Teacher struck off register


A New Zealand teacher who was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for sexually abusing one of her students has been struck off the teachers' register.

Stacey Reriti, 31, was sentenced late last month to more than 10 years in prison after she was found guilty of seven sexual assault charges over her three-year relationship with the schoolboy while he was a student at her school.

The boy was 10-years-old when the offending began.

Andrew Greig, Education Council conduct manager, told NZ City the decision to remove Reriti from the teachers’ register served as an assurance to parents that such offenders would not be allowed near children.

“Parents need assurance people like Reriti will never again be near children in an education setting. Reriti grossly abused the unique position of trust teachers are in. It is entirely inappropriate for her to be a teacher ever again,” he said.

To remove a teacher from the register, a particular legal process must be followed, however this was fast-tracked in Reriti's case, said Greig.

“While she hasn't been in a classroom for a long time, this sends a signal the council will take steps to expedite the process of removing such teachers from the register,” he said.

In September, two UK teachers were struck off the teaching register for sleeping with one another on school grounds.

The Education Workforce Council (EWC) ruled that the pair’s reckless and selfish behaviour had damaged the reputation of the teaching profession and their former school.

In October, a Queensland teacher was banned from re-applying for his teacher registration for five years after he was found to be grooming children for abuse while he was a deputy principal.

A Department of Education and Training spokesman told The Educator that depending on which state or territory a teacher is based, the rules around how they are removed from the teaching register may differ.

“Responsibility for the day-to-day management of Australian schools, including teacher registration, employment and teacher performance management rests with state and territory education authorities,” he said.