Transcript No Slide Title

A Summary of Saskatchewan
Boards of Education’s Aboriginal
Initiatives for Employment and
Student Success
FNME “Promising Practices” Symposium
April 2, 2009
Jamie Lerat
Saskatchewan School Boards Association
Why this report?
Aboriginal Employment Development
Program
Initiatives that strengthen Aboriginal Student
Achievement
Anticipated employment opportunities
Special Supports
Improve the education results of First
Nations and Métis students.
Create and support a Representative
Workforce
Rationale
Three specific responsibilities regarding
Aboriginal people within the province
Supply
Demand
Review
Methodology
Aboriginal student achievement
Initiatives implemented to strengthen Aboriginal
student achievement and increase graduates
Inventory of employment opportunities
Anticipated employment opportunities within the
next five years
Methodology
Awareness training
Past 12 months staff participation
Policy Changes / Special Considerations
Special considerations related to support
Aboriginal education
Student achievement
Aboriginal recruitment
Aboriginal retention
Procurement
Methodology
Decision to highlight school divisions
Stability
Providing programming and working with
boards
Innovative
Programming unique
Aboriginal Employment
Development Program
Invitation to Boards of Education
Principals of change management
Business case approach
Three key areas of development
Employment
Education and Training
Economic development
Implementation of a
Representative Workforce Strategy
Identifying barriers that limit the
recruitment & retention
Emphasizing that applicants are hired
based on skills and merit
Encouraging applications for
employment and economic opportunities
Dispelling common myths and
misconceptions
AEDP Activity – March 31, 2009
Eight School Divisions – signed
Three School Divisions – current
discussions
School division personnel “Significant first
steps in creating an awareness of and a desire
for change.
Aboriginal Student Achievement
Provincial Initiatives designed to improve
student learning outcomes
Student achievement for both Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal students
Programming targeting community schools
No current data collection
Cultural Programming
Culturally welcoming schools assist in
increasing student learning
Community schools
Regardless of student demographics.
Aboriginal Education Provincial Advisory
Committee
Critical for the success for Aboriginal students
and harmonious relationships
Cultural Programming
Prairie Valley School Division
Cultural programming and treaty education in all
schools
A Time for Significant Leadership
Conducted cultural affirmation
School climate audits
Development of school based improvement
goals.
Cultural Programming
First Nation language classes
Cree, Michif, Lakota
Immersion language programming offered in
many community schools
Pre-kindergarten classes
Once only in high school
Cultural Programming
Advice & wisdom of Elders & Cultural
advisors
Community feedback to confirm student
needs are being addressed
Elder Advisory Committees/Councils work
with Boards of Education regarding;
Strategic plans;
Implementation of treaty education;
Other initiatives/strategies
Cultural Programming
Elder Forums/Camps with teaching
staff and board members
Elder protocol resource
Regina Public
Saskatoon Public
Prairie Valley (draft form)
Cultural Programming
What is an Elder?
Variety of resource people
Aunties, Uncles
Helpers;
Traditional Knowledge Keepers;
Relationships with First Nations or Métis
Bands important
Cultural Programming
Saskatoon Public School Division
System Waokiye / Traditional Helper
(not an Elder)
Inclusion of First Nations and Métis
teachings in core curriculum
Facilitate cultural awareness
education
Organize / coordinate cultural events
Coordinate Elders services
Cultural Programming
Saskatoon Public School Division
Year-round sweatlodge ceremonies open
to all teaching staff.
Weekly smudging ceremonies
Ventilated rooms to accommodate
ceremonies
Regina Public
Saskatoon Public
CIF Goals/Curriculum Renewal
Prairie Spirit School Division
Student engagement goal targeted at First Nations
and Métis students
Identified strategies specific for First Nations and
Métis Students
Targeted specific literacy goals at community
schools
Regina Public
Integrate Aboriginal peoples’ ideas about literacy
and numeracy into current initiatives.
CIF Goals/Curriculum Renewal
Networking groups of teachers, elders, and
advisors
Creation of resource binders
Support for teachers
Saskatoon Public School Division
Resource binders for grades 1-3, 4-6, and high
school
Prairie Valley School Division
Specific work to write curricula
Shared resource for all school divisions
Academic Programming
Programming focuses on:
Increase Aboriginal student success
Increase number of Aboriginal graduates
Targeted at high school students
Programming moved to middle years
11 yrs of age
Academic Programming
Christ the Teacher School Division
Appointed five Learning Achievement Coaches
Schools with high First Nations and Métis student
enrollments
Work directly with teachers to effect change in the
classroom
Early intervention
Vital to student learning
Highly valued by school divisions
Academic Programming
Cultural liaison workers / community school
workers
Leadership and mentoring programs
Older students
Leadership skills
Continue to develop
Programming is experimental
Project work, classroom visits, outdoor
experiences.
