Shoving youth brings 1-day suspension for Sooke School District vice-principal

A Sooke School District vice-principal has agreed to a one-day suspension of his teaching certificate after he admitted to "aggressively" pushing a youth who was not a student at the school. According to a ruling by the BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation, Ryan Dubé was asked by a colleague to remove a youth from the premises Jan. 19, 2024.  When he arrived at the second-floor landing of the undisclosed school, Dubé found another vice-principal at the school engaging with the youth, walking them towards the stairs. "Dubé engaged with the youth and initiated inappropriate physical contact, including aggressively pushing the youth from behind," says the BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation's ruling, dated Aug. 19. The youth was then escorted from the school by Dubé and his vice-principal colleague "without further challenges." Sooke School District made a report to the commissioner, two months later in March. In its ruling, the independent body noted that by initiating "inappropriate physical contact," Dubé had failed to demonstrate appropriate role model behaviour. However, the commissioner's ruling noted his concern for student and staff safety was a mitigating factor. Dubé was also issued a three-day unpaid suspension by the school district in March last year. At the district's request, the vice-principal completed the De-Escalating Hostility course offered by the Justice Institute of B.C. and was asked to review the Professional Standards for B.C. Educators. The suspension will take place Sept. 19.