Teachers Registration Board of SA annual report reveals educators banned in 2023-24

A teacher who brought alcohol onto school grounds and another caught viewing pornography are among those under fire from the education watchdog. See what else was uncovered.

A teacher who used a school laptop to view pornography in class and another who brought alcohol to work are among alarming cases unearthed by the education watchdog.

Other educators have been convicted of driving while disqualified or suspended for inappropriate relationships with students.

The latest Teachers Registration Board annual report shows it received 381 notifications raising red flags about educators at public and private schools across South Australia last financial year.

They related to incompetence, unprofessional conduct, potential criminal offences or issues that “seriously impaired” their capacity to teach.

Four teachers were suspended in 2023-24 after being charged with offences, and six were suspended for posing an “unacceptable risk to children”.

Another 10 educators had their registration automatically cancelled.

The board also sent 17 warning letters and negotiated conditions on 11 teachers without needing to hold an inquiry.

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It has not published the names or genders of the teachers, or their schools.

Cases outlined in the report include:

A TEACHER who used a school laptop to view pornography during school hours, while students were in the classroom. They were made to attend counselling and an ethics course after being found guilty of unprofessional conduct.

CONVICTIONS against a teacher for driving while disqualified and giving false or misleading details to police. They were made to submit to supervised drug screenings and provide updates on their “recovery from a substance abuse disorder”.

A TEACHER with a history of driving with methylamphetamine in their system who had received a drug diversion referral but returned a recent positive hair follicle test.

A TEACHER made to undergo counselling after pleading guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and hindering or resisting arrest. No conviction was recorded and the teacher received a good behaviour bond.

Reports about teachers can be made to the board by employers, colleagues, police or other government workers, parents and carers, and educators can self-report.

The board also reviewed, and upheld, seven previously imposed suspensions including teachers:

ALLEGED to have engaged in inappropriate relationships with female students out of school hours, including providing alcohol, and engaged in an unlawful sexual relationship with one female student.

ESCORTED from school grounds by police after displaying aggressive behaviour and foul language. They later recorded a positive result on an alcohol breath test.

REPORTEDLY attending school drunk and with alcohol in their bag. They also had criminal convictions related to alcohol.

FORMING personal relationships with two students, including “extensive” electronic messaging.