Woodside Primary principal Daniel Phelps among nine educators suspended from job since July

Nine Victorian educators have been slapped with interim suspensions by the state’s regulator in only a matter of weeks, including a primary school principal.

A teacher from Methodist Ladies College in Kew is facing disciplinary action from state regulators. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Wayne Taylor

The principal at Woodside Primary and a teacher from Methodist Ladies’ College are among nine educators facing disciplinary action from state regulators since the start of July.

Daniel Phelps, who has been the Woodside Primary principal in South Gippsland for the past four years, is facing charges in the Magistrates’ Court.

A veteran educator, he has been teaching for more than 20 years.

In recent media appearances, Mr Phelps praised the resourcefulness of students during lockdown and called country bank closures a “pain in the neck”.

Daniel Phelps principal of Woodside Primary School Picture: Supplied

He was placed on interim suspension by the Victorian Institute of Teaching on August 14.

Another teacher, Elie Cung, was suspended on an interim basis on August 15. Mr Cung is a well-known music teacher and has worked at Point Cook College.

A spokesman for the Department of Education said in relation to the suspension of Mr Phelps and Mr Cung: “As these matters are under investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment”.

A third teacher, Jack Anthony Freeman, was also suspended on August 15.

According to the VIT, an interim suspension is ordered when the teacher is deemed to pose an unacceptable risk of harm to children or in order to protect children.

Other suspensions in July include Michael Duke, who has recently been teaching at Methodist Ladies’ College.

Former Victorian school teacher and bodybuiler Ryan Geier was disqualified from teaching for five years after facing criminal charges. Picture: Instagram

The former Eaglehawk Secondary College teacher last month plead guilty to careless driving and a charge of assault with a weapon. Picture: Instagram

Mr Duke is now on LinkedIn as a casual relief teacher in physical education, science and wellbeing.

He has an applied science and education degree from Deakin University.

The school declined to comment.

Other teachers who have been suspended on an interim basis in July include Despina Angelidis, Nicholas Crowe, Vanessa Crowhurst and Christina Morrison

In addition, in July Ryan Geier, a Bendigo body builder and former Eaglehawk Secondary College teacher, was disqualified from teaching for five years after facing criminal charges.

In the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court last month he entered pleas of guilty to careless driving and a charge of assault with a weapon, following an incident inside his car and at his home in August 2021.

In other updates on the roster of disciplinary action, the interim suspension of Danielle Baillie and Gillan Delaney were both revoked.