The former principal of White Rock Christian Academy (WRCA) has had his teaching certificate suspended for four months, following a lengthy investigation into allegations of professional misconduct.

According to a discipline case summary posted to the B.C. College of Teachers last week, Steve Paras admitted guilt in a number of incidents. They were brought to the college by concerned parents, including one who alleged Paras had covered up the sexual assault of her then-13-year-old daughter – one of several accusations the College determined had basis.

Following a May 13, 2008 hearing in Vancouver, the college found Paras, during the 2002-03 school year, "failed to report his knowledge of a sexual assault of a 13-year-old female student by an adult male to either the Ministry of Children and Family Development or the police. In addition, he suspended her as a form of discipline and detained and isolated the student in a confined space for an inappropriate period of time during the initial investigation," states the one-page discipline case summary.

It continues: "The other incidences included disrespectful and demeaning comments towards a student during a role play in a Religious Studies Class; inappropriate comments during a school assembly speech; violating the privacy of students by disclosing personal information to other students and parents; issuing an improper assignment to students in his Religious Studies class concerning circumcision; taking six months to grade an assignment submitted by one of his students; and imposing an excessive suspension on two of his students for their involvement in alcohol distribution and consumption that adversely impacted their education."

Paras resigned from WRCA in May 2005, after seven years at the helm of the K-12 independent school and 18 years there as a teacher.

In a May 5, 2005 letter to WRCA parents, Paras cited the school's move to a new governance model as his reason for leaving.

"I'm am deeply convinced the transition for the future will require fresh eyes, new administrative structures and a new leader whose gifting is more administrative than my own," Paras wrote.

He also wrote that he prayed for direction in his decision.

In resigning, Paras said he considered what choice was best for the school - and for himself.

"I believe this season is a crucial one, and the decisions being made now will have great impact on the future of this school," he said.

His resignation was effective Aug. 31, 2005. He went on to become vice-principal at Surrey's Regent Christian Academy (RCA).

Paras' suspension was effective Sept. 1, 2008. RCA principal Paul Johnson confirmed Paras will be returning to his vice-principal role Jan. 5, when his suspension ends.

Johnson said what the report suggests of Paras is not reflective of what he has seen over the course of their 23-year professional relationship.

"We have never seen anything even close in his demeanour, his character, his mentorship that I would even question," Johnson said Monday.

"It (the report) almost sounds like it's something that he does ongoing, as his way of dealing with things, but it just isn't. It's just not congruent to his character."

Johnson said Paras has been "outstanding" at RCA as a teacher and mentor. Paras accepted the College's ruling without question, he added.

"Just keep in mind, it's pretty much one small period of time. That's usually the way these things are reported. It's an incident or possibly two incidences," Johnson said. "That does not make the character of the man, in my opinion."

The College's discipline summary notes that Paras' admission of guilt was accepted Aug. 28, 2008, and that the hearing sub-committee "was unanimous in its decision that Mr. Paras had jeopardized the safety and educational progress of particular students and had, by a misuse of his position of authority, threatened the integrity of the school in the eyes of the student body and the larger community. His misconduct constituted emotional, physical, and intellectual abuse, which would cause a loss of self-esteem in the students and a loss of trust in the school system by the public. The committee accepted Mr. Paras’ admission and found that this conduct is contrary to the standards of behaviour expected of a teacher and found him guilty of professional misconduct."

The mother of the assaulted teen said Monday she was "relieved" to hear of the discipline decision.

"It finally makes my child realize no, in life, when something goes wrong, it may take a while, but justice can get served," she said, asking that her name be withheld.