Latest news with #TeacherRegulation
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
B.C. teacher suspended 2 weeks for sending ‘inappropriate' messages to recently graduated students
A B.C. teacher had his licence suspended for two weeks as punishment for sending 'inappropriate' social media messages to recently graduated students, according to the professional regulator. Darren Richard Brown, a high school teacher at an independent school at the time, entered a consent resolution agreement with the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation on July 24, admitting to the misconduct and accepting the suspension. The school's principal reported Brown to the commissioner on June 30, 2022, according to the agreement. He had resigned from the school about two weeks earlier. The commissioner says the teacher wished a recently graduated student happy birthday when they turned 18 and sent more messages over the course of a year, sometimes late at night, saying the student was his 'favourite,' a 'kind soul' and warmed his heart. 'He offered to take Student A out for coffee or an 'adult beverage.' Brown took Student A out for coffee once. Student A began to feel uncomfortable and stopped responding to Brown's messages. Brown sent several more messages to Student A after Student A stopped replying,' the agreement reads. Brown messaged other students asking how they were, saying he missed them, and in one text complimented a student in a message that 'contained a sexual innuendo,' which he claimed was intended for another person. 'One student messaged Brown to give him some advice about the way it looked to send messages to former students late at night,' the commissioner noted. In determining the appropriate consequences, the commissioner said it considered that 'Brown's conduct in the way that he messaged former students was a breach of his privileged position of power and trust as their teacher,' and 'his conduct demonstrated a pattern of boundary violations and showed a lack of understanding of appropriate professional boundaries.' In addition to the two-week suspension, Brown must also complete the course Reinforcing Respectful Professional Boundaries at the Justice Institute of B.C.
The Province
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Province
B.C. teacher banned a year for pattern of improper touching, inappropriate chats with students
Abbotsford Canucks: Will Lockwood has Calder Cup incentive with red-hot Charlotte Checkers Moving Whitecaps from Vancouver would be 'a crime': FIFA vice-president High-profile Canadian track coach guilty of historic sexual abuse of his young athletes Abbotsford Canucks: Travis Green knows 'it's not a race' for Manny Malhotra to run an NHL bench B.C. teacher banned a year for pattern of improper touching, inappropriate chats with students John Peter Rocca has been repeatedly reprimanded for putting hands on students and inappropriate comments, making them feel uncomfortable Photo by Getty images Article content A longtime Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows teacher has been banned from teaching for a year after a repeated pattern of inappropriate and flirty comments and improper touching of high school students. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address Continue or View more offers Article content John Peter Rocca was handed the suspension after admitting to professional misconduct in a signed resolution with the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation, which was posted online Tuesday. Article content tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or B.C. teacher banned a year for pattern of improper touching, inappropriate chats with students Back to video tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Play Video Article content Rocca was reported to the local school district after a series of questionable interactions, especially with one student he taught math to in Grades 7, 8 and 9 between 2018 and 2021. In Grade 7, Rocca interrupted a lesson to comment on what the student was wearing and how the student looked. He would give the student 'fist bumps,' put his hand on the student's shoulder and around the waist. In Grade 8, he would go to the student's locker, lean against the student's shoulder and put his arms around the student's shoulders. He would also ask about the student's personal life. Canucks Report Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Canucks Report will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Article content Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Then in Grade 9, Rocca told students that if he won the lottery, he would open a school in Hawaii and only invite his favourite students, the only one from that class being the same student. At one point, he hit the student on the thigh with a rolled-up paper, making the student uncomfortable. While reprimanding two male students for immature behaviour, he said 'older men are better' and explained that was why girls like older men. He called female students 'small,' 'adorable,' 'sweet' and 'cute.' In 2021, another Grade 9 student was asked personal questions about the student's family, including the student's father whom Rocca had taught. At one point he came up behind the student and put a hand on the student's shoulders, and once said, 'Can you smile? You should smile more, you have such a nice smile.' Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Rocca would get very close to another Grade 9 student while speaking, and told the student, 'Oh, you're like a model' while balancing papers on the student's head. Rocca retired from the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows district in 2021, but had a lengthy pattern of similar behaviour dating to 1988. That year, Rocca was suspended in the Langley school district over allegations of 'improper touching' of students and using offensive language. He resigned before the investigation was over. In 1998, a district superintendent told Rocca to stop giving rides to female students after basketball practices and games. Then in 2001, he allowed a student without a licence to borrow his car, and the student and two other passengers were hurt in a crash. Advertisement 5 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content In 2003, he received a disciplinary letter over allegations he made 'unnecessary physical contact with female students and made comments to them of a personal nature, making them feel uncomfortable.' He was suspended for five days and told not to touch students. In the signed agreement that took effect in May, Rocca admits his behaviour amounts to professional misconduct. His one-year ban on applying for a teaching certificate was deemed appropriate because he failed to create a positive learning environment, 'caused physical and emotional harm to students' and engaged in a pattern of similar misconduct over the years. jruttle@ Read More Vancouver teacher suspended after pup fetish exposed B.C. teacher banned for sexual relationship with graduating student Article content Share this article in your social network Latest National Stories
