By Greg Fry

Cariboo teacher suspended for actions in the classroom

Mar 14, 2018 | 4:21 PM

WILLIAMS LAKE — An elementary school teacher in the Cariboo-Chilcotin School District has been suspended one week without pay by the British Columbia Commissioner for Teacher Regulation.

The suspension of Melody Anne Olga Drew follows a complaint made to the BCCTR. Along with her suspension she has been ordered to successfully complete a course, at her own expense, called “Creating a Positive Learning Environment.”

The course must be completed before Drew can return to the classroom. Her suspension will take place from April 3 to April 9.

According to a four page report — signed off by Drew and Acting Commissioner Elena Miller — the following events occurred in 2016 while Drew was teaching at an unidentified school:

• Drew raised her voice in reprimanding her students in an inappropriate manner. She also grabbed and forcefully moved or redirected students by their shoulder and arms. Sometimes the students were visibly upset. During these incidents, Drew appeared visibly angry and frustrated.
• On Nov. 17 2016, Drew grabbed and held a non-compliant female student in her Kindergartern/Grade 1 class by the wrist. When the student went to the ground in a tantrum, Drew lifted her off the gym floor by the wrist as the student was struggling, screaming and crying. Drew then restrained the upset student against the side of her body as they returned to the classroom. Once there, she forcefully physically directed and yelled at the student to sit in a chair outside the classroom for a “time out.”
• Also on Nov. 17, 2016, Drew ordered a male student in her Kindergarten/Grade 1 class to his desk for a time out. Instead of going to his desk, the student started going out into the hallway for his time out. Drew then grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him to his desk.

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On Nov. 24, 2016, the district suspended Drew with pay.

Complaints against Drew go back to 2015 when the district issued her a warning letter for her conduct in the classroom.