Tribunal deputy chairperson Catherine Garvey\u2019s written decision \u2013 dated June 12 \u2013 said Jarmey was a 37-year-old married mother of young children. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
The physical conduct that resulted in her criminal charge happened in 2023. The tribunal considered wider evidence relating to the inappropriate relationship.<\/p>\n
It said Jarmey spent time with the student outside school, including at the teacher\u2019s home, \u201cfor no valid educational purpose\u201d.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s head, neck and face; hugging involving intimate caressing and touching; and having faces pressed close together, the decision said. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Their communications included personal photographs, comments such as \u201cI love you\u201d and \u201clove you lots\u201d, and signing off messages with \u201chugs\u201d, \u201ckisses\u201d and \u201cmama\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs Jarmey cultivated a personal relationship with a vulnerable student which she quickly escalated, creating emotional dependency and consuming a significant amount of [the student\u2019s] time,\u201d the decision said.<\/p>\n
Erin Jarmey at the Rotorua District Court. Photo \/ Hannah Bartlett<\/p>\n
Jarmey was suspended in July 2023 after a complaint by the student\u2019s mother. The matter was referred to police and Oranga Tamariki. <\/p>\n
Despite this, Jarmey continued contacting the student and met her several more times.<\/p>\n
She signed a Voluntary Undertaking Not To Teach in September 2023.<\/p>\n
The Governing Council of the Teaching Council cancelled her registration in November 2024, which the tribunal found justified.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe conviction for indecent assault alone warrants cancellation,\u201d the decision said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
It said the student\u2019s expression of love, referring to Jarmey in maternal terms and jealousy were \u201cdeeply troubling\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat an experienced teacher fostered this situation and did nothing to seek appropriate support for [the student] is professionally and ethically alarming.\u201d<\/p>\n
The tribunal reported Jarmey accepted her inappropriate relationship with the student amounted to serious misconduct, and had an adverse effect on the student.<\/p>\n
The Complaints Assessment Committee prosecuted Jarmey\u2019s referral to the tribunal and sought a contribution to its costs from her.<\/p>\n
The tribunal ordered Jarmey to pay the committee $5816.65 and the Teaching Council $504.87.<\/p>\n
The names of the schools the student attended, and where Jarmey taught, cannot be reported for legal reasons, including to protect the student\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n