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 Professional Development Manager will supervise, plan, develop, and deliver programming for teachers, teacher candidates, and other Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada stakeholders, ensuring alignment with the priorities and needs identified by Community Partners. This role will work closely with teachers, teacher candidates, and education assistants (EAs) to provide responsive support throughout the school year. The Professional Development Manager will also lead the planning and delivery of the Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) and the Northern Practicum Program (NPP), preparing the next cohort of educators to teach and thrive in northern First Nations communities.

• Collaborate with the Education Pathways team to plan, develop, and deliver professional development opportunities for Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada teachers and teacher candidates throughout the school year (including independent learning modules,  creation of tip sheets/resources based on teacher support and Community Partner needs).
• Manage the use of a Learning Management System (LMS) to ensure smooth delivery of professional development materials for all programs.
• Provide Learning Management System training for Gakino’amaage: Teach for Canada staff as needed.  
• Supervise and manage all aspects of the Summer Enrichment Program (SEP), including overseeing staff, presenters, and teachers.
• Collaborate with the Education Pathways, Community Engagement, Teacher Recruitment, and Teacher Development teams to effectively deliver all activities throughout SEP.
• Work with the Education Pathways Director to ensure that SEP adapts to meet Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada’s growth as an organization.
• Collaborate with the Education Pathways Director to review the effectiveness of SEP and develop and implement improvements as needed.
• Develop, plan, and support the preparation of teacher candidates for the Northern Practicum Program (NPP) in partnership with First Nations community schools and external institutions (e.g., Trent University).
• Supervise and manage all aspects of the Northern Practicum Program (NPP), including overseeing staff, presenters, and teachers.
• Design and develop promotional materials to meet programming objectives.
• Collaborate with the team to maintain SEP and NPP budgets, support the Education Assistant program, and ensure that teacher and EA experiences inform programming initiatives.
• Perform administrative and reporting tasks using Microsoft, Google Workplace, Canva, ClickUp, Advataxes, and Salesforce, as well as show willingness to learn new systems as needed.
• Contribute to quarterly and annual planning and review processes to advance departmental and organizational goals.
• Support the Education Pathways and Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada teams in other ways as needed.

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.
• 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 strong 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, are able to prioritize and plan effectively to meet competing deadlines. 
• You are an organized, analytical, strategic thinker and problem solver: You have the ability to develop, implement, and evaluate initiatives that provide support and growth opportunities to educators.
• Commitment to Equity: You actively seek to dismantle colonial and systemic barriers in education through your work and relationships.

Application Process

To begin your application, please submit your resume and cover letter. The interview 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

Requirements:

• Must be a certified and experienced teacher in one of Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada’s jurisdictions, or able to transfer certification prior to start date, or have equivalent related experience in an education setting.
• Must have a valid driver’s license

Desired Experience:

• Experience with Learning Management Systems 
• 3+ years of experience in adult education/professional development
• 2+ years of experience teaching or working in First Nations education, ideally in a northern or remote context
• Experience designing curriculum and, 
• Experience managing a budget
• Experience organizing events and conferences

AI‑assisted hiring: We use AI tools to help screen applications for the Professional Development Manager role. All hiring decisions include human review. To request a human‑only review or an accommodation, contact Joleen at apply@teachforcanada.ca.