A teacher convicted of claiming a benefit despite having a job has escaped being deregistered.
Jocelyn Nawa Gillespie, of Ruatoki was sentenced to 100 hours' community work in April 2012 for falsely claiming $13,065 in benefits. She had pleaded guilty to wilfully omitting to tell Work and Income of her job, and two charges of making a false statement while receiving the domestic purposes benefit.
In a letter to the Teachers Council disciplinary tribunal, Gillespie pleaded to be allowed to carry on teaching as she had loved her career for 15 years. "I am aware of the terrible mistake I made and lapse in my good judgment. I make no excuses for my actions but at the same time would like you to be fully aware of the circumstances surrounding that particular difficult time in my life."
She referred to struggling to cope financially and emotionally after her marriage failed and she was raising two children. "I am ashamed of my actions and can say to you with certainty that nothing like this will ever happen again."
The tribunal, chaired by Kenneth Johnston, accepted Gillespie had acted out of desperation not greed. It was no excuse but helped explain her actions. In its September 23 decision, the tribunal censured her and said that for three years she must tell any prospective employer of her convictions. Gillespie declined to comment.
