Teacher who sold cocaine is given classroom ban

Stephanie Szymanska, 36, taught at Colchester Sixth Form College

A teacher who dealt cocaine in the city where she taught has been banned from the classroom.

Stephanie Szymanska, 36, was caught when Essex Police investigated the rise of drug-fuelled violence in Colchester.

She resigned from her role at Colchester Sixth Form College and later admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel banned Ms Szymanska from the profession for at least three years.

Essex Police deployed undercover officers to purchase drugs from targeted individuals as part of Operation Monaco in June 2021.

It came after concerns that the supply of cocaine was rife within Colchester and violence was increasing as a result.

The panel said that not dismissing Ms Szymanska would affect parents' confidence in the teaching profession.

Ms Szymanska was a teacher at the sixth form college when she was caught dealing cocaine on 18 June 2021.

She was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years, at Ipswich Crown Court in May 2022.

'Catastrophic'

The details of the TRA hearing, held in April, were published earlier.

A report said letting Ms Szymanska continue teaching would "set a bad example to students".

It added that parents' confidence in the teaching profession would be diminished if she was not dismissed.

In evidence given to the panel, Ms Szymanska said her conviction had "sent shockwaves throughout her family".

The report detailed how she was "very proud of and successful in" her teaching career and to lose it was "catastrophic".

Decision maker Sarah Buxcey said Ms Szymanska could not apply to teach again until at least three years had passed.

A spokesman for Colchester Sixth Form College said she had only worked there for a term.

"We were only made aware of any concern when the person involved was arrested," he said.

"At that point all teaching ceased and the person resigned with immediate effect.

"The college has the highest professional expectations of all staff and takes such matters extremely seriously."