A B.C. teacher has been given a one-day suspension over “inappropriate” stories that contained “content of a sexual nature” that he shared with students.
Robert Acheson worked as an inclusion teacher at a high school in the Chilliwack school district when the incidents occurred, according to a consent agreement by the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation.
A complaint was made on June 22, 2023, about his conduct during the school year.
According to the consent agreement, Acheson had commented on multiple occasions on the appearance of a student and the physical appearance of another staff member at the school.
He is also said to have shared an “inappropriate” story with a student about a “traumatic personal incident” that occurred when Acheson was in high school or middle school. The story had “inappropriate content of a sexual nature.”
Acheson was also accused of sharing a personal story with students about a high school girlfriend. It too was said to have contained “inappropriate content of a sexual nature.”
A letter of discipline was issued, and Acheson was put on 15 days suspension without pay by the school district on June 16, 2023. He was also advised to take a professional boundaries course, and was prohibited from working with vulnerable students.
Acheson completed the boundaries training course between Aug. 9 and 11, 2023, according to the agreement.
The commissioner ordered an investigation into the allegations on Aug. 15, 2023.
In the consent agreement, Acheson admits to the accusations, agreeing that they equate to professional misconduct.
He was given a one-day suspension of his teaching certificate. The commissioner said that Acheson had failed to maintain professional boundaries with students, but that he had also completed the training program.
