Our Approach

Education in Canada is a success story. Study after study shows that our public schools are among the best in the world. But high overall quality masks deep inequality. Only 48 percent of First Nations youth living on reserve have a high school diploma. In the North, those numbers are even lower. And, too often, teachers arrive in northern First Nations without the preparation and support they need to succeed—and stay—in the classroom. The twin challenges of teacher supply and turnover compound historical injustice and systemic inequities to produce a statistical education gap between First Nations and non-First Nations communities.

Gakino'amaage: Teach For Canada is a non-profit organization that works with northern First Nations to recruit, prepare, and support committed teachers who will increase student outcomes in the North. This model has been defined by First Nations community partners, our Circle of Advisors, our Board of Directors, and experienced northern educators.

Our Culture

Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada has a supportive work culture and offers a variety of benefits to its team members, including 4 weeks of annual vacation that increases with tenure, access to mental wellness supports, flexible hours, and team-wide professional development opportunities. In addition to these perks and benefits, Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada also honours National Indigenous Peoples Day and the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation as statutory holidays, and the last week of every calendar year is paid time off too!

Your Responsibilities

The Director of Education Pathways is accountable for the oversight and operational management of the department’s activities, including the Summer Enrichment Program (SEP), Education Assistant (EA) Program, Northern Practicum Program (NPP), and the Indigenous Education Speaker Series (IESS), as well as any and all professional development activities and resources. The Director of Education Pathways will work closely with senior management to help determine the strategic direction of professional development at Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada, based on Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada’s mission, values, and feedback from key stakeholders including Community Partners, educators, and the Teacher Development department. 

The Director of Education Pathways will report to the Vice President of Programs and is responsible for both quarterly and annual reporting and planning. The Director of Education Pathways will work in close collaboration with the Director of Teacher Development and the Teacher Development department to provide ongoing professional development to Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada educators throughout the school year and, during the summer, prepare new cohorts of educators.

• Manage departmental strategy to reach ambitious outcomes. This includes leading annual and quarterly reviews and planning of departmental objectives, reviewing and evolving major program elements using data, and researching best practices.
• Oversee the planning and implementation of the Summer Enrichment Program, Education Assistant Program, preparation portion of the Northern Practicum Program, Indigenous Education Speaker Series, and any and all professional development activities and resources.
• Develop, manage, assign, and monitor the departmental budget.
• Manage and coach the Professional Development Manager(s) and Coordinator(s) to ensure that they are effectively developing educators through a range of methods including coaching, resource development, networking, and the provision of external support. 
• Advise senior management on trends to inform organizational growth strategy.
• Keep the Vice President (VP) of Programs well-informed on progress toward departmental objectives and major obstacles that emerge.
• Ensure team members apply policies and use tools effectively so that there is departmental data compliance and consistency. 
• Work with education leaders from the First Nations we serve to ensure that our preparation programming evolves to support their needs and is grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing.
• Work with the VP of Programs and Teacher Development team to iteratively grow Gakino’amaage’s preparation programming to maximize impact and retention.
• Revise departmental practices and policies to be in line with legal requirements and best practices. 
• Collaborate with other departments to maximize Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada’s collective impact and ensure policies and practices are aligned.

Your Fit

• You are respectful of Indigenous cultures and histories: You have a deep respect for the histories, cultures, and goals of Indigenous communities in Canada, particularly those of First Nations.
• You are a teacher: You are a certified teacher with strong pedagogy and are comfortable offering in-person classroom coaching as well as remote support to teachers in northern First Nations schools. Assets include:
• • Experience teaching in Indigenous communities and/or northern/remote jurisdictions in Canada
  • Special Education certification and/or experience
• You are a relationship‐builder: You build relationships with ease and you engage others around you. You thrive under the challenges of being in an on‐call support role and have developed sustainable self‐care techniques. 
• You are highly organized: You have strong time management skills and prioritize to plan effectively and meet competing deadlines. 
• You are a strategic thinker and problem solver: You have the ability to develop, implement, and evaluate initiatives that provide support and growth opportunities to educators.
• You are a builder: You are a multi-talented go-getter who has an unbridled ambition to build things: programs, structures, templates, and even policies. You have lots of ideas.

Expected Travel

• Attend in-person portion of the Summer Enrichment Program (1+ week including setup, tear down, and travel)
• Attend in-person portion of the EA Program (1 week including setup, tear down, and travel)
• One introductory trip to First Nation partner (5 days) in first year in position
• Attend one to two multi-day trips (typically three to four days each) per year to visit Community Partners, providing support to teachers or EAs with specific requests, addressing major challenges, or advancing organizational outcomes

Application Process

To begin your application, please submit your resume and cover letter. The process will start with a virtual introductory interview, which will be preceded by a pre-interview assignment for you to complete.

Equity, Accessibility

Gakino'amaage: Teach For Canada is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. As an organization that works with First Nations, we value Indigenous perspectives in the workplace and strongly encourage Indigenous candidates to apply.

Gakino'amaage: Teach For Canada welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the hiring process.

Indigenous Integrity

Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada is committed to increasing the representation of First Nations team members across all roles in the organization. We encourage First Nations candidates to self-identify in their application. Self-identification is voluntary and confidential.

This information supports our efforts to hire First Nations candidates, particularly from the Nations and treaty territories we serve, whenever possible, and to provide meaningful support throughout the recruitment process.

We are also committed to upholding the integrity of Indigenous claims of identity. If you self-identify as Indigenous and are the successful candidate, you will be asked to provide substantiating documentation.

Job term: Full-Time Permanent (40-44 hours/week)

Requirements:

• Must have a valid driver’s license

• Must be a certified and experienced teacher in one of Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada’s jurisdictions, and/or possess a graduate degree in Indigenous education or curriculum design

Desired Experience:

• 4+ years of experience working as a teacher and/or designing curriculum,
• 4+ years of experience in adult education/professional development,
• 4+ years of experience working in First Nations education, ideally in a northern or remote context,
• Experience developing and managing a budget,
• Experience developing and overseeing a departmental or program strategy, and
• Experience in a management role, with demonstrated skill in cultivating a high-performance team and coaching team members.