An official with the Toronto District School Board says about 30 students at Inglewood Heights Junior Public School came forward to complain about a teacher who has been charged with more than 40 sex-related offences.
The charges all relate to incidents that allegedly took place between September 2012 and March, according to police.
“We feel the pain of the community as well as students and staff,” Senior Manager of Professional Support Services David Johnston told reporters Thursday morning. “It’s disappointing but if there is any good news for us it is that the students trust us and are willing to come forward knowing that we are going to accept what they have to say and take it forward.”
Johnston told reporters that the school immediately informed police after first learning of the allegations against the suspect, but declined to say when those allegations first surfaced.
The suspect, who is currently suspended with pay, has been a Grades 4-6 French teacher at Inglewood Heights Junior Public School since September.
Johnston said he couldn’t say whether all of the complainants were the teacher’s students.
The victims were both male and female students, according to Toronto police Const. Tony Vella.
Suspect taught at four other TDSB schools
After receiving his training in Ghana, the suspect previously taught at Humberwood Downs Junior Middle Academy between 2008 and 2009, Derrydown Public School between 2009 and 2010, Chester Le Junior Public School between 2010 and 2011, and Gateway Public School between 2011 and 2012.
A letter will be sent to parents and staff at those schools informing them of the charges, Johnston said.
The TDSB has also planned a special meeting for parents on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Inglewood Heights Junior Public School gymnasium. Police will be on hand at that meeting to answer questions about the allegations.
A Toronto District School Board crisis support team is also on hand at the school to speak with students and staff and will remain there as long as it is needed.
One-on-one counseling service is also being offered to any member of the school community that requests it.
“In cases like this, children can be very emotionally upset and very shocked. Often of course they are very naive as well about the subject, so for those reasons we provide one-on-one social work assistance for any child that is upset by this event,” Grant Bowers, legal council for the TDSB, told reporters Thursday. “We also have to think about the staff in the school for whom this is a colleague, as they need support as well.”
Police say a 53-year-old suspect identified as Christian Kpodjie surrendered to police on Wednesday. He has been charged with 16 counts of sexual assault, 12 counts of sexual exploitation and 14 counts of assault.
Remember for instant breaking news follow @cp24 on Twitter.
