A former BC high school teacher with a history of inappropriate interactions with students dating back nearly 40 years and has been handed a one-year ban.
On Tuesday, the BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation posted a consent agreement with John Rocca, a now retired teacher from the Lower Mainland.
According to the agreement, Rocca received his teaching certification in 1988, which is also the same year he was suspended without pay during an investigation into allegations of “improper touching” for students and the use of offensive language.
Rocca taught in the Langley school district at that time.
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The latest consent agreement details issues that happened between 2018-2021 when Rocca was teaching in the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows school district.
According to the agreement, Rocca taught Student A math in Grade 7, 8 and 9.
The Commissioner wrote that Rocca interrupted a lesson to comment to another student about what Student A was wearing and how Student A looked. The Commissioner also wrote that Rocca would give the student “fist bumps,” and sometimes put his hand around the student’s waist or on their shoulder.
When the student was in Grade 8, there was an incident that involved Rocca sometimes leaning on the student’s shoulder or placing his arm around the student’s shoulders. The Commissioner wrote he would also ask about the student’s personal life.
While reprimanding two male students about their behaviour, Rocca reportedly told the students that “older men are better” which is “why girls like older men.” He also referred to female students as being “small,” “adorable,” “sweet,” and “cute.”
When Student A entered Grade 9, Rocca made a joke that if he won the lottery he would start a school in Hawaii and bring his favourite students, the only one he mentioned was Student A.
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The comment was made in front of the entire class, the Commissioner wrote.
On Jan. 20, 2021, Rocca hit Student A on the thigh with a rolled-up paper as he walked by, which made the student feel uncomfortable.
According to the agreement, Rocca also taught Student B in Grade 9 during the 2020/21 year.
“Roccas asked Student B personal questions about (their) family, as he had previously taught Student B’s father, and about (the student’s) post-secondary plans,” the Commissioner wrote.
“On multiple occasions, Rocca came up behind Student B and placed a hand on (their) shoulders. Rocca once said to Student B: ‘can you smile? You should smile more, you have such a nice smile’.”
A third student was also taught by Rocca in Grade 9. The Commissioner said he would get “very close” when speaking with Student C and told them “oh you're like a model” as he balanced papers on their head.
On May 21, 2021, Rocca retired from the district. An investigation was ordered that October.
In November 2023, the Commissioner considered the matter and proposed the consent agreement.
The Commissioner wrote that the suspension of Rocca’s teaching certificate, if he were to return to teaching, was appropriate because he failed to create a positive learning environment, caused physical or emotional harm to students and engaged in a related pattern of similar conduct.
Previous incidents
During the 1988 incident, Rocca resigned and the investigation was not completed, the Commissioner said.
A decade later, Rocca was advised by the district assistant superintendent not to give rides to female students after basketball practices or games.
In 2001, another school district issued Rocca a written reprimand following allegations that he had loaned his car to an unlicensed student, who ended up giving two other students a ride.
That resulted in a vehicle accident in which all three students suffered minor injuries.
Two years later, Rocca was issued a letter of discipline following allegations of "unnecessary physical contact” with female students and made comments that made them feel uncomfortable.
He was suspended for five days without pay and agreed to conditions upon returning not to touch female students.
