Sacked St Kevin’s teacher appeals dismissal

A teacher accused of sexual misconduct involving a student and storing pornography on his school computer is again fighting to be reinstated at St Kevin’s.

A sacked St Kevin’s College teacher is appealing his dismissal.

A sacked St Kevin’s College teacher is appealing his dismissal in the Fair Work Commission

The Herald Sun understands maths and drama teacher Simon Parris filed appeal papers last week with the Full Bench of the Commission.

A source from inside the school said parents would “blockade his entry to the school” if he is reinstated.

“It just cannot happen,” the source added.

A judgement from Commissioner Tim Lee delivered last month noted there were valid reasons for the dismissal of Mr Parris, who admitted to initiating hugs of students, sending a tweet about wet dreams and storing “hard core gay pornography” on his school computer.

But the school’s handling of the case also come under the spotlight following evidence former principal Stephen Russell provided Mr Parris with a “generally positive” character reference even after his sexual misconduct came to light.

A spokesman for St Kevin’s College said the school’s governing body Edmund Rice Education Australia.

“EREA has been advised that former teacher Simon Parris plans to appeal the Fair Work Commission’s recent rejection of his unfair dismissal claim”.

“EREA and St Kevin’s College will continue to strongly defend the dismissal of Mr Parris, which has been vindicated by the Commission.

“Care for the welfare of our students, their families and our staff will always be at the centre of all our decisions,” he said

Mr Parris’ lawyer Luke Connolly from Connolly Workplace Law confirmed the appeal but said his client would not comment.

Mr Parris was seeking reinstatement and loss of wages.