Recent headlines have shaken parents and educators across the country. A Peel District School Board teacher in Mississauga has been charged with four counts of assault and four counts of forcible confinement involving elementary students during the 2024–2025 school year. According to Peel Regional Police, the teacher allegedly confined four students in a room and physically prevented them from leaving.

These disturbing allegations remind us why safeguarding children must never be an afterthought in our education system.

At Plan to Protect®, we work with thousands of organizations across Canada to raise the bar on abuse prevention. Every case of misconduct reminds us that protecting children requires more than good intentions—it requires consistent education, clear policies, and a culture of accountability.

A Word from Dr. Melodie Bissell

In response to this recent case, our Chair and Sr. Safeguarding Consultant, Dr. Melodie Bissell, shared these reflections:

“As schools break for the summer, we know that the majority of teachers are wonderful, caring and inspiring leaders in their classrooms. However, too often we read stories like this in the news of an educator who has put children at risk and has caused physical and emotional harm. We need good teachers and parents to stand in the gap for students.

The best approach to raising the bar on safety in our schools is education. Teachers, Administrators and Parents need to become lifelong learners in spotting and addressing child abuse. It is not enough to take training during your university years, or when you first begin to teach. Safeguarding training must be reviewed on an annual basis, applying the knowledge of awareness, prevention and reporting and responding to child abuse against real-life case studies that are surfacing in the news.

It takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to stand up and give voice to children that are confined and silenced.”

What Needs to Change?

When a child is harmed by someone in a position of authority, the effects are not only personal—they’re communal. Trust is broken, trauma is created, and systems are called into question.

This is why we advocate for the following changes in all school environments:

• Mandatory annual safeguarding training for teachers, administrators, and support staff
• Real-life case studies in training programs to ensure practical application of skills
• Robust reporting mechanisms for students, staff, and families
• Regular review and strengthening of child protection policies

A culture where children are seen, heard, and safe

From Headlines to Action

We hope this story compels education leaders across the country to re-evaluate their commitment to child protection. Safeguarding isn’t a box to check—it’s a culture to cultivate. We owe it to every student walking into a classroom to make that space safe, supportive, and worthy of their trust.

If you are an educator, school board member, or parent, now is the time to act. Let's not wait for another headline. Let's make safeguarding a daily practice—not just a yearly policy. During the summer, when you have a few minutes of quiet to put up your feet and rest, we encourage you to read Andrea Clemens book, Invisible Target available on Amazon.

Interested in learning how Plan to Protect® can help your school or organization raise the standard of protection?Explore our training programs, policy development services, and customized safeguarding solutions at www.plantoprotect.com or contact us at info@plantoprotect.com.