A B.C. high school English teacher has been suspended after admitting he sent inappropriate emails to a student, including personal messages late at night and comments about his wife, his marriage and the student’s appearance.
The B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation says Steven Lynn Reeder, who taught at an independent school, entered into a consent resolution agreement on April 9, 2026.
The agreement says Reeder exchanged about 27 emails with a Grade 11 student on June 25, 2024, starting shortly after 7 a.m. and continuing until about 11:46 p.m.
In one message, Reeder wrote that he was “so excited” to see the student smiling after exams and said he would keep thinking of her and sending “good vibes.”
He also told the student she could rely on him “any day, any time,” adding: “I will never betray anything you say to me ... that I promise.”
In another message, Reeder referred to a photo of the student leaning on him, calling it “a perfect metaphor for our friendship” and writing: “You can lean on me any time (physically and mentally). I actually enjoy that.”
He also commented on a video the student had made, saying he could hear her “amazing voice,” see her long hair and adding: “That red dress, absolutely memorable. I loved it.”
The next day, Reeder and the student exchanged about 23 more emails, again beginning shortly after 7 a.m. and continuing until about 11:57 p.m.
Reeder wrote that he “missed talking” with the student already and told her not to be “a stranger over the summer.”
After seeing the student standing outside in the rain, he emailed that he had wanted to drive her home, writing that it “tugged at me heart strings” and that he wanted to be “all chivalric.” The agreement says he also offered her a ride in person and that the invitation made her uncomfortable.
Several emails also referred to Reeder’s wife. In one message, he wrote that he was “still in the dog house” with her and had “lots of work (apologizing) to do,” adding that he had eaten his share of “humble pie” and was “solo tonight again.”
In another, he wrote: “Oh, I did, on my knees, begging. [Reeder’s wife] just wants to set me suffer. Anyway, it should be fine tomorrow.”
Reeder also asked the student how to say “You are handsome!” in Spanish. After she replied, he wrote back: “Gracias señorita. What a nice thing to say!”
He later wrote in Spanish: “Eres una joven maravillosa incluso si vuelves loco a tu profesor,” which the agreement says translates to “you are a wonderful young woman even if you drive your teacher crazy.”
The agreement says he also called the student “cariño,” a Spanish term of endearment similar to sweetheart, dear or love.
On June 27, 2024, Reeder sent the student another late-night email with a photo of the two of them together, writing: “I am glad I have a photo to remember you. Keep in touch.”
Months later, on April 26, 2025, Reeder emailed the student again, writing: “I miss the students. And of course, I miss you.”
He also wrote that she had “left a mark” on him, adding: “You’re one of those people (not students) I’ll never forget.”
The agreement says the student was uncomfortable with some of the emails, stopped replying after June 26, 2024, and later changed her email address after receiving the April 2025 message.
Reeder admitted the conduct amounted to professional misconduct and was contrary to Standards 1 and 2 of the Professional Standards for B.C. Educators.
He agreed to a three-week suspension of his teaching certificate from April 13 to May 1, 2026, and must complete a Justice Institute course on respectful professional boundaries by Sept. 7, 2026.
The commissioner said Reeder failed to maintain teacher-student boundaries, breached his position of power and trust, and engaged in conduct that had the potential to compromise the student’s emotional safety and well-being.
