School recovering from arrest of popular female teacher accused of sex with student

The front doors of Joseph Howe Senior Public School were locked Wednesday, as the school recovered from the arrest of one of its most popular teachers on sex charges.

Mary Gowans, 40, allegedly was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a former student, which Global News has learned is a 15-year-old boy. The boy came forward to police and reported an ongoing sexual relationship that started in June, 2009.

The Scarborough school serves children in Grades 7 and 8; Ms. Gowans taught French and physical education, and coached many school teams, including baseball. She has been charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation.

Ms. Gowans has been suspended from work with pay, Grant Bowers, counsel for the Toronto District School Board, said Wednesday.

“We know enough that there is a potential risk to students,” he said. “Any employee who is charged criminally is kept away from students.”

If Ms. Gowans is convicted of the charges, she will be dismissed, said Mr. Bowers. If she is acquitted, the school board will conduct an investigation into the matter to determine their course of action.

Students at Joseph Howe were given a statement to take home to their parents on Tuesday. In it, principal David Milgram wrote “While it is important to remember that laying criminal charges does not constitute guilt, and that a person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, we also cannot and do not take these allegations lightly.”

A school source said the school's doors had been locked in a bid to keep reporters out of the school.

A supply teacher has been hired to take over Ms. Gowan's classes, and supports are in place for the students if it is needed, said Radmila Malobabic, spokeswoman for the TDSB.

Ms. Gowans has been released and police are investigating. “It's unclear why people do what they do,” said Toronto Police spokesman Const. Tony Vella. “I don't want to speculate behind the reasoning behind it, but there's evidence to support these charges.”

Ms. Gowans is scheduled to appear in court on March 1 at 10 a.m.