B.C. music teacher stripped of certificate after years of violations

An empty teacher's desk is seen at the front of an empty classroom at McGee Secondary school in Vancouver on Sept. 5, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

A British Columbia teacher with a long history of professional misconduct involving students has permanently lost his teaching certificate after a disciplinary panel concluded he repeatedly violated professional boundaries despite years of warnings, discipline and remedial training.

A hearing panel appointed by the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation found that 68-year-old music teacher David Joseph Lamb failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with his students at Vancouver’s David Thompson Secondary School.

He was found to have selectively helped some students “using flawed or unfair assessment strategies,” while also emailing students after-hours “at unreasonable times and in a matter that placed a burden on students and disregarded their emotional safety,” according to the panel’s decision.

Lamb also “attempted to build an improper personal relationship” with one student in particular, the panel found, including by “giving her excessive compliments, giving her gifts, communicating with her about personal matters, and emotionally manipulating her for his personal goals.”

The student testified that she felt “anxious, unhappy and manipulated” by Lamb, the decision said.

‘Blamed the students’

Evidence presented at the hearing showed other students reported feeling overwhelmed, pressured and uncomfortable in his classes due to his behaviour.

A former principal testified that school counsellors and students raised concerns in 2018 about students feeling emotionally overwhelmed and bullied by Lamb.

Parents also requested that their children be removed from his band classes, the decision said.

Lamb did not participate in the disciplinary hearing, which concluded last month and followed a decision earlier this year in which the panel determined Lamb’s actions amounted to repeated professional misconduct under the B.C. Teachers Act.

The panel found Lamb showed little insight into the impact of his behaviour and instead blamed students for what he characterized as misunderstandings or false allegations.

“In fact, he has consistently blamed the students for his inappropriate behaviour,” the decision said.

The school district investigated complaints against Lamb in 2018 and 2019.

When interviewed as part of that process, Lamb “stated that students misperceived him and wanted to get him into trouble,” the decision said. “He stated that the students’ allegations against (him) were lies or misperceptions.”

‘Significant history of violations’

Although Lamb did not participate in the disciplinary hearing, the panel noted he maintained an active teaching qualification by paying his annual certification fee in 2025.

The panel said that raised concerns about potential risks to students in the future.

The decision also detailed Lamb’s “significant history of violating professional boundaries with students” dating back two decades.

Beginning in 2006, Lamb received multiple letters directing him to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students.

In 2011, he was disciplined for violating those boundaries, and one year later, he was prohibited from having students in his office, transporting students, texting or calling them, having meals with them or holding evening music practices without the consent of the school administration.

In 2014, Lamb entered into a consent agreement with the B.C. Teacher Regulation Branch, admitting to numerous professional boundary violations and agreeing to complete professional boundaries training through the Justice Institute of B.C.

The panel concluded those measures failed to change his behaviour.

‘Risk of harm to students’

Lamb was disciplined again in 2018, including with a one-day unpaid suspension, but the panel found the misconduct continued even after the provincial regulator began investigating him in 2019.

“The respondent’s risk of harm to students is a continuing concern since he holds a valid certificate while refusing to rectify his behaviour, despite a history of professional boundary violation,” the decision said.

It concluded that the outright cancellation of his teaching certificate was warranted as it was the only means left to protect students and ensure the public’s trust in teachers.

“The respondent’s discipline history suggests that any other measure imposed by the panel would not be sufficient to remediate his conduct,” the panel wrote.

“The respondent has been repeatedly advised that his conduct is not acceptable and he has continued unabated.”

The decision, signed by the three-member panel on June 11, ordered the B.C. director of teacher certification to cancel Lamb’s teaching qualification.