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April 19, 2022 - 1:00 PM
A former independent high school teacher in B.C. is looking for a new career after he was fired and had his teaching certificate cancelled for pursuing romantic relationships with current and former students.
Joseph Arnesto was warned twice in his last two years teaching to not discuss non-school matters with students. But according to a B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation decision published today, April 19, he discussed much more.
He pursued three different students before his independent school in Whistler cancelled his contract for the 2020/21 school year. This after he was investigated for three inappropriate relationships with students.
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The commissioner found that he was meeting with one student for coffee to discuss personal matters, then exchanged messages on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. After the student graduated he “made it clear that he wished to pursue a romantic relationship.”
It was much the same with another student he knew since the student was in Grade 8. The commissioner found he exchanged texts, Facebook and Instagram messages for the next four years and shortly before the student graduated, he indicated “he wanted to pursue a romantic relationship.” He was reminded of his obligations to his students for the second time specifically in relation to his relationship with this student.
With a third student, he didn’t make his intentions clear, but he texted the student largely about schoolwork but “they often turned to unrelated topics, including (the student’s) personal and romantic life."
While he has already been out of the school — and the school system — for the last two years, he admitted his misconduct and the commissioner this week barred him from applying to get his teacher certificate again for at least ten years.
In support of the heavy penalty, the commissioner cited the inappropriate boundaries with a number of students, the number of conduct violations over years and the fact he had been cautioned before as factors.
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