The Discipline Committee suspended the teaching certificate of Armen Shahnazarian for failing to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students by, among other things, using profanity, making demeaning comments to students, and threatening violence toward Student 1.
During the time in question, Shahnazarian was employed as a teacher by the Toronto District School Board.
Shahnazarian, who was certified to teach in June 2011, did not attend the hearing on February 19 and April 28, 2025, and did not have legal representation.
On one occasion, Shahnazarian told Student 1 to shut up, that he would throw Student 1 against a window, that he would smash Student 1’s head against a window, and that he would hit Student 1 so hard that he would fall to the ground and would need help getting up, or words to that effect.
The Discipline Committee panel found Shahnazarian guilty of professional misconduct and ordered that his Certificate of Qualification and Registration be suspended for six months.
He was also directed to receive a reprimand and to complete coursework regarding anger management prior to returning to employment where a Certificate of Qualification and Registration is required.
Additionally, Shahnazarian was ordered to pay $10,000 in costs to the College, in relation to the proceedings, within 30 days of the panel’s penalty decision.
In their written decision on finding, the Discipline Committee panel stated, “When members resort to engaging in threatening and offensive behaviour towards a student, it undermines the public’s trust and confidence in the teaching profession as a whole.”
