Tribunal deputy chairperson Catherine Garvey’s written decision – dated June 12 – said Jarmey was a 37-year-old married mother of young children.
She developed an inappropriate relationship with a pre-teen student at her school in 2022 and continued it after the student moved to a different school.
The physical conduct that resulted in her criminal charge happened in 2023. The tribunal considered wider evidence relating to the inappropriate relationship.
It said Jarmey spent time with the student outside school, including at the teacher’s home, “for no valid educational purpose”.
Her conduct with the girl included giving her gifts, inappropriate communications, disclosing personal information, and encouraging the girl to develop an emotional reliance on her.
The witnessed physical contact that led to criminal charges included wrapping her arms around the student, who was leaning back into her; kissing the girl’s head, neck and face; hugging involving intimate caressing and touching; and having faces pressed close together, the decision said.
Jarmey and the student communicated extensively, including via phone, social media, the game Roblox and in person. They exchanged more than 6600 Facebook messages between March and July 2023.
Their communications included personal photographs, comments such as “I love you” and “love you lots”, and signing off messages with “hugs”, “kisses” and “mama”.
“Ms Jarmey cultivated a personal relationship with a vulnerable student which she quickly escalated, creating emotional dependency and consuming a significant amount of [the student’s] time,” the decision said.
Erin Jarmey at the Rotorua District Court. Photo / Hannah Bartlett
Jarmey was suspended in July 2023 after a complaint by the student’s mother. The matter was referred to police and Oranga Tamariki.
Despite this, Jarmey continued contacting the student and met her several more times.
She signed a Voluntary Undertaking Not To Teach in September 2023.
The Governing Council of the Teaching Council cancelled her registration in November 2024, which the tribunal found justified.
“The conviction for indecent assault alone warrants cancellation,” the decision said.
“Even had that offending not formed part of the referral, the tribunal also considers that cancellation is justified because of the inappropriate relationship that Ms Jarmey cultivated.”
It said the student’s expression of love, referring to Jarmey in maternal terms and jealousy were “deeply troubling”.
“That an experienced teacher fostered this situation and did nothing to seek appropriate support for [the student] is professionally and ethically alarming.”
The tribunal reported Jarmey accepted her inappropriate relationship with the student amounted to serious misconduct, and had an adverse effect on the student.
The Complaints Assessment Committee prosecuted Jarmey’s referral to the tribunal and sought a contribution to its costs from her.
The tribunal ordered Jarmey to pay the committee $5816.65 and the Teaching Council $504.87.
The names of the schools the student attended, and where Jarmey taught, cannot be reported for legal reasons, including to protect the student’s identity.
Bijou Johnson is a multimedia journalist based in Bay of Plenty. A passionate writer and reader, she grew up in Tauranga and developed a love for journalism while exploring various disciplines at university. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies from Massey University.