FILE PHOTO

Image Credit: PEXELS

A B.C. teacher with a history of disciplinary issues has been suspended for one day for playing on her phone and making children cry.

Langley teacher Roxann Desiree Rojas was working as a substitute teacher for a Grade 5 and 6 class in March 2021 when the incidents began.

According to a Jan. 9 B.C. Commission for Teacher Regulation decision, the majority of Rojas's behaviour was directed at two Grade 5 students, both of which required a modified teaching plan, with one reading at a Kindergarten level.

"Rojas failed to treat students with dignity and respect," the decision read.

At one point during the day, Rojas told a special education assistant how awful the class was in front of the pupils. She then when onto complain about one of the students.

"Rojas appeared frustrated and impatient with the class," the decision read. "Rojas also spent time checking messages on her telephone instead of directing students on their assignments."

At one point she took off her mask and told the student she'd been complaining about, "I was a principal."

The decision said the regular teacher had prepared a lesson on fractions and while Rojas handed out the assignment she didn't walk around the class offering help.

Later that day, the student reading at the kindergarten level was lining up to go outside and singing a song.

Rojas asked the student if they were in kindergarten because that's how they were behaving.

The student replied by asking Rojas her age.

"The back and forth went on a few times. (The) student was very upset by Rojas' comments about kindergarten," the decision read.

The education assistant then took the student out of the class in tears.

One month later Rojas resigned.

READ MORE: B.C. teacher reprimanded for telling class to 'shut up'

The decision said she had been licenced to teach in B.C. since 2004 but doesn't have a good track record.

In 2009, she was reminded that "teachers cannot put their hands on students in a manner that a reasonable person would consider inappropriate." She was also told that teachers are expected to "exercise an appropriate duty of care towards students that addresses their physical and emotional safety needs."

A decade later, she was suspended for four months without pay following allegations that she made "direct physical contact" with students and yelled at them.

On top of the four-month suspension in 2019, the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation added a further two weeks' suspension.

In regard to the latest matter, Rojas signed a consent resolution agreement admitting to her behaviour.

The teaching regulator suspended Rojas for one day and ordered that she take the Creating a Positive Learning Environment course.

The decision doesn't say where Rojas is currently teaching, if she's teaching at all.

READ MORE: B.C. teacher suspended 5 days for pushing student

To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2023