Drug-deal pre-school teachers struck off

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A "one-off" drug deal at a Wanaka preschool has resulted in two teachers having their registrations torn up.

Wanaka early childhood teachers Catherine Ngaire Williamson and Gemma Ward were deregistered by the New Zealand Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal and censured for serious misconduct after Ecstasy changed hands at Oanaka EduCare in the resort town.

In November last year, Ms Williamson took to the preschool three Ecstasy tablets, which were bought by Ms Ward.

Oanaka EduCare owner Sandie Dodds said she felt the right decision was made.

"I don't think there's any room for any teacher to have drugs at an early childhood centre," she said.

She was pleased the tribunal had quashed suggestions of bullying at the centre.

Tribunal chairman Kenneth Johnston said, in the written decision released yesterday, that the tribunal accepted "bullying is a red herring in this case".

"The simple fact of the matter is that this teacher has made a conscious decision to sell a Class B drug to a colleague at the preschool.

"Dealing in drugs is something which is universally prohibited for students in schools ... The public and the profession are entitled to expect that the same rule should apply to teachers whose responsibilities include enforcing such rules."

Ms Williamson had told the complaints assessment committee of the New Zealand Teachers Council that she would "frequently find myself crying at the end of the day" because of the bullying she alleged she suffered at the hands of a superior.

She was befriended by Ms Ward and asked to supply her with drugs, she told the committee.

"Given Gemma's kindness and her support in the workplace, I felt I needed to repay her," she said.

"This was the motivation behind this supply, although I accept it was a very serious error of judgment on my part."