A Victoria High School teacher will serve a five-month suspension during the next school year for engaging in “an unprofessional and inappropriately personal relationship” with a student in 2013.
The decision from a Teachers Regulation Branch hearing into the case said there was no allegation of sexual misconduct.
Robert Darwin Ammon told the hearing panel that his relationship with the then-15-year-old student was not sexual. He said his intent at all times was to help the student. The decision said Ammon’s insight into what he did is “constricted and limited.”
Greater Victoria school district superintendent Piet Langstraat said he realizes some parents might want to hear more about the situation.
“I can understand parents’ concerns, very much so,” he said. “If individual parents have concerns about their child, they certainly can come and speak with the school principal, or they can talk to me directly.”
The decision said the relationship “subverted family unity at a time that the student was being adopted by his family.”
Problems developed when the relationship ended, the decision said, and the student gave evidence that his emotional state during the relationship could have been a factor. The decision did not indicate how the relationship ended.
“There was evidence at the hearing that the student entered a very destructive and difficult period of his life at and following the end of his relationship with [Ammon],” the decision said. “The evidence was that the student entered a period of extreme emotional distress followed by use of alcohol and marijuana, numerous absences from class and ultimately ceasing to attend school, more severe substance abuse and a period of homelessness.”
By the time the hearing was held, the student had completed treatment for substance abuse, earned his high-school diploma and found a job.
The decision said that during the relationship, Ammon would spend time with the student in the morning before classes in a one-on-one fitness program, when the two would talk about “highly personal, emotional and religious topics.” Ammon gave him several gifts, including running shoes, a gift certificate and a cross with a chain.
They also exchanged frequent emails, with Ammon encouraging the student to talk about emotions and saying “I love you” on several occasions, the decision said. Ammon told the student he was proud of him and was there for him.
The decision said the emails came at a time when Ammon knew the student was at a vulnerable point, and took place outside of school hours, either on weekends or late at night.
“[Ammon] gave the student gifts and continued to do so in disregard to direct requests from the student’s parents, and his own assurance to parents that he would adhere to their requests,” the decision said.
Further, the decision said Ammon failed to talk with the parents and the school administration about the student’s emotional issues and poor academic performance “at a time when it was likely that doing so could have allowed either to assist the student.”
The relationship lasted three months. Ammon indicated to the panel that the relationship was not long, he did not try to hide it and he never intended for the email correspondence to be secret.
The panel, however, found that it was reasonable to conclude that the emails were intended by Ammon to be private. They included messages of love and discussion of the student’s parents, the panel found, and Ammon did not tell the administration or the parents about the emails when the student was distressed and needing help.
Ammon had no previous record of misconduct.
