BC teacher suspended for 'loud, intimidating' interaction at student's workplace

A BC highschool teacher has been handed a brief suspension of his teaching certificate after an unprofessional altercation with a student at her job.

A consent resolution agreement was signed between Edward Mulrooney and the BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation and published on Tuesday.

According to the agreement, School District 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) made a report to the Commissioner in March 2021 about an incident that happened in mid-February of that year.

The commissioner wrote that a female student (Student A) was walking down a hallway at the school when Mulrooney allegedly looked at her in a way which made her feel uncomfortable.

“Student A and the two other students she was with believed that Mulrooney look at Student A in a way that was ‘checking her out,’” the commissioner wrote.

The distinct suspended Mulrooney on Feb. 24, 2021 and an investigation was launched.

The teacher was directed not to discuss an ongoing investigation with any student or staff member at the school.

In July 2021, while the investigation was still happening, Mulrooney reportedly visited a business in the community at which Student A worked as a cashier.

Mulrooney said he was unaware the student worked there, however, when he went to the check out til, he believed that Student A was “playing games” with him and not treating him very well.

The commissioner wrote that a verbal altercation occurred and involved another cashier, who told Mulrooney not to speak to the student the way he was.

“In the exchange, Mulrooney raised his voice, was visibly angry, and made disrespectful comments to Student A,” the commissioner wrote in the resolution agreement.

“Mulrooney said that Student A needed to start telling the truth, he was going to talk to her manager, and that Student A should not be working when he could not work.”

Another bystander and eventually the store manager got involved.

According to the commissioner, Mulrooney asked the store manager what they were going to do to keep Mulrooney from “being challenged by vindictive young girls who obviously believe something about [Mulrooney] that is not true.”

The store manager said he would instruct his staff to not engage with Mulrooney.

During the verbal altercation, Mulrooney made multiple requests to have the student fired and even called the store later that day asking that she be fired.

In April 2022, Mulrooney resigned from the school district.

The next month, the commissioner launched their own investigation.

That ended with the consent resolution agreement and Mulrooney being handed a five-day suspension of his teaching certificate, which will be carried out from May 5-9, 2025.

The commissioner also ordered the teacher to complete a course on reinforcing respectful profession boundaries.

According to the agreement, the commissioner found that Mulrooney had already been previously advised to ensure his interactions with students were kept professional.

The commissioner also found that the teacher spoke to the student during the district’s investigation. The agreement said the interaction happened in a public space and that Mulrooney was loud, threatening and intimidating.

“His actions were contrary to his responsibility as a role model, and his obligation to maintain the integrity and reputation of the profession,” the commissioner concluded.