Academic Programming
Programming targeted as critical supports for
a number of students
Transition from elementary > middle years > high
school
Job and career fair
Lloydminster Catholic School Division
Success when career and mentorship programs
are combined
Academic Programming
Older students
Education session offered in locations away
from school
Flexible start times
Transportation
Class and semester structure varies
External additional supports
Day care provided
Are we making a difference?
No specific data regarding student outcomes
First Nations and Métis perspectives and
content into curriculum is in its infancy.
Creation of culturally affirming schools
continues to develop
School divisions are looking for ways to
measure
Are we making a difference?
Programming targeting “at risk” students
Increased numbers of students
Increased Graduation rates for First
Nations and Métis students.
Increasing Aboriginal population increasing
according to the 2006 census
Are we making a difference?
Regina Public School Division
Stirling McDowell grant
Connection between Elder involvement in schools
and increased student learning
St Paul’s School Divisions
Measurement of students’ understanding of in
grades 4, 9, and 12.
Assessment developed in 2009
Administered to grade 12 students in 2010.
Anticipated Employment
Opportunities
Within the next five years?
Development of tracking systems to determine
employee count
Clarification of job descriptions
Inconsistency to address issues of First
Nations and Métis employment
Employees with specific responsibilities
Added responsibilities to existing roles
Anticipated Employment
Opportunities
Equity consultant
Aboriginal
Education
Coordinator
Aboriginal
Employment
Development
Officer/Coordinator
First Nations, Inuit,
Métis Education
Coordinator
Learning Leaders
Facilitator for First
Nations and Métis
Education System
Waokiye
HR
Consultant/Manager
Anticipated Employment
Opportunities
School Divisions with targeted personnel
More successful with
Grant applications
Partnership agreements
Advancing First Nations and Métis
employment and education
Anticipated Employment
Opportunities
Signed Education Equity Agreements with
SHRC and /or AED Partnership
Actively working toward developing a
Representative Workforce
Interest in hiring First Nations and Métis
teachers to create a RW
Not always successful with obtaining
candidates
Anticipated Employment
Opportunities
Regina Public School Division
Target number of hiring First Nations and
Métis teachers
Aligns with their focuses Human
Resources Equity Plan
St. Paul’s School Division
Prioritizes Aboriginal applicants
Anticipated Employment
Opportunities
Active recruitment of teachers from
ITEP
NORTEP
SUNTEP
FNUC
Identified personnel
Recruit, assist, support
Anticipated Employment
Opportunities
Traditional means of advertising employment
opportunities
On Reserve recruitment
Awareness Training
Variety of work being done
Central office staff
Senior administrators
Consultants
School administrators
Teaching staff
Awareness Training
Office of the Treaty Commission – most
common
A Time for Significant Leadership
The work of Elders in schools
SSBA – AEDP presentations
Awareness Training
Regina Public School Division
Largest number of Elders
No stand alone awareness in-service
First Nation and Métis perspective infused into all
staff development
Leadership Enhancement and Development
program
Initiated in 2010
First Nations and Métis Educational Leadership
Awareness Training
Saskatoon Public School Division
Culturally Responsive School Division
Alaska Native Knowledge Network
Pilot the principals of culturally responsive school
in two schools
Ongoing research exploring promising practices
www.ankn.uaf.edu
Awareness Training
North East School Division
Myths and Misconceptions training
Constance Hourie
Some school divisions
Active plans to provide training
Already provided training
Staff trained within next 2-3 years
Awareness Training
Saskatchewan School Boards Association
Current project
Initiate pilot session / training session – Fall 2009
Increase school board’s awareness of issues
facing Aboriginal students
Signing of AEDP Partnership Agreements
Representative Workforce Strategy
Education Equity agreements
Special Support
Regina Public School Division
Written policy addressing Aboriginal
Education
Thank you
FNME “Promising Practices” Symposium
April 2, 2009
Jamie Lerat
Saskatchewan School Boards Association