Teacher commissioner hears 94 complaints in first 15 months

WINNIPEG — Ninety-four complaints about teacher misconduct were flagged in the 15 months after Manitoba set up an independent office to regulate the profession.

Commissioner Noni Classen has released a summary of the allegations brought to her attention and findings of investigations undertaken between January 2025 and March 2026.

A new disciplinary system, as well as an online registry where members of the public can look up the education level and standing of teachers and school clinicians, came into effect Jan. 6, 2025.

“These processes can be difficult and deeply personal for everyone involved, including students, families, teachers and school administrators,” Classen wrote in a 24-page report published this week. “It is important that all individuals who interact with this office are treated with professionalism, dignity and respect.”

Four interim suspensions were issued between the launch of the registry and the last day of the 2025-26 fiscal year. Three teaching certificates were voluntarily surrendered during that period. Of the 23 matters that were finalized, six included consent resolution agreements — written documents including agreed upon facts and disciplinary measures that are published on the registry.

The most common misconduct allegations were categorized as “emotional harm to students,” such as yelling or mocking children.

There were also allegations of contacting a student on social media, providing alcohol or cannabis to a minor and inappropriate use of force.

Classen said in an interview the early findings suggest there’s a need for more teacher training around “professional responsibilities and boundaries.”

“It’s early so I don’t want to overstate trends but it gives us a useful starting point,” said the former teacher, who assumed her current position in May after two decades of research and advocacy work at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection.

The new report shows her office did not take any further steps after a preliminary review of 16 of the 23 cases that have been resolved. No action was taken following an investigation into one case.

Cases are disregarded if the defendant does not have a permanent teaching certificate, although Classen indicated she’s interested in expanding the registry to include limited teaching permit holders (often international teachers and some substitutes) in the future.

The overwhelming majority of cases — including six during the 2024-25 school year and 47 in 2025-26 — were flagged to the commissioner by an employer, which included school divisions, independent schools and First Nations.

Public complaints accounted for six per cent of cases during the three-month rollout and 21 during the first full year of the office’s operations.

The commissioner initiated 10 investigations last year. Four educators reported incidents themselves.

The overwhelming majority of complaints were made in English. Five were submitted in French.

As far as Classen is concerned, the diversity of sources is a promising sign. It suggests there’s growing public awareness about the registry and employers are well versed in their new legislative responsibilities, she said.

The commissioner indicated her office has yet to launch a case as a result of a tip from one of its counterparts in another jurisdiction in Canada.

A government spokesperson confirmed Manitoba has alerted other regulatory bodies about certificate suspensions and cancellations under the new system as part of a “jointly developed interjurisdictional protocol.”

“To get yourself in trouble, you need to cross very obvious and clear boundaries. No one has their licence removed without good reason,” said Andrew Micklefield, executive director of the Manitoba Federation of Independent Schools.

Micklefield said he’s heard nothing but positive feedback from principals and other school leaders.

The online database is proving to be helpful for hiring managers to vet candidates, he said. “It’s easy to put something on a resumé, but the registry allows you to do a shoulder check,” Micklefield added.

As of March 31, there were 71 active teacher misconduct cases.

Nearly nine in 10 of them were either under preliminary review or being investigated. The remainder — aside from six cases that had been deferred — were referred to a hearing panel.

The first public video-conference hearing took place this summer. The registry marked another milestone recently by releasing the first decision made by a panel on a written hearing.

Classen said her team has been busy and noted parallel processes, such as police and child and family services-related investigations, often create complexities and result in delays.

Her office is currently staffed by a manager of investigations and two full-time investigators, both of whom are former police officers.

Opposition education critic Wayne Ewasko said he found it troubling that, according to the new report, there were investigator vacancies prior to June.

Prior to the 2023 election, when Ewasko was the Progressive Conservative education minister, he introduced the legislation that laid the groundwork for the current system.

» Winnipeg Free Press