Jayson Kennard tried to hide his face when he was released from jail after being charged with luring a child online.
The 38-year-old teacher is accused of having sexual conversations online with a former student.
The 16-year-old’s mother found the messages on her son’s Facebook page. She cannot be identified in order to protect her son’s identity.
“He propositioned him for sex more than once. Very graphic, serious, sexual things,” she said. “I was nerve wracked. Shaking. Throwing up. I haven’t slept in two weeks. It’s not something you want to see about your child.”
The victim’s mother said that within days of reporting the conversations to the police, Jayson Kennard was suspended with pay from Dundonald School and charged.
The sex crimes and child abuse unit was joined by the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit to conduct the investigation into the allegations. During the investigation Kennard started more sexual conversations with the ICE unit posing as the victim.
A search warrant was obtained, a laptop was seized during the search and the 38-year-old teacher was charged with luring a child.
The victim’s mother said Kennard taught her son several years ago, and even went on camping trips with his students.
“He’s supposed to be a man of trust, a man of authority. He teaches young children. He broke every bit of trust in that school system that I had,” the victim’s mother said.
Saskatoon Public Schools said Kennard has been with them for 15 years. The division will run its own investigation and has sent extra counselors to Dundonald School.
"(We sent them) to assist with students and staff dealing with this news because it comes as a great shock to them all,” explained Jaime Valentine, Saskatoon’s Public School’s superintendent of human resources.
Kennard is out of jail with several conditions, including that he stay off the Internet.
