A Delta high school teacher has been disciplined by the B.C. Teacher Regulation Branch for harassing a co-worker.
According to a consent resolution agreement posted online this week, in April 2014, Michael James Holbrook used his classroom computer and printer to create several copies of a poster depicting two topless males dressed as sailors with the caption “[school name] LGBT.”
He had superimposed the face of another male teacher at the school onto the body of one of the men in the photograph. Then, sometime before the beginning of the next school day, he posted at least eight copies of the poster around the school, where it was seen by staff and students.
The teacher on the poster had previously spoken to Holbrook about past uses of his image and Holbrook knew it was something he didn’t approve of.
He also knew the day he posted the posters was Rainbow Day at the school – a day meant to raise awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues.
During a district investigation, Holbrook said he had placed the posters around the school, but repeatedly denied having created them. Finally, at the end of a second interview, he admitted he’d made the posters as well.
Holbrook served a five-day suspension last October and completed a training program on the impact of bullying and harassment in the workplace.
