BC teacher’s vaping intervention leads to a reprimand, remedial course

A BC high school teacher has been ordered to take a remedial course after stopping students who were reportedly vaping in a school washroom.

According to a consent agreement published online by the BC teacher regulator, Tony Kurt Schubert was walking from his classroom to another part of the school on Feb. 3, 2023.

The agreement said Schubert, who was teaching in School District 57 (Prince George), noticed students gathering in a nearby washroom.

“Based on his experience and reports from younger students, Schubert was concerned that the students might be vaping in the washroom,” the regulator said.

He approached the washroom entrance and saw three students there, including Student A.

Schubert stopped at the entrance and ordered the students to come out.

Two of the students didn’t move while Student A exited a toilet stall and walked over to the teacher but tried to duck under Schubert’s left arm to leave.

However, the regulator said Schubert put his left hand down to where the student was ducking, which prevented the student from being able to leave without making contact with his arm.

“Student A moved forward and Student A’s chest made contact with Schubert’s left hand, causing Student A to step backwards,” the regulator wrote.

Ten days later, the district issued Schubert a letter of discipline, which imposed one unpaid suspension. He served the suspension on Feb. 14, 2023.

On May 2, 2023, the BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation ordered an investigation, which was completed on Oct. 17, 2024.

In the consent agreement, Schubert admitted his conduct constituted professional misconduct and agreed to complete a course on de-escalating hostility through the Justice institute of BC by Dec. 19, 2025.

If Schubert doesn’t complete the course by that date, he can request a deadline extension. But if he does not complete the course, he may be subjected to a teaching certificate suspension.

The Commissioner said Schubert’s actions of physically blocking the student "escalated" the situation and the physical contact was “unnecessary for safety.”