BC man banned from teaching for 10 years after sexual assault conviction

The BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation has issued a 10-year ban against a former teacher who was convicted of sexual assault.

Shay Crawford entered into a consent resolution with the commissioner last month.

According to a summary of the agreement, Crawford was employed as a high school teacher in the Southeast Kootenay school district.

In November 2021, he was charged with one count of sexual assault.

The next month, he notified the Teacher Regulation Branch but “he did not provide further information about the charge.”

He was suspended on Dec. 16, 2021.

Crawford was convicted on Aug. 30, 2022 and in May 2023, he was given a conditional sentence of two years less a day, which will be followed by one year of probation, the summary said.

In October 2023, he gave an undertaking not to teach in any role or position until “the final resolution of this matter.”

Crawford reportedly appealed the conviction but the appeal was rejected in January 2025.

The Commissioner listed several reasons for issuing the 10-year teaching ban.

“The trial judge stated in the reasons for sentence that Crawford’s ‘moral culpability and blameworthiness are indeed high,’ that he was ‘not genuinely remorseful,’ and that he made statements that blamed the victim for his offence,” the Commissioner wrote.

“Crawford is presently not a person of good moral character and otherwise fit and proper to work as a teacher in a position of trust and authority.”