Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / A secondary school teacher employed by the Fraser-Cascade School District has been reprimanded by the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation for unprofessional conduct in the classroom.
Fraser-Cascade School District

Fraser-Cascade School District teacher reprimanded for improper conduct

Feb 21, 2024 | 8:14 AM

HOPE — A secondary school teacher employed by the Fraser-Cascade School District has been reprimanded by the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation for unprofessional conduct in the classroom.

Fraser-Cascade School District encompasses schools in Agassiz, Hope, Harrison Hot Springs and Boston Bar.

According to a ruling published on the commissioner’s website dated Tuesday, February 20, Justin Ray Arnesto was employed by SD78 at a school in the district. Arnesto was issued a teaching certificate of qualification on January 29, 2020. It was valid from that day forward.

Roughly two years after he first earned his teaching certificate, Arnesto was teaching a grade 8 class on January 29, 2022 when he believed that a student was not paying attention. He threw a small computer charging device at the student who he suspected was not paying attention; the device hit the back wall of the classroom.

Concerned over his actions in the classroom, Arnesto attempted to speak to the student in question at lunch. He found the student in the hallway and advised the student they should talk, but the student declined the offer to talk. Arnesto directed the student to a classroom where they could talk, but once again the student did not go along with the request from Arnesto, who said he threw the object at the student because he was frustrated. The student contacted the principal to discuss the incident.

Less than two months later, another concerning incident unfolded involving Arnesto. On March 7, 2022, Arnesto was teaching a grade 8 class when he became angry and frustrated by the deportment of some students. He broke a pencil and chucked it in the direction of a student. On March 17, 2022, SD78 reprimanded Arnesto in connection with the pencil-throwing incident by issuing him a letter of discipline. The school district directed Arnesto to complete remedial work to enhance his emotional regulation, but the district wasn’t able to proceed with its investigation of the January 2022 incident because Arnesto was not at work in part of May and June 2022, and from September 2022 to late January 2023.

In March 2023, Arnesto completed a course entitled “Reinforcing Respectful Professional Boundaries” at the Justice Institute of B.C., in accordance with the district’s order. On June 14, 2023, the District disciplined Arnesto for the January 2022 incident by suspending him without pay for one day on June 26, 2023.

As part of the consent agreement, Arnesto acknowledges that his actions in both incidents constitute professional conduct, and agreed to a three-day suspension of his certificate of qualification for three days from May 22-24, 2024.

Arnesto’s signature is attached to the consent resolution agreement and dated February 2, 2024 in Hope, B.C.