Parents file ethics complaint against Kleefeld teacher, no policy for investigation or reprimand

A group of parents have filed an ethics complaint against a Hanover teacher after she made a threat to kill one of her students. No policy exists to address such an incident.

A group of parents have lodged their complaint with the Commissioner of Teacher Professional Conduct in Manitoba against a Grade 8 Kleefeld School teacher after exhausting all other avenues in achieving disciplinary action against her.

“If you’re teaching my kids, I expect a level of professionalism from you and regardless of what your belief system is, there’s a professional code of conduct, right?” said Rod Penner, who filed the complaint against the teacher on behalf of himself and the other parents.

In the parents’ complaint, Penner alleges the teacher made the comment, “If you don’t stop that, I’ll kill you,” to a student who wouldn’t stop picking at an LGBTQ+ sticker on the door of the classroom.

The sticker is there to let LGBTQ+ students know that this teacher and her classroom were a safe space for them and a safe space for children who have questions about such issues.

“If you’re the safe go-to person for kids, then you actually need to be safe for everyone,” said Penner, who has a son in the teacher’s class. His son has never been threatened by the teacher.

The commissioner’s office follows the procedures established under the Education Administration Act and the Teacher Competence Standards Regulation when performing a review and, if warranted, an investigation. Notice is given to the claimant, the teacher, and the division with regular updates provided to each party, according to the act. During an investigation, the teacher’s certificate may be suspended if the teacher is seen to be harmful to students. This teacher’s licence has not been suspended, according to the province’s registry of certified teachers and school clinicians.

“Because every situation is unique and influenced by its specific facts, we are not able to provide a definitive answer about outcomes,” stated a commissioner’s spokesperson in an email when asked what consequences a teacher can face if they threaten a student.

The spokesperson did note that outcomes for an investigated teacher can range from dismissal of the complaint to cancellation of the teacher’s certificate.

Penner was only made aware of the incident through the parental advisory committee who said it would be investigating, but when nothing was done Penner went to the principal.

The principal told Penner what the teacher said and what the kids heard were at odds. He also told Penner that all policy and procedures were followed and nothing would be done against the teacher.

Penner also went to see superintendent Joe Thiessen who told him that a decision had been made and he wouldn’t discuss the matter with him. Penner, and six parents, then made a presentation to the board of trustees who said they couldn’t discuss details of the matter due to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Penner later got a letter from the board informing him that nothing would be done and for him to lodge a complaint with the ethics commissioner if he so chose.

The teacher did send an email to parents the day following the incident, apologizing and explaining that there was a lot going on in the classroom and some of the children were saying inappropriate things about the LGBTQ+ sticker while trying to take it off the door.

“I intended to tell the students, ‘Don’t take that off because you are going to kill it.’ Some of the students heard, ‘Don’t take that off or I will kill you.’ I am so very sorry for this if this did come out. I meant to say the other thing,” she wrote in the email to parents.

“I didn’t mean to offend anyone and certainly would never tell someone I would kill them.”

The Carillon has decided not to name the teacher in the complaint, who is a veteran with more than two decades of experience, and is classified as being in good standing with the province.

Penner’s biggest concern is that parents are not being informed as to what is happening in the classroom by the division. He is also concerned that there is no policy in place to address teachers making threats against students, how that should be investigated, and what the consequences might be should the teacher be found at fault.

There are policies in place for employee to employee misconduct, student to student, and student to teacher, but no teacher to student misconduct.

Thiessen was asked what procedures are in place regarding teacher to student bullying, harassment, or threatening behaviour and how the division would handle the matter and he responded in an email through a spokesperson that “any allegations involving inappropriate conduct by a staff member are taken seriously. The division reviews concerns and takes appropriate action in accordance with applicable (requirements and obligations in) legislation, collective agreements, and employee privacy requirements.”

Thiessen did cite two policies, the Respect for Human Diversity and the Safe Schools policies. While each outline the rights afforded to everyone in the school division, neither address what the procedures are for an investigation or the penalty for a teacher who was found abusive towards a student. Other policies in the division also outline rights of the person, but don’t address teacher to student investigative measures or consequences.

Board chair Dallas Wiebe did not respond to The Carillon by deadline asking if a policy will be added or modified to address teacher to student misconduct. Governance chair Jeff Freisen said he couldn’t comment. Both men are trustees for the ward that Kleefeld falls under.

“I feel like (the division) is being irresponsible,” said Penner. “There’s weak leadership. They’re irresponsible with our kids and they’re hiding the facts to protect themselves…from their own irresponsibility. That’s what I think. That’s my honest opinion right there.”