A teacher at a Scarborough elementary school is facing 42 charges in connection with a sexual assault investigation prompted by complaints from more than two dozen students.
Christian Kpodjie, 53, faces charges including 16 counts of sexual assault, 12 counts of sexual exploitation, and 14 counts of assault. He turned himself in to police on Wednesday.
At a press conference Thursday morning, Toronto District School Board legal counsel Grant Bowers explained that Kpodjie has taught at a total of five Toronto schools since 2007, including his most recent job teaching French to Grade 4, 5 and 6 students at Inglewood Heights Junior Public School in Scarborough.
“This is the first allegations we’ve received,” Bowers told reporters.
Kpodjie worked at Gateway PS last year. In 2010 he worked at Chester Le Junior PS, and in 2009 at Derrydown PS. In 2008, he worked at Humberwood Downs Junior Middle Academy.
Bowers said the current allegations all stem from Inglewood.
“My understanding at the moment, is that they all involve Inglewood – period,” Bowers said. “Beyond that, we have no knowledge.”
Toronto Police say 30 of Kpodjie’s students came forward, alleging he sexually assaulted them in the school during school hours, CTV Toronto’s Naomi Parness reported.
Parents dropping their kids off at Inglewood Thursday morning expressed shock and concern over the allegations.
“It’s always disturbing, I’m always concerned about my children’s welfare,” one parent told CTV.
A crisis response team was at Inglewood Wednesday and again on Thursday to provide counselling support to students, staff and alleged victims, and “will continue to be there as long as needed,” said David Johnston, the TDSB’s senior manager of professional support services.
Johnston said the board is doing its best to provide help to the community.
“It’s disappointing, but I think if there’s any good news for us it’s that the students are comfortable, they trust us and are willing to come forward knowing that we’re going to accept what they have to say and take it forward.”
A school community meeting regarding the charges and ongoing investigation is scheduled for April 2 at Inglewood Heights.
Letters are also being sent to the four other TDSB schools where the accused has worked.
As a teacher in Ontario, he would have undergone a full criminal background check. However, Bowers said Kpodjie obtained his original teaching qualifications in Ghana.
“Obviously, international records are not as complete as Canadian records, but there are some,” Bowers said, explaining the TDSB typically relies on the Canadian Police Information Centre, operated by the RCMP. Toronto Police also provide full background checks.
In addition, all TDSB employees are required, on an annual basis, to fill out a form in which they declare whether or not they’ve been convicted of a criminal offence, Bowers said.
The accused has been suspended from work with pay.
Speaking on CP24 Thursday, Ontario Education Minister Liz Sandals wouldn’t comment on the case, but said she wants to ensure convicted offenders are properly punished.
“Where there does need to be discipline that the College of Teachers is doing everything it can do in terms of removing the licence,” Sandals said.
