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He acknowledged making an inappropriate quip about a female student’s breasts after staff became aware of a “sexting” picture of the student being shared. Plouffe referred to another student, who had shaved her head for cancer, as a lesbian — after she said others believed she looked like a lesbian, Plouffe said.

Plouffe also made ill-considered remarks about the body sizes of two students, which conduct committee chairwoman Lori Arkse called “body shaming.”

The incidents took place between 2012 and 2017. Plouffe has been teaching for 35 years.

Although he acknowledged making the comments, and said he’s since attended a helpful course about creating an inclusive school environment, Plouffe said there were “political issues” at his school that may have led to the unprofessional conduct charges.

In an email Monday, Elk Island Public Schools spokeswoman Laura McNabb said a student’s parent brought the complaint to the teachers’ association. The school district wouldn’t comment further on the issue, she said.

Teachers’ association presenting officer Ian Stewardson said teachers need to be aware the statements they make in public, and in the staff room, can have an effect on students. Using a racial slur in class is “tone deaf” to current values, Stewardson said.

He proposed a total fine of $2,700 for the transgressions in hopes of deterring other teachers from making similar missteps, and maintaining the public’s confidence in the profession.

Plouffe declined an interview after the hearing, but said he is still teaching at Bev Facey.

“There’s no doubt I’ve learned from this,” he told the committee. “I’m a better teacher as a result of this.”

jfrench@postmedia.com

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