Summerland teacher reprimanded for inappropriate comments to female students

SUMMERLAND – A Summerland teacher has been reprimanded for professional misconduct following a consent resolution by the British Columbia Commissioner for Teacher Regulation.

Summerland Secondary School teacher Blair Haddrell was disciplined for making inappropriate remarks to female students during the 2014-2015 school year, according to the written decision dated Nov. 15, 2016.

While coaching the grade nine girls’ basketball team, Haddrell said to a female student: “you are a good looking grade nine” and “you can date anyone you want.” On a separate occasion, Haddrell told two female students who were attending a dance: "you are good looking, guys will want to dance with you.”

Haddrell has admitted the facts in the agreement are true and agreed they constitute professional misconduct.

The Okanagan Skaha School District issued Haddrell a letter of discipline on Mar. 9, 2015, restricting him from volunteer coaching. He has since been allowed to request a review of that decision.

As well, Haddrell was given a letter of expectation from the school district on May 22, 2012. That letter outlined the district’s expectation he conduct himself with students in a manner respecting both the boundaries of the professional relationship and the appropriate personal boundaries of the student.

He was also required to take the B.C. Teachers' Federation Boundaries Course, which he completed in May, 2012.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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