Third investigation into teacher’s conduct
The Langley Times - November 03 2006
By Natasha Jones
Times Reporter

A Langley teacher at the centre of allegations of abuse is facing a third investigation.

The B.C. College of Teachers confirmed on Wednesday that it is conducting its own probe of Mary Ann Coren, 53.

The probe, said BCCT spokesman Mykle Ludvigsen, is based on reports from Langley RCMP. In early October, police charged Coren with four counts of assault alleged to have involved four students.

BCCT’s investigation is separate from the RCMP’s, Ludvigsen said.

“The college will look at someone’s ability of being a fit and proper person to be in the classroom,” he said.

“Our main focus is the protection of children.”

Ludvigsen said that Coren will be invited to speak to the college, “but we don’t have the ability to compel her to do that,” he said.

There’s no way to gauge how long the investigation will take, Ludvigsen said, adding that “sometimes they can drag on for over a year.”

Coren was removed from the classroom at Simonds Elementary only days before the end of the last school year. She had been at Simonds for one year and was collecting a salary of more than $70,000.

The school district’s own investigation is continuing, spokesman Craig Spence said.

Coren is scheduled to make a second appearance in provincial court in Surrey on Nov.6.