Major review planned after teacher suspended over ‘serious misconduct’ with student able to secure new school job

A major review of one Aussie state’s education department has been ordered immediately over revelations a teacher who was suspended for engaging in “serious misconduct” was able to get another job at a different school. Western Australia’s State Administrative Tribunal suspended Thomas James Winter Norman for eight months in 2022 after he declared romantic feelings for a student and sent her emails and messages on social media that crossed professional boundaries. But Mr Norman has since been working at Hampton Senior High School in Perth’s east for at least a year, The West Australian reports. The teacher was previously employed at Iona Presentation College in Perth when he taught the female student between 2014 and 2017. The tribunal found when classes stopped in 2017, Mr Norman gave the student a card in which he stated she had been one of the more important people he had the pleasure of having in his life. He made comments such as “I’ll just miss you being around” and told her he found their interactions had been “quite personally confusing and difficult to explain” for a few years. The teacher told the girl their emails had been the highlight of his day, and he invited her to go for a walk which she declined. He also sent the student and her friend a message via social media declaring “romantic feelings” for the girl. The tribunal found Mr Norman was relatively young and inexperienced at the time and was immediately remorseful for his behaviour, suspending him from teaching for eight months. He had also sought counselling and resigned from his position in 2021 after the student made a complaint. The tribunal found expert evidence established the teacher had a “very low risk” of reoffending and other than the student’s complaint he had an unblemished record as a teacher. Education Minister Tony Buti said this matter was concerning, and he acknowledged parents and members of the Hampton Senior High School community would have questions about what has occurred. “Employment processes at State schools must meet community standards and expectations,” he said. “I have asked the Department of Education and the Teachers Registration Board to undertake an immediate review of their employment and registration processes as a matter of urgency.” The Department of Education has been contacted for comment.