FEBRUARY 2022

Teacher helping a student in the classroom.

Shortage of teachers growing, College survey shows

The College's 2021 Transition to Teaching survey shows that Ontario's teacher shortage is growing to a situation not seen in 15 years. French and English school boards face significant recruitment challenges ahead.

Temporary certificate expanded to address Ontario's continuing teacher shortage

The Government of Ontario has created new regulations that expand temporary certificates. The changes increase the number of teacher candidates who are eligible to apply for a temporary certificate.

New Council, committee, and roster members

Meet the professionals who have been appointed to our governing Council, adjudicative rosters and the following committees:

Accreditation
Accreditation Appeal
Discipline
Fitness to Practise
Investigation
Registration Appeals
Standards of Practice and Education

Their terms of office began on January 1, 2022. Authority under the Act was transferred from the Transition Supervisory Officer to Council and Committees on February 1, 2022, the day they formally began their work.

Mandatory sexual abuse prevention program, now available

The mandatory sexual abuse prevention program for Ontario Certified Teachers and applicants is now available. The program takes approximately three hours to complete, and it can be taken all at once or over multiple sessions.

College members can access the program by logging into the Members area.

Applicants to the College: read more to see if you are required to complete the program to be eligible for certification.

For more information about the program, please visit the FAQ page.

Learn More

A photo of signage for the Ontario College of Teachers.

2022 membership fee: deadline extension

If your membership fee isn't deducted through payroll, please pay the membership fee directly to the College. You can pay with credit or debit through your bank, via E-Services on the OCT membership app or oct.ca, or by cheque. The deadline has been extended to Monday April 25, 2022.

Our office at 101 Bloor Street West in Toronto is closed, but we are open for business online.

Pay your 2022 Membership Fee

Screenshot of the Margaret Wilson Library website.

Check out our library's expanded selection of publications!

The Margaret Wilson Library provides access to thousands of full-text articles and publications such as Education Week through its online research databases.

Refer to the Accessing EBSCO Articles guide for easy, step-by-step navigation or get in touch with the team via library@oct.ca or 679 for research support.

Learn More

Discipline Committee panels conduct public hearings into allegations of professional misconduct or incompetence. Full panel decisions are posted to the member's public register profile.

Laurie Nicole Burke, #590158
Suspension, reprimand, conditions – A Discipline Committee panel suspended the teaching certificate of Laurie Nicole Burke for repeatedly engaging in inappropriate communications with students on the board's social media platform. Read more.

Edward Willoughby Culp, #112064
Suspension, reprimand, conditions – A Discipline Committee panel suspended the certificate of Edward Willoughby Culp for repeatedly failing to adequately supervise students and making inappropriate comments at school, despite prior warnings from his school board. Read more.

Elisabetta Teresa De Santis, #429783
Suspension, reprimand, conditions – A Discipline Committee panel suspended the certificate of Elisabetta Teresa De Santis for repeatedly demonstrating poor self-control and a lack of commitment to the best interests of students. Read more.

Grant Gerhard Gedies, #438873
Suspension, reprimand, conditions – A Discipline Committee panel suspended the teaching certificate of Grant Gerhard Gedies for making several inappropriate comments to his students, in spite of previous disciplinary measures imposed by his employer and the College. Read more.

Shawn David Alan James, #594443
Conditions – A Discipline Committee panel found Shawn David Alan James to be incompetent. Read more.

Jean-Aime Lalonde, #390485
Suspension, reprimand, conditions – A Discipline Committee panel suspended the teaching certificate of Jean-Aime Lalonde for engaging in inappropriate interactions with students, despite warnings from the College and his board. Read more.

Cindy Ruth Warland, #446389
Suspension, reprimand, conditions – A Discipline Committee panel suspended the teaching certificate of Cindy Ruth Warland for engaging in a pattern of boundary violations with a number of students. Read more.