Two Queensland teachers banned for preying on students

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Two teachers, including a woman whose behaviour was slammed as “abhorrent”, have been banned from Queensland schools for having sex with students, with back-to-back decisions published on Friday.

The two cases were decided within a week of each other, with both teachers found to have formed inappropriate sexual relationships with current or former students.

The female teacher, known only as KLR in Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal documents to protect the privacy of her victims, was found to have had inappropriate relationships with four young students, aged between 13 and 18.

The teachers were accused of having sexual relations with Queensland high school students.

“Her behaviour was abhorrent,” the tribunal found.

The oldest of those students, “RS”, stayed overnight at KLR’s house. During a visit to a colleague’s house, where KLR was housesitting, CCTV footage was deleted without the homeowner’s permission.

“Between August 2021 and August 2022, KLR had an inappropriate, intimate and/or romantic relationship with RS, and was described by RS as his girlfriend,” QCAT found.

“KLR gave RS a birthday card for his 18th birthday, and received money and gifts from him. They communicated in an intimate and personal manner via Snapchat, lived together, and engaged in intimate and/or sexual communication and conduct.”

Between December 2021 and May 2022, RS transferred a total of $7450 into KLR’s bank account.

“KLR engaged in repeated, intentional inappropriate behaviour towards four young boys at two separate teaching institutions over a period of approximately four years, including after she was suspended from the teaching profession,” QCAT found.

“KLR’s behaviour was unprofessional and harmful.

“All boys were vulnerable due to their ages and KLR was aware that some of the students were using drugs, were experiencing turmoil at home, and/or were diagnosed with medical conditions such as ADHD and ASD. The second institution where she taught catered for the educational needs of children who did not ‘fit in’ at regular school.”

Another teacher, a male referred to as “YRA”, received a lesser ban in action brought to QCAT by the Queensland College of Teachers.

YRA was found to have had sexual intercourse with a former student at a resort two weeks after her graduation from year 12 in 2019.

That came after YRA, then 31, kissed the student on several occasions during the third term of that year and the pair met up at Schoolies, where he “engaged in sexualised physical contact”.

“The evidence before us is that the student initiated the kiss ... However, YRA did not take sufficient steps to maintain appropriate boundaries and by meeting up with the student during school holidays ... YRA demonstrated a willingness to engage in inappropriate conduct with the student,” QCAT found.

The following year, YRA allowed her to move into his home, sharing a bed during that period.

QCAT found YRA should be prohibited from reapplying for his teachers’ registration until November 30 next year – seven years from the time the Department of Education suspended his employment.

The Queensland College of Teachers sought $7758 in costs from YRA, which QCAT ultimately denied.

“YRA made admissions at an early time in these proceedings, accepted ‘full responsibility’, undertook psychological therapy including to better navigate professional boundaries, provided a written apology to the former student offering to pay for psychological support the former student may require and apologised to YRA’s colleagues,” the tribunal said in its decision.

“YRA’s admissions avoided the College incurring additional costs of an oral final hearing.”