A former high-school counsellor has been given a lifetime ban from teaching in British Columbia after he was convicted of possessing child pornography.
A document outlining an agreement between the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation and Joseph Scott William McLeod says they have agreed McLeod will never apply for any provincial K-12 teaching authorization in the future.
The agreement also says authorization will never again be issued to McLeod, who was a counsellor in School District 45 in West Vancouver, B.C., in January 2021 when police searched his home as part of a child porn investigation.
The document says McLeod was charged and pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography, for which he was sentenced to one year in prison and two yearsBԪַ probation.
It says the West Vancouver school district suspended then terminated McLeodBԪַs employment.
The agreement says the Commissioner for Teacher Regulation deemed McLeodBԪַs case BԪַat the serious end of the spectrumBԪַ and that McLeod BԪַundermined the credibility of the teaching professionBԪַ by breaking laws aimed at protecting minors from sexual exploitation.
BԪַMcLeod acknowledges that he has voluntarily entered into this agreement with the benefit of independent legal advice, and that he fully understands the terms and conditions set out in this agreement,BԪַ the document says.
The agreement also says McLeod agrees to not make any statement BԪַwhich contradicts, disputes or calls into questionBԪַ the dealBԪַs terms and the admissions made in the case.