A former teacher and principal at the region’s largest school board will face a disciplinary hearing over alleged professional misconduct, including sexual touching dating back to the 1980s.
The investigation committee of the Ontario College of Teachers alleges Murray Campbell MacDonald, 68, is guilty of professional misconduct and has referred the matter to its discipline committee.
The hearing follows MacDonald’s arrest by London police on Feb. 21, 2025, when he was charged with sexual assault.
At the time of the alleged offence, MacDonald was a teacher at Central secondary school in London, where he coached the swim team. He later moved into administration and served as principal of Medway secondary school in Arva and Strathroy District Collegiate Institute.
Between September 1984 and June 1986, MacDonald, whose status as a teacher is inactive, is accused of engaging in sexual touching with a female student in his car and engaging in oral sex.
The college also alleges he massaged the student’s shoulder and made inappropriate comments, including “You’re so stunning,” “You’re so beautiful,” and other remarks about her muscles.
MacDonald also bought and drank alcohol with the student at a bar, called her at home and invited her to his house to drink wine, the college alleges.
It is further alleged the teacher and coach made sexual comments and innuendos to the student and other female students on the team, invited them to his house, recorded and filmed them during practice and drove them to and from practice.
MacDonald graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1979 with a bachelor of science degree, according to his profile on the college’s website.
In 1982, he obtained a bachelor of education and a master of education the following year.
MacDonald was qualified to teach intermediate and senior divisions of biology and chemistry, his Ontario College of Teachers profile says.
In 1996 and 1997, he completed his principal’s qualification programs, followed by part two the next year.
His teacher certification has been listed as inactive/non-practising since April 2017.
A hearing date has not yet been set by the college.
London lawyer Lakin Afolabi, who represents MacDonald in his criminal case, said his client “maintains his innocence and looks forward to having his day in court.”
He said neither he nor Austen Metcalfe, who represents MacDonald in the Ontario College of Teachers matter, would comment further as the case is ongoing.
Officials with the Thames Valley District school board did not respond to a request for comment.
