Stanislaw Kosiek: Twist after teacher was sacked over reply-all email blunder at Marist College Ashgrove in Brisbane

Former students came out to support their physics teacher, who was fired for accidentally using a ‘reply all’ email berating IT department management.

Stanislaw Kosiek worked at Brisbane’s Marist College Ashgrove for 22 years until he was fired on August 10 for criticizing the “big side of town” and for taking a trip to Bali after being fired.

He has since taken the matter to the Fair Work Commission, which is seeking reinstatement, compensation and penalties as he claims he was unfairly dismissed, which has since ended up in the Federal Court for trial.

Federal Court Judge Berna Collier ruled that Mr Kosiek had properly notified the school of his pre-planned trip to Bali, raising “serious questions” about the adequacy of his dismissal.

Several of his former students have spoken out to recognize Mr. Kosiek as an exemplary teacher with a ‘wealth of knowledge’.

One student, who wished to remain anonymous, told News.com.au that Mr Kosiek was “the best science teacher” at the university, having spent extra time with him to raise his grades from a C+ to an A.

“Having known Mr. Kosiek since 2015, I can tell you that he has had only the best intentions for student education and the overall success of the university,” he said.

“Every student of Mr. Kosiek will support the statement that Stan is the best science teacher Marist has had, the best head of the department and the integrity of the college.”

A second student said he and other students “would not be the same individuals they are today” without his teaching and guidance.

“He was a highly respected and passionate leader of the Foley House, and never once showed any prejudice or dislike for other members of the community,” he said.

A third student, who was taught by Mr. Kosiek this school year, said his physics class has been disrupted as he enters the fourth semester.

He said it is still unknown who will teach the class for the final semester and doubts they will be able to duplicate Mr. Kosiek’s “ability to pass on his wealth of knowledge.”

Several students claimed that Mr Kosiek was the best science teacher at Marist College Ashgrove (pictured) and that he ‘did not show any prejudice or dislike towards other members of the community’

The Federal Court ruled that Mr Kosiek was dismissed after he sent the email for which he apologized two days later.

“My old, recent brain remembers a time (recently) when serious breaches, glitches and minor issues were resolved calmly, professionally and successfully,” read the email Mr Kosiek sent in February.

‘For the past two years, the same long-term staff continues to be great!

‘Recently, however, IT leadership has been inadequate.

“Constantly leaning on past breaches with excuses for not getting current breaches.

“We have a great IT staff, but recently most of the city stopped eating at the pool store and they are making their $250,000 job.”

A day after the apology, which the school’s head of IT found unsatisfactory, Mr Kosiek was told by the school’s headmaster, Michael Newman, that he had resigned.

Mr Newman sent Mr Kosiek a five-page email saying his email had “caused major upset” and “may amount to serious misconduct or bullying”.

“Although it appears to be a ‘one-off’ communication, it is likely to be unreasonable and unprofessional and could predictably cause distress,” Mr Newman said.

The end of Mr Kosiek’s career came after he sent an email to a ‘large number of recipients’ after inadvertently pressing ‘Reply all’. The email was only intended for his union manager

Mr Newman asked Mr Kosiek to address the allegations made in his original email, adding that it was a possible ‘breach of your own personal legal obligations to ensure the safety and privacy of children in our care’.

Mr Kosiek’s lawyer said the reference to child safety was “untrue and outrageous”, for which Mr Newman later apologised.

Mr Newman had also stated that Mr Kosiek’s email may have involved bullying and harassment in the workplace.

The science teacher was dismissed with pay and subsequently allowed to take sick leave from April 17 to May 28 in lieu of using long service leave.

During this time he informed the school’s deputy headmaster that he would be traveling to Bali.

He had booked the trip when he had been approved for long service leave, saying he had received medical advice that it was fine for him to travel, and that he would be taking unpaid leave.

The matter will go to trial at a later date if both parties cannot reach a compromise.