A Teacher Who Pursued 'Romantic Relationships' With Students In BC Is Given A 10-Year Ban
He exchanged messages with students through texts, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat.
A student raises her hand in a classroom. Right: A man texts on a mobile phone.
A male teacher from B.C. has been banned from teaching for 10 years for "breaching professional boundaries" with multiple students.
According to a consent resolution summary published on April 19, Joseph James Hizon Arnesto admitted to the behaviour during his time working as a Grade 7 to 12 teacher at an independent school.
The names of the students involved and the school are not identified in the document.
Arnesto admitted meeting Student A, who was in Grade 12 at the time of the incident, for coffee where they talked about "personal matters." Arnesto also "made it clear that he wished to pursue a romantic relationship" with Student A shortly after they had graduated.
He also admitted to communicating with Student A through texts and social media messages.
The summary describes another encounter with Student B, who was in Grade 8, with whom Arnesto exchanged messages over text, Facebook and Instagram.
Specific details about the exchanges were not included in the hearing, but they did involve "personal questions" about the student — in a relationship that continued for four years until Student B's graduation, at which point Arnesto also indicated he wanted a romantic relationship with Student B.
In another interaction with Student C, a Grade 10 student, Arnesto exchanged text messages with the student, some of which were related to schoolwork, but "they often turned to unrelated topics, including Student C's personal and romantic life," according to the summary.
During Arnesto's tenure at the school, the principal warned him "not to discuss non-school related matters with students and to be mindful of his relationship with Student B in particular."
Arnesto was then given a written warning from the principal for having "a private conversation" with another Grade 8 student, Student D, reminding him about "maintaining clear professional boundaries."
Arnesto has held a teaching certificate since 2015 but has not been teaching since 2020, when the school superintendent first made a report about the incidents to the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation.
His teaching contract was not renewed for the 2020-21 school year and, after admitting to the conduct at the hearing on March 29, Arnesto agreed to the cancellation of his teaching certificate for 10 years, effective March 30, 2022.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.