Former Westall Secondary College teacher banned over inappropriate student relationship

A former Westall Secondary College teacher has been banned for four years after she had an inappropriate relationship with a female student.

A former Westall Secondary College teacher has been disqualified for four years for having a sexual relationship with a student.

Former Victorian high school teacher Ngan Nguyen has been disqualified for four years for having an inappropriate relationship with a student at Westall Secondary College.

The year 12 co-ordinator conducted the relationship with the year 12 female student in 2017, kissing and touching the student and sending emails calling her “sweetie” and “babe”.

The Victorian Institute of Teaching held a hearing into Ms Nguyen’s conduct in August last year and published its findings this week.

The hearing’s panel found that the teacher knowingly entered into a personal relationship with the student in a serious violation of the boundaries of the expected professional relationship.

It found Ms Nguyen unfit to teach, cancelled her teaching registration and imposed a disqualification period of four years from August 31, 2019 to August 31, 2023.

Before Ms Nguyen can be re-registered, she must undertake psychological counselling and show the VIT she understands what it means to maintain a professional relationship with a student.

Ngan Nguyen was the year 12 co-ordinator when she had a relationship with a year 12 student. Picture: Supplied

Ms Nguyen was found to have had the unprofessional relationship with a student between March and December 2017.

She was married at the time, and took sick leave in July 2018 before her husband told the principal about the student affair his wife had.

Ms Nguyen did not teach the student, but interacted with her in her leadership role.

Examples of wrongdoing included the exchange of emails out of hours that were “personal in nature and frequently not school related” and hugging and kissing on school grounds and in a local park.

Some of the conduct took place while Ms Nguyen was teaching at the Victorian School of Languages on Saturday mornings.

“The teacher refers to the student as ‘Sweetie’ and ‘Babe’ in emails on the 23 September 2017,” the panel said.

Ms Nguyen told investigators that she was in love with the student and described the relationship as romantic.

“The teacher took steps to conceal her conduct from others, discussing deleting emails with the student, ensuring physical contact was not able to be observed on CCTV. She made the student complicit in keeping their contact secret,” the panel concluded.

The panel found the teacher to be somewhat remorseful for her actions and acknowledged the difficult personal circumstances she has provided as context for her actions.

A Department of Education spokesman said Ms Nguyen had not worked at the school since the allegations surfaced.

“The health, wellbeing and safety of our students is our top priority,” he said.

“This teacher has not undertaken any duties in a government school since the allegations became known.”