B.C. teacher disciplined for grabbing two Grade 7 students

A B.C. middle school teacher has been reprimanded for grabbing and pulling two Grade 7 students in the classroom.

Kimberley Dawn Blackaby entered a consent resolution agreement with the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation following the incident which took place in April 2019.

According to B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation decision April 7, the teacher from an unnamed independent school was suspended without pay by the school district for two days shortly following the incident.

During the incident, Blackaby told a Grade 7 student to put something in the garbage, but instead the student put the item in the recycling. Blackaby told the student the item did not belong in the recycling and the student giggled. At which point, Blackaby grabbed the student by the shoulder and said in a raised voice, "you better watch your mouth."

According to the April 7 decision, another student saw what happened and alerted other students in the hallway. Blackaby told the second student to come into the classroom and then put her hand on the student's arm and pulled the second student towards the classroom. Both students were made to stay in at lunchtime to "cool down."

The decision says Blackaby's emotions "caused her to respond to the students in a physically inappropriate manner" and her "physical interference" did not "role model respectful behaviour."

In the consent resolution agreement, Blackaby admits to her actions and acknowledges a breach of the agreement could lead to separate discipline proceedings and an investigation.

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