BC teacher suspended for inappropriate texts to 'favourite' student

A BC teacher was suspended for a month after he sent text messages to his favourite student and athlete.

Douglas Barnim was both a teacher and a coach to the unnamed student, to whom he sent inappropriate text messages shortly after they graduated, according to a consent resolution agreement published by the BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation, Oct. 31.

The school's principal sent a report to the regulator in July 2022, but the texts took place over the 2018/2019 school year, according to the regulator.

Barnim signed a consent agreement after he was found to have told the student they were his favourite and made comments about other students in their graduating class. He told the student he hoped they could remain in touch.

The conversations appear to have continued as Barnim told the student they would be "friends for life," then went on to make further inappropriate comments, the regulator said.

He gave the student advice about dating and made comments about sex. He also told the student that being underage "never stopped anyone from going to the pub."

On Dec. 2, 2019, Barnim was issued a letter of discipline from the school, which directed him to complete a course on respecting boundaries.

He completed the course in 2021, but he was later fired without cause in June 2022.

The teacher regulator suspended his licence for a month on Oct. 20, but it's not clear whether he is currently teaching.

Barnim appears to have been a teacher at Southridge School in Surrey, where he was also a field hockey coach. The decision, however, does not name the school nor the sport in which Barnim coached the student.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.