A former high school teacher in Elst, Netherlands, has been ordered to repay nearly $61,000 to her previous employer after being found to have improperly concealed relationships between herself and a colleague, as well as between her daughter and the same colleague. The case, which has drawn attention to issues of professional conduct and safeguarding in schools, underscores the importance of transparency and reporting in educational settings.
The Arnhem-Leeuwarden Court of Appeal upheld the teacher’s dismissal, reversing a previous ruling by a lower court. The court determined that the teacher’s failure to disclose the relationships constituted grounds for immediate termination. According to the court’s decision, the teacher “seriously and culpably violated the law” by not reporting the situation.
The situation began to unfold in March 2024 when the teacher’s 17-year-aged daughter revealed she was in a sexual relationship with a fellow teacher. The mother subsequently confided in her daughter that she, too, had been involved in a sexual relationship with the same colleague. Both relationships were ended at that time, though the daughter’s mental health was reportedly suffering. The teacher did not inform the school about either relationship.
Further complications arose in March 2025, when the teacher learned the daughter had resumed her relationship with the colleague just before a week-long school trip abroad. Under pressure from the teacher, the colleague did not accompany the students on the trip and subsequently reported both relationships to school administrators. He was then dismissed. The teacher was fired the day after the school trip ended.
The teacher initially contested her dismissal and a lower court initially ruled in her favor, awarding her approximately $58,000 in severance. However, the school appealed that decision, and the Court of Appeal sided with the school, ordering the teacher to repay the funds. RTL News reported that the teacher had been employed by the school for 25 years and her children had also attended the institution.
The court acknowledged the challenging circumstances, noting that the teacher was initially motivated by concern for her daughter’s severe mental health issues. However, it ultimately determined that the failure to report the relationships created an unsafe environment for students. NU.nl reported that the teacher and colleague had been in a relationship for seven years prior to the involvement of the daughter.
