Former School District 59 teacher suspended for racial slurs and aggressive behavior – Energeticcity.ca

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An empty classroom. (Stock)

FORT ST. JOHN, BC A former School District 59 teacher, Brent Alexander Daniel, has been suspended for four weeks for aggressive behavior and racial slurs.

Commissioner Howard L. Kushner of the British Columbia Education Commissioner issued the decision Jan. 12 after several incidents of inappropriate behavior by Daniel toward students and co-workers at a public school in School District 59 and an unnamed independent school.

The first incident noted in the ruling occurred at a public school in School District 59 on April 9, 2021, when a student threw a soft, bouncy ball at Daniels’ head at the end of class. Daniel allegedly chased after the student, pretended to throw the ball at the student, then grabbed him by the hood, knocking the student to the ground.

While on the ground, the ruling reports that Daniel yelled at the student and made comments suggesting that the student was uninjured and that they were treating him.

Due to this incident, Daniel received a letter of discipline on May 14, 2021, suspended for ten days without pay, and transferred to another school in the district. The district also required Daniel to take two courses, one on anger management and the other on conflict resolution.

In August or September 2022, depending on the decision, Daniel applied to an independent First Nation-run school in British Columbia. During this application process, the ruling states that Daniel omitted his work experience with School District 59 and did not indicate that he was still employed by the district and was on leave.

The ruling said Daniel made racist remarks to black colleagues in October and November 2022. One such incident occurred when Daniel walked past a teacher wearing a medical mask and said words to the effect of store my valuables better. When the teacher asked why Daniel replied with a black man wearing a mask, as per the decision.

The ruling also said Daniel engaged in inappropriate behavior towards students in November 2022 at the independent school. Incidents included multiple reports of yelling at students, using obscenities in front of students, and a specific incident where he kicked a stack of chairs that students were hiding under.

In his findings, Kushner said Daniel failed to model the appropriate behavior expected of an educator and that his actions jeopardized the physical and emotional safety of students.

Kushner also said Daniels’ comments to his black colleagues were inconsistent with the values, beliefs and knowledge of Canada’s democratic and inclusive society and hurt the perception of the teaching profession.

Daniel has agreed to a four-week suspension from his teaching certificate and to complete the Creating a Positive Learning Environment course through the Justice Institute of BC by March 31, 2023.

The full decision of the British Columbia Teacher Regulation Commissioner can be read below:

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