banned them from working with children.

A fourth employee was found guilty of misconduct and will be sacked.

There are almost 15,000 preschool, primary and secondary teachers in SA government schools.

Education Minister Blair Boyer said the government’s priority was “always the wellbeing and safety of our students and staff”.

“It’s important that any allegation made against a staff member is taken seriously and the appropriate investigations take place,” he said.

“In the case of a criminal allegation, these will not only include school and department investigations, but also police and potentially court proceedings.

“These processes can take time as the appropriate evidence is gathered, but it’s important they are allowed to run their course.”

The department spokeswoman said school safety was taken “extremely seriously – and (we) will not hesitate to use suspension when needed”.