B.C. Principal Suspended for Altering Student’s Grade

The principal of a Catholic school in British Columbia has faced suspension after he admitted to improperly altering a student’s final grade. Roger Lionel Joseph DesLauriers acknowledged in a consent resolution agreement with the provincial Commissioner for Teacher Regulation that he changed a student’s mark from 56 percent to 76 percent without the involvement of the subject teacher.

The agreement, published online on Tuesday, details that DesLauriers made this grade change “arbitrarily and preferentially.” He did so without consulting the teacher, who had expressed a desire to remain uninvolved in the process. The principal also neglected to consider the student’s overall academic performance regarding the learning outcomes for the subject class when making this decision.

The specific location of the school where this incident took place has not been disclosed. It is noted that DesLauriers was serving as the principal at a secondary school governed by the Catholic Independent Schools Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA). The student’s identity, the subject of the grade change, and the academic year in which the incident occurred remain undisclosed. However, CISVA reported the matter to the commissioner in May 2024.

Following the incident, the CISVA took disciplinary measures against DesLauriers, which included a written reprimand and the requirement to complete an ethics course. The organization also mandated that the school establish written guidelines for handling requests to review student grades, subject to approval by the CISVA superintendent’s office.

Commissioner’s Findings and Consequences

DesLauriers accepted responsibility for his actions, which the commissioner deemed serious enough to warrant a two-day suspension of his teaching certificate. The summary of the consent agreement highlights the concerns surrounding his ethics, professionalism, and integrity, stating that his actions resulted in unequal treatment of students.

“DesLauriers’ conduct raises concerns regarding his ethics, professionalism and integrity and had the effect of treating students inequitably,” the summary noted. It further elaborated that the principal’s behavior did not model appropriate conduct expected from someone in his position.

Despite the seriousness of the misconduct, the summary indicates that this was a singular incident and not indicative of a broader pattern of behavior. DesLauriers completed the ethics course, demonstrating his commitment to rectifying his actions and improving his professional standards.