B.C. teacher suspended after sending inappropriate emails to Grade 11 student

The B.C. Teacher Regulation Branch says the teacher “failed to maintain ... boundaries by engaging in inappropriate communication with a current student.” Photo by Getty Images /PNG

Article content

A B.C. high school teacher has been disciplined for sending dozens of inappropriate emails to a Grade 11 student.

Article content

Steven Lynn Reeder, who was an English teacher at an independent school, “failed to maintain teacher-student boundaries by engaging in inappropriate communication” with a student, according to the B.C. Teacher Regulation Branch.

Article content

Article content

Reeder admitted to professional misconduct and had his teaching license suspended for three weeks. He has served the suspension, which ended Friday.

Article content

Article content

A consent resolution agreement posted earlier this week included excerpts of Reeder’s email communication with the student sent from his personal email address, including 27 emails sent over a span of a day.

Article content

Article content

Reeder initiated that email conversation on June 25, 2024, sending the first message just after 7 a.m. The emails included messages congratulating the student on her exams, compliments, and pledges of friendship.

Article content

In one, he said if the student needed someone to talk to, “just ask, any day, any time. I am here for you and to help you.”
In another, referencing a photo of the student leaning on him, he said: “That is a perfect metaphor for our friendship. You can lean on me any time (physically and mentally). I actually enjoy that and take great comfort in knowing it.”

Article content

Reeder also referenced a video she did, describing the student’s “amazing voice” and “long hair” and “that red dress.”

Article content

The email exchanges continued the next day, with 23 messages including one where Reeder called the student an endearment in Spanish. Reeder also referenced personal issues, saying he was “still in the dog house” with his wife and that he’s “solo tonight again.”

Article content

Article content

According to the agreement, Reeder approached the student outside school that day and offered to drive her home. She declined. The student, who was uncomfortable with some of Reeder’s emails, stopped responding after that day.

Article content

Article content

In April 2025, nearly a year after the email exchanges, Reeder sent the student an email saying he enjoyed being her teacher and “watching her grow.” “You’ve left a mark on me,” he said.

Article content

After this email, the student changed her email address and did not have further contact with Reeder.

Article content

The agreement said Reeder’s employment at the school ended that month. On April 20, the school principal reported Reeder’s interactions to the regulator.

Article content

Commissioner Donnaree Nygard said Reeder’s conduct breached professional boundaries and was a misuse of his position of power and trust. In addition to the suspension, Reeder is required to complete a course on professional boundaries.

Article content

The agreement, which was signed by Reeder in Maple Ridge on April 8, also says Reeder was fired from another independent school that same month.

Article content

Article content