Reprimanded Winnipeg teacher admits he mocked crying 9-year-old, influencing other students to join in

A Winnipeg teacher was suspended without pay for five days after he mimicked one of his crying students last year.

The teacher admitted to mocking a nine-year-old who was having a meltdown and while "on the floor on their stomach, waved their arms and continued to cry."

"[He] mimicked [the student's] behaviour, gestures, and expression," says part of an agreement signed by the teacher and Bobbi Taillefer, Manitoba commissioner of teacher professional conduct. "Other students followed [his] lead in mimicking. "

Taillefer was appointed Manitoba's first commissioner of teacher conduct one year ago. The consent resolution agreement with the teacher was posted in the recently unveiled teacher registry on the provincial government website.

The teacher has been working as an educator since the mid-1990s in the Louis Riel School Division and the defunct St. Vital School Division, the report says. He is listed in the teacher registry as in "good standing" subject to conditions and limitations after going through the disciplinary process.

The mocking — one of three incidents outlined in Taillefer's report — happened on or around April 29 last year.

The nine-year-old student, described as having "higher needs," became upset during a game with classmates that was overseen by the teacher on the carpet near the end of class.

The student was eliminated from the first round and started to cry.

The student declined an offer by the educational assistant to go for a walk, the report says, and proceeded to wave their arms and cry while lying on the floor on their stomach.

The teacher then mimicked the student's gestures and expression, which spurred other students to do the same, the report said. This went on until the educational assistant told the teacher and students to stop.

The two other incidents from around the same time involved the teacher disparaging two other students.

In one case, a student, who the teacher knew regularly began the school day receiving support outside the classroom, couldn't find a pencil. The teacher "made a critical comment that more consistent attendance would help them keep track of their belongings," the report says.

Another example involved a student with "challenges adjusting to the classroom" partly due to English language issues. When that student seemed not to be participating in activities, the teacher "made a critical comment questioning [the student's] language proficiency," the report says.

Louis Riel School Division placed him on administrative leave shortly after the behaviour was reported at the end of April.

During Taillefer's investigation, she also received "historical details and findings made by the employer of misconduct" from throughout the teacher's career, "including multiple incidents that resulted in discipline and/or direction imposed by his respective employer," her report says.

"He failed to create a positive and inclusive learning environment ... failed to model appropriate behaviour expected of a teacher," the report says. "His conduct undermines public confidence in the school system."

The division gave the teacher a five-day unpaid suspension in May, and after Taillefer's investigation, he agreed to complete four professional development courses by the end of March.

The review resulted in other "corrective and disciplinary action," a Louis Riel School Division spokesperson said in a statement to CBC News. The teacher was also transferred to another school within the school division and has been "subject to increased supervision throughout the 2025-26 school year," the division said.

"The province has confirmed that the teacher’s certificate remains in good standing and the staff member continues to meet all provincial conditions required for employment," a statement from the division says.

The teacher has expressed remorse for his "disrespectful and inappropriate" conduct, the agreement signed by Taillefer and the teacher says.

Union 'pleased' teacher complying

The head of the union that represents thousands of teachers in Manitoba said the Manitoba Teachers' Society doesn't "condone any behaviour in a classroom by teachers" that may undermine student well-being or safety.

"We're disappointed," MTS president Lillian Klausen told CBC News.

"But we're pleased ... the teacher in this case was able to admit to some of the behaviours that he had in the classroom were maybe not up to the standards of what we would expect from our Manitoba teachers, and that he is willing to do some of the professional development and training."

Klausen said MTS supports the creation of the provincial registry because it boosts transparency.

She also suggested there is perhaps a "bigger picture" takeaway here about the effect of fewer guidance counsellors, social workers, speech pathologists and similar resources available to teachers over time.

"The classroom complexity, the classroom sizes are growing, and I think when you have situations like that, frustration levels increase for everybody involved," she said.

"We are putting more and more of these responsibilities on our teachers, and I think maybe this is a sign and a cry for help in funding these resources that we used to have in place for everyone to access."