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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Division welcomes back popular teacher, coach

Crown stays educator's sexual-exploitation charge

By: Nick Martin

Posted: 11/13/2012 1:00 AM

PEMBINA Trails School Division is ready to welcome back teacher Regan Moses with open arms.

Manitoba justice officials have dropped their case against the popular teacher and coach at Fort Richmond Collegiate, who has been on paid leave since being accused early this year of having a sexual relationship with a former student.

Moses, 36, was arrested earlier this year and charged with sexual exploitation. She had remained free on bail pending the outcome of her case.

"We're working towards welcoming her back with open arms," superintendent Lawrence Lussier said Monday.

"That's not really determined yet where she will return to school," Lussier said. If Moses returns to high school, the logical time for a full-time return would be the start of the second semester in February, he said.

"She works for us and we will find a place for her," Lussier said.

Attempts to contact Moses through email and her lawyer were not successful Monday.

Moses has been extremely active in social justice projects at Fort Richmond Collegiate.

Lussier said the division has always taken the position that the charges against Moses were allegations that were unproven in court.

"She's on long-term disability; she's used up her sick leave," Lussier said. "We're still working out where she will work -- that's between her, her health-care provider, and the employer."

Lussier said he could not discuss further details because of privacy issues. He would not say if Moses's job had been filled by a contract employee during her time on leave.

Her lawyer, Josh Weinstein, had earlier told the Free Press the Crown entered a stay of proceedings last week. No further explanation was provided to the court, although Weinstein said he doesn't believe there was ever a case against his client.

"She was adamant there was absolutely no sexual relationship with this student, either during his time as a student or after the fact," Weinstein said last week.

The alleged offence covered a period from 2006 to 2008 with someone no longer attending the school, officials said at the time. The division sent home a letter to students and parents informing them of the allegations against Moses, a social studies teacher and coach who has taught at Fort Richmond Collegiate since 1999.

Moses was placed on leave with pay after her arrest, which came following a year-long police investigation. Her conditions included having no contact with children under the age of 18.

Weinstein said his client wants to return to teaching as quickly as possible but has suffered greatly as a result of the unproven allegations and surrounding publicity.

"This has had a very serious effect on her," he said.

-- with files from Mike McIntyre

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 13, 2012 A3