Vancouver Island teachers reprimanded for partying with former students

Two Vancouver Island teachers, who are also married, have been reprimanded for incidents involving former students and drinking.

Bradley and Alanna Skene are teachers for the Cowichan Valley School District.

One of the complaints against Bradley Skene dates back to an incident in 2010 that involved a former student who was 19 years old at the time, according to a consent resolution agreement released earlier this month by the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation.

During a gathering at a home following a sporting event, Skene and the former student spent time alone in a hot tub while drinking alcohol.

They then "lay down in the same bed, both fully dressed. While they were lying on the bed, Skene "spooned" and hugged her by lying behind her with his body touching hers," the document said.

At that point, the former student walked home alone and Skene later apologized by email.

In 2013 and 2014, Bradley Skene, along with his wife Alanna, held social gatherings for former students at their own home.

Alcohol was provided to former students who were under the age of 19, the documents said.

Breach of professional conduct

Both Skenes admitted their conduct was contrary to the professional conduct standard that calls on educators to be role models who act ethically and honestly.

Bradley Skene must complete a course on professional boundaries at the Justice Institute of B.C. Alanna Skene was also reprimanded.

The behaviour in this case was not in keeping with professional standards for certified teachers, said Glen Hansman, president of the B.C. Teachers Federation.

"Even if interacting with someone who has recently graduated from a secondary school program, they have to make sure that they are conducting themselves in a way that is in keeping with the standards," he said.

Teachers are free to interact with former students, and often do, particularly in smaller communities, but they must always exercise appropriate judgement, he added.

"In British Columbia we have really strong and very clear standards for expectations for teachers," said Ralf St. Clair, dean of the faculty of education at the University of Victoria.

"It's not the kind of thing where any professional teacher in B.C. could turn around and say 'I didn't know or I had no idea that there was this kind of expectation around my behaviour.'"

The Cowichan Valley School District disciplined the Skenes in 2015 for the same incidents. The B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation considered the case in May.

The Skenes are still employed by the district, but officials declined to comment further citing privacy around personnel matters.

Bradley Skene had also served as a rugby coach at the University of Victoria and for some of Canada's national women's rugby teams.