A longtime B.C. high school teacher has been banned from teaching for a year after admitting to inappropriately touching students and making inappropriate comments about students in his class.
John Peter Rocca had been working in the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows school district when the incidents occurred, according to a resolution agreement signed by Rocca and the B.C. commissioner for teacher regulation.
Rocca was reported to the commissioner by the school district in August 2021 and was accused of inappropriate behaviour toward three students.
One of the students had been in Rocca’s math class for Grades 7, 8, and 9, from 2018–2021.
During one of the Grade 7 math classes, Rocca stopped his instruction to comment about what the student was wearing, and how that student looked. He would also put his hands on that student’s shoulder and waist, according to the agreed statement.
Rocca retired from the school district in May 2021, but has a history of similar behaviour dating back to his time teaching in Langley in 1988.
Rocca was suspended that year by the school district pending an investigation into “improper touching” of students. He was also accused of using “offensive language.” Rocca left the district before the investigation was finished.
The District Assistant Superintendent spoke with Rocca in 1998, telling the teacher not to give rides to female students after basketball practices and games.
In 2001, Rocca was given a written reprimand after he allowed a student without a license to drive his car. That student and two other students in the vehicle received minor injuries after getting into a collision.
Rocca was suspended for five days without pay in 2003 after allegations he “made unnecessary physical contact” with female students, which made them feel uncomfortable. He agreed not to touch female students as a condition of returning to work.
Rocca admitted that his behaviour constitutes “professional misconduct,” according to the agreement.
The one year ban was considered an appropriate consequence as Rocca’s actions had failed to create a positive learning environment, they caused “physical and emotional harm” to students, and he repeatedly engaged in similar conduct for years.
