The teacher under investigation was employed by the Rainbow Board at the time of the alleged incidents
A teacher accused of sending sexually inappropriate social media messages to students in 2019 while employed by the Rainbow District School Board will face a disciplinary hearing by the Ontario College of Teachers.
A notice of hearing for Barry David Williams states that he is accused of engaging in acts that are “dishonest or unprofessional” and that he “engaged in conduct unbecoming of a member”.
According to his file on the Ontario College of Teachers website, Williams is currently classified as “inactive/not practicing.” He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Laurentian University in 2004 and a Bachelor of Education from Nipissing University in 2005.
Williams was issued a notice of hearing on May 18, and a hearing date has been set for December 19.
The Rainbow District School Board confirmed that Williams is no longer employed by the board. “We take these matters very seriously,” a board spokesman said.
A spokesman for the Greater Sudbury Police Service said police had not received a complaint about the matter.
Allegations in the notice of hearing state that Williams sent messages on social media to five female students at the school where he taught. The document does not say which school Williams was employed at when the incidents allegedly occurred.
One of the students said Williams sent her a series of messages on social media between July 1 and September 16, 2019.
These messages allegedly included making sexual advances towards the student, admitting that he had a wife but stating that she was “sick” and that “a person has needs”, sending one or more images of himself shirtless, sending one or more images exposing his genitalia and asking the student to send him sexual pictures of herself.
Another student said Williams sent her messages on social media between July 1 and July 6, 2019.
She allegedly told her that he was being investigated by the Children’s Aid Society for child abuse, or words to that effect, stating that he had been drinking and that she should come to his house because his wife and children he’s out of town, or words to that effect, and tells her that she’s beautiful and intelligent, and that he considers her one of his most trusted friends.
A third student said that between July 1, 2019, and September 9, 2019, Williams sent her messages on social media asking her to be his lover, or words to that effect, and suggested that she come to his residence and to drink something.
The Ontario College of Teachers will hold a hearing to “decide whether the allegations are true” and whether Williams “is guilty of professional misconduct.”
Heidi Ulriksen is the Associate Content Editor at Sudbury.com. It also covers education and the arts.
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