Minister orders review after Hampton SHS employs teacher previously suspended over ‘feelings’ for student

Education Minister Tony Buti has ordered an urgent review of employment processes after revelations that a former private school teacher, previously suspended for serious misconduct, has been working at a public school all year. In 2022, the State Administrative Tribunal suspended former Iona Presentation College teacher Thomas James Winter Norman for eight months. It found he had engaged in “serious professional misconduct” after he exchanged inappropriate emails with a female student he taught from Years 9 to 12, and later declared his romantic feelings for her via Snapchat. Mr Norman has been teaching media studies at Hampton Senior High School in Morley for at least a year. A parent whose children attend the school said he would be concerned if his daughter was being taught by a male teacher who had been disciplined for crossing professional boundaries with a female student. After The West revealed parents’ fears, an Education Department spokeswoman on Friday said Mr Norman would not return to the classroom next year. “But (he) will be taking up another position within the department that doesn’t have student contact,” she said. Dr Buti said the matter was “clearly concerning”. “I acknowledge parents and other members of the Hampton SHS community will have questions about what has occurred,” he said. “Employment processes at State schools must meet community standards and expectations. “I have asked the Department of Education and the Teacher Registration Board to undertake an immediate review of their employment and registration processes as a matter of urgency.” Education Department director-general Jay Peckitt said the SAT had considered the teacher’s conduct and deemed him suitable for employment from October, 2022. “The Department of Education can confirm it has not received any new complaints regarding this individual’s conduct,” he said. “Employment matters are confidential, so the department is unable to share any more information related to the appointment of this teacher.” The tribunal’s ruling found Mr Norman had “fostered the existence of a friendship” with the female student by sometimes including “personalised comments” in his replies to her emails on educational matters. According to an agreed statement of facts, in late 2017, after the student had left the school, he gave her a card that contained comments including “I consider you to be one of the more important people I’ve had the pleasure of having in my life” and “I’ll just miss you being around. “For reasons that I have often found personally quite confusing and difficult to explain, for at least two to three years, our interactions, be they in class, in meetings. . . in hallways or homeroom, and of course, via email, have more often than not been the highlight of my day.” Mr Norman also sent messages over Snapchat with words to the effect of “no boy will ever be good enough for you” and another that declared his romantic feelings for her. He also asked the teenager to go for a walk with him, an offer that was declined. The tribunal found Mr Norman was “immediately remorseful” for his behaviour, ceased contact with the student and sought professional counselling so that he would not offend again. It also agreed a psychiatric report showed Mr Norman was a “very low risk” of reoffending, had an otherwise “unblemished” teaching record and produced references from other educators which showed he was a “highly-regarded and talented teacher”. The tribunal found the punishment was appropriate given his remorse, insight into his conduct, low risk of reoffending, and that he had “special skills” which made him “desirable to make available in the interest of students”.