Teacher’s conduct was punitive and unprofessional, commissioner finds

A substitute teacher was suspended for two days without pay and faced professional reprimand for her behaviour in a Coquitlam School District classroom.

The resolution agreement lists several exchanges in which teacher-on-call Brigitte Lépine’s behaviour was inappropriate, beginning with taking attendance.

Lépine was working as a teacher-on-call at a Grade 7 French immersion class in September 2021 when she mispronounced a student’s unusual name while taking attendance.

The class laughed.

After watching a presentation on racism, Lépine told the students that they were racist for laughing at her when she mispronounced the student’s name.

Lépine confiscated some students’ phones and laptops, sometimes grabbing the devices out of their hands without saying anything.

When students were waiting to get their electronics back at the end of the day, Lépine kept them waiting, telling them: “You wasted my time, now I am going to waste your time,” the agreement stated.

Lepine denied one student’s request to fill their water bottle, saying: “You have not been behaving very nicely to me so you can’t go.”

When a student asked a question, Lepine replied: “il faut utiliser son cerveau.” She then translated the phrase as: “you have to use your brains.”

After noticing a student fiddling with something during a presentation, Lépine grabbed the student’s hands and pushed them toward the desk while whispering “pay attention.”

The student reported feeling shocked.

Lépine appeared angry and annoyed, and frequently raised her voice throughout the day, according to the agreement. Students reported feeling scared, anxious and nervous due to Lépine’s disposition.

The teacher’s conduct was sometimes punitive and unprofessional, according to the agreement.

The district issued Lepine a letter of discipline and suspended her for two days without pay. She was also directed to complete a course in creating a positive learning environment.

Lepine had previously been suspended for one day in October 2019 for having: “inappropriate verbal and physical interactions with students.”

The commissioner concluded Lepine had: “engaged in a repeated pattern of similar inappropriate behaviour with her students.”

The commissioner also noted Lépine’s conduct didn’t improve after taking a remedial course.

“Lépine put the emotional well-being of her students at risk,” the agreement concluded.

As part of the agreement, Lepine admitted to unprofessional conduct and agreed to a reprimand and to complete a course on dealing with conflict.