Former teacher fined $5K after misconduct hearing

A former teacher and principal in Saskatchewan has had her teaching certificate suspended and she must pay a fine after a professional misconduct hearing in Regina.

A discipline committee for the Saskatchewan Professional Teachers Regulatory Board (SPTRB) ruled Martina Cain has her teaching certificate suspended six months and must pay $5,000.

The suspension starts from the date of the decision – April 3, 2017 – and the fine must be paid within 30 days of the decision.

Cain, who retired in June 2016, was a teacher, principal and coach at a La Ronge high school.

One of her former students brought forth complaints of professional misconduct stemming from incidents in the mid-to-late 1980s. The public first became aware in late 2016 when the SPTRB issued a notice saying a hearing would take place.

The complainant accused Cain of being in a hot tub naked with another woman and the student, making the student steal a food tray from an A&W restaurant, sleeping in the same bed as the student and holding basketball practices where she forced players to strip.

Back in February, Cain and five former students testified at a professional misconduct hearing.

The discipline committee found professional misconduct occurred in regards to two of the four charges.

Sleepovers

One of the four allegations was Cain allowed a student to sleep with her in her bed a number of times over a three-year period.

The discipline committee found Cain and the student slept in the same bed at the same time four to six times.

It was determined Cain rented a sparsely furnished basement suite which contained such items like one bed, a lamp, dining room table and chairs and a living room chair. There was also an unfurnished spare bedroom.

The committee deemed there was no malicious intent when Cain and the student slept in the same bed, however, the conduct was harmful to the best interests of the student.

Strip basketball

The student also alleged Cain had her and other students on the girls’ basketball team practice shooting hoops by playing strip basketball. The student alleged Cain told players to remove a piece of clothing if they missed a hoop.

The committee could not say for certain that Cain was present on the one occasion when the drill went beyond the removal of socks and shoes, however, it said Cain was responsible for introducing a drill where clothing was removed.

The committee determined Cain was responsible for what occurred during basketball practices as the coach and teacher saying, “Ms. Cain failed to adequately supervise the students and failed to restrict the rules of the drill.”

The committee goes on to state as a result of her action, the drill was allowed to progress to where it did on the one occasion causing humiliation and/or embarrassment to the students.

It was determined Cain’s conduct was harmful to the best interests of the students involved.