South Delta teacher, 56, faces sex charge
Popular instructor suspended in summer
Suzanne Fournier, The Province
Published: Tuesday, September 25, 2007

A popular South Delta Secondary School teacher charged with sexual exploitation has been banned from the classroom this year.
Willem DeRaad, 56, was charged Sept. 21 with one count of touching a young person "for a sexual purpose," and is free on five conditions, including:
He remain at a residence in Surrey; not be in the company of the alleged victim "or any child under the age of 16"; not seek a job or volunteer work involving "being in a position of trust or authority" to a person under 18; and not possess any "firearm . . . imitation weapon . . . or prohibited device."
DeRaad will appear in Surrey provincial court on Oct. 19.
Delta school superintendent Steve Cardwell confirmed yesterday that "the teacher was suspended. He did not begin teaching this school year."
South Delta school vice-principal Andy Wong said DeRaad was in the school briefly in September to pick up some of his belongings but hasn't taught since last June.
DeRaad is the second South Delta high school teacher to be charged with sexual exploitation in two years.
"I have no reason to believe there is any connection between the two cases," said Cardwell.
Cardwell emphasized that both teachers are entitled to due process and neither has been found guilty.
DeRaad is "a long-time teacher" in the Delta school district, said Cardwell.
South Delta automotive teacher Timothy Andronyk, 31, was charged in October 2006 with touching "a young person for a sexual purpose" and was released on bail and nine conditions, including no contact with an alleged victim or anyone under the age of 18 years.
He is currently not teaching at the school.
The school, with 1,260 students in Grades 8 to 12, runs a French immersion division, an international exchange program and an active sports program that includes members of the Vancouver Giants hockey team.
A parent of three teens at South Delta, one of whom has graduated, said "I knew Mr. Andronyk and I thought he was a good guy."
Kim Menier, 17, and Evan Conroy, 17, both of whom are graduating from South Delta this year, know both teachers and said there is no connection between the two cases.
"Mr. DeRaad was actually a pretty fun guy. He taught English," said Evan.
Kim said many students are sympathetic to DeRaad "because they know the girl involved, and he had helped quite a lot with her schoolwork and would compliment her to help her self-esteem."
"I had him as a teacher and he was OK," Kim said.
"[The student] thanked him in her yearbook and then in the summer, she complained to the district, not the school or him."
Delta police have confirmed an investigation began into DeRaad's action following a complaint received July 11.
sfournier@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Province 2007