The relationship evolved from school-related emails to romantic and intimate communications, said the consent resolution agreement
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A B.C. teacher has been suspended from teaching for 10 years after engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a student, including exchanging messages with “sexual content” and physical touching.
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According to a consent resolution agreement released by the B.C. Teacher Regulation Branch, Robert Ian Collett taught the student in Grades 11 and 12 at an independent school.
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The correspondence began during the start of the student’s Grade 12 year and initially related to school matters. It later evolved into personal emails containing “romantic and intimate language.”
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After the student graduated, the email exchange continued and included “sexual content.”
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Within a month of the student’s graduation, Collett and the former student met at a restaurant where they discussed personal matters, and later at a park, where Collett hugged and kissed the former student.
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Following the meeting, the student emailed Collett asking him not to contact them again. Collett subsequently sent the student a “goodbye” poem, said the agreement.
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The school principal reported Collett to the commissioner in August 2023. Collett was dismissed for cause on Dec. 13, 2023.
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Collett admitted his conduct was unprofessional and unbecoming a teacher. He agreed to a 10-year suspension of his teaching certificate.
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In determining the appropriate penalty, the commissioner found that the inappropriate relationship stemmed from the teacher-student relationship and that Collett failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries, putting the student’s emotional safety and well-being at risk.
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