B.C. Teacher Fired and Licence Suspended Over Inappropriate Student Interactions and Sick-Leave Fraud
A former middle school teacher in Saanich, British Columbia, has been dismissed from his position and had his teaching licence suspended following a disciplinary ruling that cited inappropriate interactions with a former student and the fraudulent use of sick leave for a personal vacation. The decision, issued by the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation, highlights serious breaches of professional conduct that spanned multiple years.
Violations of Professional Boundaries with Student
Alex Chen, who taught in the Saanich school district, engaged in a series of boundary violations with a former student over a two-year period after the student transferred to another school. According to the commissioner's report, Chen sent the student more than 80 emails, provided a gift card, and recommended sexually explicit music. His actions extended to contacting the student during summer and spring breaks, including a message sent just before midnight on New Year's Eve, and attending games where the student was scheduled to play, despite having no formal role as a coach or teacher.
The commissioner emphasized that Chen's behaviour occurred over a significant timeframe and demonstrated a clear lack of understanding regarding appropriate professional boundaries. This misconduct raised serious concerns about his fitness to serve in an educational role, leading to further investigation and disciplinary measures.
Fraudulent Use of Sick Days for Vacation
In addition to the inappropriate student interactions, Chen was disciplined for misusing sick leave. He scheduled three paid sick days on March 11, 12, and 13, 2025, but was not actually ill; instead, he used those days to fly to Japan for a personal vacation during the spring break period. This fraudulent activity was compounded by prior disciplinary issues, including a letter of discipline from the district for allegedly filming personal social media content during work hours, which was considered time theft.
The videos featured Chen identifying himself as a teacher and using artwork, thank-you cards, and gifts created by students without obtaining express permission. These actions further undermined his professional integrity and contributed to the district's decision to terminate his employment on May 5, 2025. Three days later, the district reported Chen to the teacher disciplinary body, leading to a formal consent resolution agreement.
Disciplinary Outcomes and Consequences
As part of the agreement, Chen admitted that his conduct, including the fraudulent use of sick days and inappropriate contact with the student, constituted professional misconduct. The commissioner imposed a two-week suspension of his teaching certificate and prohibited him from teaching until he completes a mandatory course on professional boundaries. This ruling serves as a stark reminder of the strict standards expected of educators in British Columbia and the consequences for failing to adhere to ethical guidelines.
The case underscores ongoing challenges in maintaining professional conduct within schools and highlights the regulatory measures in place to address such violations. It also reflects broader issues in education policy regarding teacher accountability and student safety, prompting calls for enhanced training and oversight to prevent similar incidents in the future.
