Penola Catholic College teacher Dennis Alberto suspended by regulator

A Penola Catholic College teacher and Christian musician has been suspended by the Victorian education regulator.

Penola Catholic College Catholic schoolteacher and Christian musician Dennis Alberto has been suspended by the Victorian education regulator. Picture: YouTube

An outer suburbs Catholic schoolteacher and Christian musician has been suspended by the Victorian education regulator.

Dennis Alberto worked until March 2024 at Penola Catholic College in Broadmeadows as a religious education and science teacher.

However, he was only suspended on an interim basis by the Victorian Institute of Teaching in late July, 2024.

A story on the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne site about Mr Alberto “sharing his heart for teaching” has been removed.

But the Herald Sun can reveal the article from October last year, detailed a glowing feature of Mr Alberto as “fostering a love of God and music” among his students.

Mr Alberto has a second career as a musician.

It said how “music has played an important role in his vocation as a teacher”, youth leader and man of faith.

“Music is the thing that gives me a lot of confidence,” he said.

“It’s my connection to God, and it’s the place where I find peace. It has the power to help make sense of the world and where I’m at.”

He is shown to have attended a recent World Youth Day (WYD in Lisbon.

Mr Alberto has a second career as a musician under the name Dennis Josue. His biography describes him as a “Salvadoran born singer-songwriter” whose “energy and storytelling captivates the hearts of audiences”.

“Dennis draws from a vast range of styles fusing pop, Latin and funk with his own production flair. His songs are imbued with poetic lyricism, creating catchy tunes which move both body and soul,” his bio states.

Mr Alberto worked at Penola Catholic College in Broadmeadows until March.

“Dennis has performed an extensive number of sold out shows including Latin nights at Copacabana International Melbourne, EP launches at the Paris Cat and with Thomcords at the Evelyn Hotel to name a few. His debut record is due August 2020.”

Last year Mr Alberto led a high school band from Penola Catholic College to victory at the Christian Media and Arts Australia, with the group awarded Australian Artist of the Year – People’s Choice Award.

He was suspended on an interim basis by the Victorian Institute of Teaching in late July.

The group’s mission was to worship God through song.

A spokeswoman for Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools said: “We take all allegations of misconduct extremely seriously as the care, safety, and wellbeing of students is our highest priority.

“Upon being notified of the allegations, Mr Alberto was immediately directed not to attend the school and has not been at the school since March 2024,” the spokeswoman said.

“MACS has clear policies and procedures in place and follows all legislative and reporting requirements including notifying the appropriate authorities, in responding to such matters.”

Mr Alberto was contacted for comment.