BC teacher who told student ‘get to work or I will kill you’ suspended

A BC teacher who told a student to “get to work or I will kill you” has been suspended for a day.

According to a May 21 BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation decision, Prince George high school teacher Ingrid Anne Stengler had previously been warned about similar conduct before the incident took place in June 2023.

The decision said Stengler was teaching a Grade 9 class when she said to a student, “Get to work or I will kill you.”

The student reported feeling “uncomfortable and awkward” after Stengler said that to them.

Another classmate reported feeling “weird” after the comment.

The unnamed high school issued the teacher a letter of direction telling her to “speak and treat students with respect.”

A year earlier, the school had issued another letter following similar conduct.

“Use words with students that are not hurtful in their meaning and/or that cannot be perceived as threats, even when said in a joking manner,” the letter stated.

Stengler, who has been teaching since 2006, signed a consent agreement with the regulator admitting to her conduct.

“Stengler failed to create a positive learning environment, (and) Stengler had previously engaged in and had been warned about similar conduct,” the regulator said.

The BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation suspended her licence for one day and ordered Stengler to take the Creating a Positive Learning Environment course.