An Okanagan high school teacher has been suspended after admitting she helped students cheat on a provincial graduation assessment and later lied during the investigation.
Tasha Dawn Whitney, who was employed by School District No. 22 (Vernon), admitted to professional misconduct under the Teachers Act following incidents in June 2024 while working as a school-based resource teacher.
According to a consent resolution agreement released by the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation, Whitney exchanged text messages with a Grade 12 student who needed to complete the Grade 12 Literacy Assessment in order to graduate. When the student suggested having someone else write the assessment, Whitney replied with the names of three students, followed by the word “maybe.”
The following day, another student attended the school to write the assessment. Whitney was serving as an invigilator and was responsible for ensuring students completed their own work and used only approved materials.
The agreement states Whitney allowed the student to use two laptops and have a cellphone out during the assessment. She also provided the student with two unique log-in codes issued by the Ministry of Education — one assigned to the student present and one assigned to the absent student.
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The student then completed and submitted one assessment under their own name and another under the absent student’s name. Whitney knew the absent student was not at school that day and did not write the assessment.
During the assessment period, Whitney left the classroom and told another teacher the student was completing two different assessments at the same time, which she knew was not true. Afterward, she recorded that both students had completed the assessment that day.
When concerns were raised by school administrators, Whitney repeatedly lied and minimized her involvement, according to the agreement. The district terminated her employment on Sept. 13, 2024.
Following an investigation ordered in December 2024, Whitney agreed to a consent resolution with the Commissioner. She admitted her conduct breached Standards No. 1 and No. 2 of the Professional Standards for BC Educators, which relate to ethical conduct and integrity.
Whitney will serve a five-day suspension of her teaching certificate from June 1 to June 5, 2026. She must also complete a course on reinforcing respectful professional boundaries through the Justice Institute of British Columbia by April 7, 2026.
The Commissioner cited Whitney’s active role in facilitating cheating and her dishonesty during the investigation as factors in determining the penalty, noting her actions undermined public trust in the profession.
