Teacher lied about killing a girl in fatal accident to avoid work, panel hears

By CLAIRE MCKIM
Published on 02/08/2012 00:00

A MUSIC teacher lied about killing a girl in a horrific car accident to avoid going in to work, a disciplinary panel has heard.

Head of department Derek McGlone, 42, who taught at Calderhead High School in North Lanarkshire, also went on a drunken rant on Facebook where he called other staff “bitches”.

His former colleagues complained his comments were abusive and threatening.

In another bid to get time off work, Mr McGlone told a deputy head he was caught up in Iceland’s ash cloud – despite being at home in Glasgow.

The teacher represented himself at a General Teaching Council Scotland (GTCS) hearing yesterday, where the panel found his fitness to teach was impaired.

A reprimand has been recorded in the teaching register against Mr McGlone’s name for 12 months.

The teacher said he was “embarrassed and sorry” about his actions and insisted he still wanted to teach, saying he had a “passion” for the profession.

Mr McGlone admitted three charges, including making threatening and abusive comments towards former teaching colleagues on Facebook. The incidents took place between 9 June, 2008 and 31 May, 2011.

Mr McGlone admitted the charges and said: “I can give no reasonable explanation for my actions.”