Former Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) teacher Troy Ruzicka has been found guilty of professional misconduct by the Saskatchewan Professional Teachers’ Regulatory Board (SPTRB), and won’t be able to teach in Saskatchewan again.
The board held a hearing on Feb. 14 to discuss Ruzicka’s future, and released its decision on Thursday. Ruzicka was not able to attend the hearing in February, as he is currently serving a five-year prison sentence at the Prince Albert penitentiary for crimes he committed while he was teaching at ECS.
He was not represented by legal counsel at the SPTRB hearing.
Ruzicka pleaded guilty last September to two counts of sexual assault, one charge of committing an offence of sexual touching while being in a position of trust or authority, three charges of using telecommunication to communicate with someone under 18 years of age for the purpose of facilitating the commission of an offence with respect to that person, and one charge of accessing child pornography. Several other charges were stayed.
The crimes involved three students.
Ruzicka held a temporary teaching permit, issued annually, since 2012. The purpose of the permit was to allow Ruzicka to teach an auto body course for Grades 10 through 12 at the school.
His permit was terminated by the school division on March 16 of last year, after he had been charged with the crimes.
In its report, the SPTRB noted that Ruzicka was not a registered teacher. But those on temporary teaching permits will carry out the general functions and duties of teachers, be subject to the same standards of conduct as registered teachers, and be subject to the same disciplinary procedures as registered teachers.
“In conclusion, the evidence and disclosure from the three … students supports the allegations that Mr. Ruzicka was engaged in gross misconduct of inappropriate sexual relationships with students,” said the report.
These inappropriate relationships ranged from friending students on a social media platform, and communicating online with them about material that is pornographic in nature, as well as using deception to enter into relationships with students.
“Mr. Ruzicka also had a sexual relationship with a student that included extreme practices and possible violent elements,” the report said.
The SPTRB said evidence from the investigation demonstrates that Ruzicka crossed a significant ethical line regarding the student-teacher relationship. He was in a position of trust and power, and used that position to manipulate relationships that led to acts that jeopardized the safety and security of the children in his care.
“By any measure, Mr. Ruzicka’s conduct is disgraceful and dishonourable,” the report said.
Ruzicka will be prohibited from holding a temporary teaching permit, or any certificate, now or in the future, the SPTRB said.
The discipline committee considered imposing a fine in the amount of $5,000, but they ultimately decided against it.
