Richmond teacher suspended after persistent Insta messages to female students

A Richmond teacher has been handed a two-month teaching licence suspension after persistently messaging female students through Instagram.

Marcel Vasile Sincraian, who taught in School District 83, failed to maintain his professional boundaries during the 2018/2019 school year with his secondary school students, according to an investigation by the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation.

Sincraian took photos and recorded videos of female students in school without their consent or knowledge, according to a consent consent resolution agreement he has entered.

He also had given some students two letters he wrote about his personal life, which included details of prior romantic relationships.

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The investigation found his conduct toward female students was "inappropriate" as he attempted to contact them through social media, despite their attempts to turn him down.

The consent resolution agreement was signed Oct. 5, 2021, but he resigned from his teaching position from School District 38 in June 2019.

The district reported allegations against Sincraian over a month before his resignation in May 2019.

The teacher regulating body considered that his transgressions involved "several students" and occurred during one third of the school year.

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Sincraian's teaching certificate has been suspended by the commissioner for two months.

He has also seen a psychologist to help him understand how to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

Following the agreement, Sincraian is compelled to complete the Reinforcing Respectful Professional Boundaries through the Justice Institute and to work with a teacher mentor to guide his future student interactions.

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