School District 22 (Image Credit: Liam Verster / Vernon Matters Staff)

By Liam Verster

Cheating Scandal

Local teacher facing disciplinary action over cheating scandal

Feb 10, 2026 | 11:54 AM

A local high school teacher is facing some penalties after being caught up in a cheating incident.

The B.C. Commissioner for Teaching Regulation said in a report that Tasha Whitney was employed as a high school teacher within School District 22 in 2024, when she was approached by a student and asked that another person write their Grade 12 Literacy Assessment.

The teacher provided the first student with a list of three students that could complete the assessment for the first student, and an agreement was made to have the first student’s work done by another person.

The cheating scandal was uncovered when the principal of the school was verifying the assessment and confirmed that the original student was not in attendance that day but still was listed as having completed the assessment.

The Commissioner stated that Whitney at first denied the allegations, but later confessed.

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As a result of this incident, Whitney will have her teaching certificate suspended for five days between June 1 and June 5, 2026. She must also successfully complete the course Reinforcing Respectful Professional Boundaries through the Justice Institute by April 7, 2026. If she does not pass, Whitney could see her teaching certificate suspended until she successfully completes the course.

“At School District 22 it is expected by all who serve the system—at every level—to act in ways that reflect our shared values, our policies, and our commitment to student well‑being and public trust. When concerns arise, they are taken seriously and addressed through established processes designed to ensure fairness and due process,” Karla Mitchell, Superintendent and CEO of SD22 told Vernon Matters in an email.

“Our focus remains on supporting safe, inclusive, and high‑quality learning environments for students.”