Manitoba’s teacher watchdog heard 94 misconduct complaints in first 15 months
Commissioner Noni Classen said that while the majority of teachers carry out their work with professionalism and compassion, it is important to ensure any concerns are addressed.
Manitoba's teacher watchdog, the Manitoba Commissioner of Teacher Professional Conduct, received 94 complaints about misconduct from teachers in its first 15 months of operation, according to the organization's first full annual report released in March 2025. Among the complaints, four involved emotional harm, such as yelling at or mocking students, while two cases involved physical harm, including a teacher grabbing a student by the shirt to force them out of a chair.
Another incident saw a teacher arrange to meet a high school student via social media, offering them cannabis and alcohol, which resulted in the teacher losing their teaching certificate. Five other teachers settled their misconduct issues through consent resolution agreements without undergoing a hearing, and three teachers voluntarily surrendered their teaching certificates.
The commissioner took no further action on the remaining 17 cases. In addition to the disciplinary measures, the commissioner ordered four interim suspensions. Education Minister Tracy Schmidt emphasized the establishment of the teacher registry and commissioner to bolster accountability and public confidence in the education system.
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