Suspension for BC teacher who called in sick and went on vacation

A BC teacher who called in sick and then went on vacation has been suspended for two weeks.

Middle school teacher Alex Chen also admitted he’d used work time to film personal social media videos, and crossed professional boundaries by sending more than 80 personal messages to a student.

According to an April 21 BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation decision, there were three days left before spring break, but on the Wednesday, Chen called in sick and flew to Japan for a vacation.

The decision says the day before he called in sick, he was issued a letter of discipline for filming personal social media content during work time.

“Chen fraudulently booked time off as sick leave even though he had been previously disciplined for time theft one day earlier,” the Commissioner said in the decision.

The decision said Chen identified himself as a teacher at the school in the social media posts.

“In a number of these social media posts, Chen used artwork, thank-you cards and gifts created and/or provided by students, without express permission to do so,” the decision reads.

Chen got his teaching license in 2018 and worked for the Saanich school district, although the decision doesn’t say which school he taught in.

The teaching regulator also found Chen crossed professional boundaries when, for two years after a student left the school, he stayed in touch and sent them more than 80 emails. He also gave the student a gift card, recommended that the student listen to sexually explicit music, and kept on communicating during the summer and during school breaks.

He even sent a message to the student at 11:55 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

Chen also attended games the student was scheduled to play, even though he wasn’t involved as a coach or teacher.

In May 2025, the school district fired him.

The regulator then stepped in.

“Chen’s conduct with (the) student continued over a significant period of time and involved repeated violations of professional boundaries,” the decision reads. “Chen’s conduct showed a lack of understanding of appropriate professional boundaries.”

The middle school teacher signed a consent agreement admitting to his behaviour and had his teaching licence suspended for two weeks.