A former Kelowna teacher, who was dismissed from his position after sending sexual messages to a student, claims that his words were taken out of context.
The teacher, whose name has not been disclosed, was found guilty of professional misconduct by the British Columbia Commissioner for Teacher Regulation. He was also banned from teaching for two years and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
According to the Commissioner’s report, the teacher sent inappropriate messages to a female student, including asking her to send him photos of herself in a bikini and making sexual comments about her appearance. The student, who was 17 years old at the time, reported the messages to school officials.
However, the teacher argues that his messages were meant to be taken as a joke and were not intended to be sexual in nature. He claims that he had a good relationship with the student and that she often joked with him about her appearance.
The teacher also stated that he was going through a difficult time in his personal life and was using humor as a coping mechanism. He maintains that he never had any intention of pursuing a sexual relationship with the student.
Despite his claims, the Commissioner found that the teacher’s actions were a clear violation of the BC Teachers’ Code of Ethics. The Code states that teachers must maintain appropriate boundaries with students and refrain from any behavior that could be interpreted as sexual in nature.
In addition to the two-year ban and fine, the teacher will also have a notation on his teaching certificate indicating the misconduct. This will remain on his record for at least 10 years.
The school district has also released a statement condemning the teacher’s actions and emphasizing their commitment to providing a safe and respectful learning environment for all students.
It is important for teachers to maintain professional boundaries and to always consider the impact of their words and actions on their students. The consequences of crossing these boundaries can have serious and lasting effects on both the teacher and the student involved.
