Victorian early childhood teacher sold cannabis to secondary students “on demand”

An early childhood teacher could be barred from the profession after being caught selling pot to secondary students, even delivering the drug during school hours.

An early childhood teacher has been nabbed selling pot to secondary students, even delivering the drug “on demand” during school hours.

Ai Khanh-Linh Le was convicted of trafficking cannabis, and now faces the prospect of losing her teaching registration.

A Victorian Institute of Teaching hearing was told on Monday that in 2017 she “regularly” sold cannabis to at least eight people, some of whom were high school students.

Counsel assisting the hearing Cara O’Shanassy said Ms Le “delivered the drug on demand”, including during school hours and “close to” the premises.

Ai Khanh-Linh Le was convicted of trafficking cannabis in 2017. Picture: iStock

Young people also picked up the drug from her house.

She only stopped the “commercial operation” after being busted when police visited her property following a break in.

Ms O’Shanassy said Ms Le “should not be in a position of authority or trust with children”.

“It is quite clear that teaching is a profession of trust,” she said.

“It is difficult to see how a person who engages in the conduct that we say Ms Le engaged in can be safely accredited to the public without further inquiry.

“It is not the (trafficking) conviction itself that the institute submits makes Ms Le unfit.

“It is the involvement of young people that is a real concern to the institute.”

The teacher’s registration is now in question as a hearing determines the approprite consequence for Ms Le’s actions.

Ms Le, who was not employed as a teacher at the time of dealing, did not appear at the hearing on Monday.

She does not contest the allegations, and wrote to the panel expressing her “sincere remorse” for the “irresponsible and dangerous” conduct.

The VIT is pushing to have Ms Le’s registration cancelled, and to disqualify her from reapplying for five years.

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But Ms Le has flagged her desire to return to teaching.

“The impact on the standing of the profession, we would say, is significant and would be grave if the panel decided not to condemn Ms Le’s conduct in the strongest terms,” Ms O’Shanassy said.

The panel on Monday requested a psychologist’s report on Ms Le’s “fitness to teach”, before it decides whether to cancel her registration.

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Originally published as Victorian early childhood teacher sold cannabis to secondary students “on demand”