Bradford parents concerned over teacher under investigation by college

Parents of students attending Bradford District High School (BDHS) are fuming after learning that a teacher under investigation by the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) is back teaching at the school.

Nathaniel Roger Todd Fisher is waiting for a hearing date after an investigation from the OCT's discipline committee for allegedly engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a student a few years ago.  

The notice of hearing with the OCT did not take place until July 2018.

Fisher was off during the 2018-19 school year.

It is alleged that Fisher exchanged lengthy emails of a personal nature online and that he sent handwritten notes and Google documents to the student. 

It is alleged that he gave the student a gift and loaned the pupil money, while also speaking about personal issues related to his wife and children. 

Fisher is also alleged to have suggested that he and the student meet outside of school. 

School administrators advised Fisher to cease communication with the student, but he continued to communicate with the student via electronic means, according to OCT documents. 

Some of the comments allegedly made to the student included these exchanges referenced in the OCT document. 

“If you want to talk to me, I want to talk to you," the document says. "But it doesn’t make sense until after the OCT finishes their own investigation...Try not to feel bad about this...I’m not worried about it. You can’t control your dad. You trusted him to be a good person. I knew what I was risking. I did it anyways.

“I miss talking to you, so very much...If I didn’t care about you as much as I do, I’d have given up. I needed to know because if you just wanted my friendship, I’d have to coach myself toward that...In the next month or so, I’ll send a link to a larger file on us and how/when we can talk again, I miss you..”

There was a list of other messages of a similar nature noted in the OCT’s disciplinary document.

Currently, the investigation is awaiting a hearing and no charges have been laid. 

Sarah Kekewich, communications officer for the Simcoe County District School Board, said the board was made aware of the situation and conducted an investigation, but, for now, he remains in good standing with the OCT. 

“There’s only so much I can say,” she added. 

When asked why the investigation and hearing has taken this long to commence, Olivia Yu, senior communications officer with OCT, said it can be a lengthy process.

“Speaking generally, there are a number of reasons why it takes time to schedule a hearing, including the nature of the case and the number of witnesses. Other factors, such as the availability of defense counsel and witnesses can determine when a hearing is scheduled," she said "Also, if there is a parallel criminal investigation, the college will typically wait until the criminal investigation is settled."

A former student who graduated in 2016, and prefers to remain anonymous, says Fisher taught her computer science in 2013. 

“He tries to connect with the student's interests, fair in marking, lenient when it comes to students not handing in work on time,” she said. 

“He was one of my preferred teachers that year.”

Bradford mother Manav Karwal has a student attending BDHS this year and says she's concerned about the lack of transparency related to the investigation from the school. 

“I am very concerned especially after reading all the details in the complaint,” she said after reading the OCT’s disciplinary document online, after a Bradford resident posted it on a local Facebook group. 

“There are so many things he said that are not acceptable, and plus how is he still teaching at the school if the case is still pending investigation?” 

But Yu says the college does not take disciplinary action against a teacher unless they are found guilty of professional misconduct. 

“The college’s hearing process is quasi-judicial. A fair and impartial hearing must take place first to determine if professional conduct has occurred. Please note that the college does not take disciplinary action against a member unless the discipline committee finds a member guilty of professional misconduct,” she said. 

BDHS principal Peter Stone confirmed Fisher was away for a year, recently returned and is still working at the school. 

“That’s kind of information I prefer you get from HR. I don’t want to start talking about that,” he said when asked if he could comment about the reason for the one-year leave.

Daryl Halliday, the board's superintendent of education, reiterated that "authorities were involved in the process. At this time the teacher remains in good standing with a hearing pending."

BradfordToday reached out to Fisher for comment, but did not get a response.