TDSB director Chris Spence resigns amid additional plagiarism allegations

TORONTO, Ont. – The Director of Education for the Toronto District School Board, Chris Spence, has resigned from his post amid additional plagiarism allegations.

TDSB Chair Chris Bolton made the announcement on Thursday afternoon and said Spence’s resignation is effective immediately.

Spence admitted to plagiarizing parts of an opinion piece which appeared in the Toronto Star on Sunday, but another Toronto media outlet is now claiming he has done it before.

The National Post reported that Spence’s editorial piece in the Star about the Sandy Hook shooting and how he explained the violent incident to his son, closely resembles one described by another writer of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

In addition, the Post claims a piece he wrote following the Danzig Street shooting in July appears to be word-for-word from an online ‘Healthy Students Plan’ in Connecticut.

Meanwhile, Spence’s personal blog posting dating back to October 2011, which discusses the Chinese education system, shares many similarities with information published in The New York Times, Time Magazine, and other sources.

City councillors were quick to agree with Spence’s decision.

“I think he did the right thing,” Doug Ford told 680News. “The school board has to go out and look for a new leader.”

“It’s wrong, and I think that Mr. Spence has indicated that he should be dealt with in an appropriate fashion and I couldn’t agree more,” Michael Thompson said.

Spence apologized about his Sunday piece to school boards trustees earlier this week. In the apology, he said he was “ashamed and embarrassed” by his behaviour and vowed to make amends. He also pledged to take “real and meaningful steps” to learn from and make up for his misbehaviour, including taking a journalism ethics class.

Bolton said the TDSB is taking steps to appoint an interim Director as soon as possible, to ensure stability across the system. A press conference will be held at 5:30 p.m., Thursday.

Spence’s official statement:

“It is with great sadness and regret that I am writing to tender my resignation as Director of Education for the Toronto District School Board.

I have come to this decision after a great deal of reflection, and no small amount of consultation with family, friends and colleagues. I do so with a profoundly heavy heart.

My life’s work has been education, and the education of young people.  More than anything else, I regret that I have not set a good or proper example for the many thousands of young people I’ve been privileged to meet and know.

I intend to continue to do the things I pledged to do – to restore my reputation, and to uphold the academic integrity I consider to be so important. But most importantly, to make amends for what I have done.

I do not wish to be a further distraction to the Trustees, or my many friends and colleagues at the Toronto District School Board. I therefore submit my letter of resignation and, once again, offer my sincerest apologies.”