B.C. Principal Suspended for Manipulating Student’s Final Grade

The principal of a Catholic secondary school in British Columbia has faced a two-day suspension after admitting to altering a student’s final grade without proper authority. Roger Lionel Joseph DesLauriers changed a student’s grade from 56 percent to 76 percent, an act described in a consent resolution agreement with the provincial Commissioner for Teacher Regulation.

The incident, which occurred while DesLauriers was employed at a school under the Catholic Independent Schools Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA), involved changing the grade without the involvement of the subject teacher. The teacher had requested to remain uninvolved in the grade modification process. Furthermore, the agreement noted that DesLauriers did not assess the student’s overall academic performance or consider the learning outcomes related to the subject when making the change.

Details regarding the specific school and the academic year in which this misconduct took place have not been disclosed. The CISVA reported the incident to the Commissioner in May 2024, following which DesLauriers received a written reprimand. In addition, he was required to complete an ethics course. The CISVA also mandated that the school develop guidelines for managing grade review requests, which must be approved by the superintendent’s office.

Concerns Over Professionalism and Ethics

According to the summary of the consent agreement, the commissioner expressed serious concerns regarding DesLauriers’ ethics, professionalism, and integrity. The document stated, “DesLauriers’ conduct raises concerns regarding his ethics, professionalism and integrity and had the effect of treating students inequitably.”

The commissioner deemed that the suspension and the ethics coursework were fitting responses to the principal’s actions, which failed to model appropriate behavior for educational leadership. DesLauriers accepted responsibility for his actions, with the summary indicating that his misconduct was a single incident rather than a recurring pattern of behavior.

The case has raised questions about the accountability of school administrators and the importance of adhering to established academic standards. As educational institutions continue to navigate challenges in maintaining integrity, incidents like this underscore the necessity for clear guidelines and oversight in grading practices.

DesLauriers completed the required ethics course and acknowledged the consequences of his actions, marking a step towards reinforcing ethical standards in educational settings.