Ex-23-24-10-do, Director of Indigenous Education

**Wild Rose School Division**

**Director of Indigenous Education**

**The Division**

Wild Rose School Division serves the communities of Rocky Mountain House, Drayton Valley, Caroline, Leslieville, Condor and Breton. We are located on Treaty 6 Territory, within Nakota and Cree traditional territories as well as Métis homelands. We have 17 schools that serve 4,500 students with 12% being self-identified Indigenous students. The two major First Nations language groups are Nakoda/Nakota and Cree. The school division operates in close proximity to the Stoney Nakoda First Nation (Big Horn), O'Chiese First Nation, Sunchild First Nation reserves, and within the traditional territory of Alexis Nakota First Nation as well as Paul First Nation. There is also a significant Métis population with many Métis students attending Wild Rose schools.

Since September 2022, WRSD has been developing and growing an Indigenous education program, including the hiring of a Director of Indigenous Education and four Indigenous Education Specialists. Together we have been gradually developing stronger relationships with local Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Indigenous families and communities. Our Indigenous Education Team supports the students and staff in teaching and learning practices related to Indigenous education, including the development of learning programs and resources, as well as supporting Indigenous students in all aspects of their education experience including connecting with Indigenous families and community.

Overall, our schools enjoy being part of wonderful rural communities that possess a strong sense of history and belonging, while at the same time offering many amenities. We are a strong professional learning community committed to providing powerful learning environments and improving the life chances of ALL our students.

**The Role**

**Summary of Responsibilities**
- Lead and support the Indigenous Education Team to ensure a culturally safe work environment for Indigenous staff, students and the division as a whole.
- Develop and maintain initiatives to build, increase and strengthen respectful relationships with Indigenous students, families, and communities.
- Establish and deepen relationships with community Elders and Knowledge Keepers to ensure Indigenous teachings, practices and protocols remain authentic, appropriate and consistent.
- Support and guide others who work directly with students identified as Indigenous in the school and in their community.
- Develop and implement culturally relevant Division-wide programming to support success and well-being of Indigenous students.
- Lead division-wide consultation with teachers, counsellors and administrators regarding Indigenous students’ needs and progress.
- Build capacity division-wide for greater understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing and being and teaching the historical, social, economic, and political implications of colonization of Indigenous Peoples including but not limited to residential schools.
- Design and initiate division-wide projects, workshops, conferences, events and/or celebrations (e.g., National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, culture camps, pow-wows) that develop innovative and creative programming to meet the needs of students in multiple schools.
- For more information about the role of Director of Indigenous Education please see AP 454: Role of Director of Indigenous Education

**Qualifications & Attributes**
- Valid Alberta Teacher Certificate with a minimum of 5 years’ successful teaching experience at various levels
- Administrative or leadership experience
- Superior communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills
- Completion of, or working towards, a Master’s degree with a major in Indigenous education, curriculum, education administration or a related area is considered an asset.
- An equivalent combination of Education and Indigenous lived Experience is considered an asset.

A complete package will include cover letter, resume and names and contacts of three professional references. The successful applicant will be required to provide a current criminal record check with vulnerable sector.

***Cover Letter**:
To gain a holistic understanding of applicants to the Director of Indigenous Education posting, we are requesting that the cover letter clearly:

- Describes the applicant’s fit to be an educator and leader within Wild Rose School Division and
- Describes the applicant’s background, lived experience within Indigenous community and understanding of Indigenous ways of being, belonging, doing and knowing.

Sample prompts to support the writing of the cover letter are shared below. These are shared as possible questions to consider and not as a list of questions that must be answered.

**Cover Letter Prompts for Director of Indigenous Education**:

- Who are you? What is your ancestral and cultural background? Where are you from? What community affiliation