Halton teacher accused of sexually, emotionally abusing student

A high school teacher previously employed by the Halton District School Board (HDSB) is being accused of sexual and emotional abuse towards one student.

According to the Ontario College of Teachers, Darren Jeffrey Mansfield was suspended on May 26, 2021. He now faces possible discipline by the teacher’s college after a formal complaint was referred to its disciplinary committee.

The committee is charged with determining whether or not Mansfield is guilty of professional misconduct.

A discipline committee notice from the Ontario College of Teachers outlines the alleged experiences of five students from 2016-2021. Each case begins with Mansfield allegedly sharing his own or asking for the student’s personal cell phone number or email address. The notice details Mansfield’s alleged sexual relationship with one teenage female student.

CityNews reached out to Halton Regional Police regarding the allegations. They say they have not received a criminal complaint and there is no active investigation into Mansfield.

The accusations in the notice have not been tested in court. CityNews has attempted to reach out to Mansfield for comment regarding the accusations but we have not yet received a response.

The Ontario College of Teachers tells CityNews Mansfield is currently awaiting a disciplinary hearing date.

The HDSB provided the following statement on the allegations levelled against Mansfield in the notice:

• The HDSB is aware of these allegations and the hearing process by the Ontario College of Teachers.
• Mansfield was assigned home as soon as we were made aware of the allegations. A board investigation was lodged, in partnership with Halton Children’s Aid Society and with consultation with the Halton Regional Police child abuse and sexual assault unit, CASA.
• Mr. Mansfield is no longer employed by the HDSB.

Read the full hearing notice here

At this time, a person also with the name of Darren Mansfield could still be found on at least two online tutoring websites. The account on superprof.ca says Mansfield attended the University of Waterloo and majored in math. The biography aligns with Mansfield’s qualifications listed on the Ontario College of Teachers website. It goes on to say that Mansfield has been teaching math in high school for over 15 years. His hourly rate on the tutoring service starts at $40.

On amazingtalker.com, the account bills Mansfield as an “exemplary math and IB teacher.” His biography on the site continues, “whether you are preparing for a final exam or are having difficulty understanding a tricky concept, I’m available to help!!! Enrolling in classes from me will result in more confidence, leading to success on evaluations. I start my classes by showing you how to solve problems, by the end, you will be able to solve the problems yourself!!! I will be asking about your individual needs in order to prepare the best lessons for you in advance.”

If you or someone you know are victims of sexual violence, you can contact Crisis Services Canada, a 24/7 hotline, at 1-833-456-4566 or you can find local support through the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres; The Government of Canada has also compiled a list of sexual misconduct support centres. If you are under 18 and need help, contact the Kid’s Help Phone online or at 1-800-668-6868.