Ishmael Mustapha

Ishmael Mustapha was born in Treherne, Manitoba, in 1972 and has lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba, ever since. He attended schools in the western part of Winnipeg, including John Taylor Collegiate, from which he graduated in 1990. During his school years, Ishmael was an avid athlete, participating in numerous team sports such as ice hockey, basketball,volleyball, soccer, football, track and field, baseball, and tennis.
Ishmael pursued his higher education at the University of Manitoba, where he earned two degrees. He completed a Bachelor of Science with a major in Mathematics and a minor in Applied Mathematics in 1995, followed by a Bachelor of Education in Math Education in 1998.

Ishmael married in December 1992 and is a proud father of three sons, born in December 1993, September 1995, and May 1999. He has been deeply involved in coaching his sons’ hockey, basketball, and soccer teams from 1999 to 2013.

Ishmael began his teaching career in 1998, starting with mathematics at Maples Collegiate. He then moved to the University of Winnipeg Collegiate, where he taught from 2000 to 2018. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he also coached the school’s soccer teams and organized over 60 youth camps across Manitoba, Ohio, and Indiana from 2003 to 2016.

Expanding his professional horizons, Ishmael served as the Head of Mathematics at a private school in the UAE in 2019 and has been teaching mathematics in China since 2020.

An advocate for physical fitness, Ishmael exercises daily for two hours, running 5-10 miles and actively participating in soccer, hockey, basketball, and golf. Over his 31.5-year marriage, he has remained dedicated to sports, both as a player and a coach.

Ishmael Mustapha’s life story is one of perseverance, passion for education, and commitment to athletics, showcasing his unwavering dedication to teaching and coaching throughout his career.