An elementary teacher at an unidentified school with School District 27 will serve a one-week suspension without pay next month.
The British Columbia Commissioner for Teacher Regulation received complaints about Melody Anne Olga Drew’s treatment of her kindergarten and Grade 1 students in 2016 from her raising her voice in reprimanding students in an inappropriate manner and also grabbing and forcefully moving or redirecting students by their shoulders and arms.
Drew admitted that her conduct constituted professional misconduct and along with the suspension agreed at her own expense that by April 1, 2018, or an extended deadline approved by the commissioner she will complete a course in creating a positive learning environment through the Justice Institute of BC.
The District had previously raised concerns about Drew’s conduct and in January 2015 had issued her a letter of warning.
Drew was previously suspended by the District for one day on April 7, 2016, and was recommended to undergo counseling for sensitivity training. She was suspended with pay on November 24, 2016, and almost one month later was issued a letter of discipline as well as a 30-day suspension without pay.