Indigenous Education Student Advisor

**Two (2) contract positions (one-year duration from start date, with the possibility of renewal up to 4 years)**

**_If you’re a culturally aware, skilled facilitator with lived experience rooted in the Indigenous community, and you’re looking to make a difference while building on your professional expertise, the Peel District School Board (PDSB) is an exciting place to be._**

Your primary role, as part of the Peel District School Board Indigenous Education Team, will be to support the well-being and achievement of First Nations, Métis and Inuit students through the planning and implementation of a Student Advisory Program. Using strategies such as the circle of learning/sessions, by invitation and intervention to address individual student needs, you will develop and implement a process for engaging students in cultural awareness, student leadership, peer mentorship, and student advisory opportunities.

Reporting to the Coordinating Leader of Indigenous Education, you will conduct and/or facilitate sessions with groups of students at various PDSB locations, in collaboration with the Indigenous Education team, as well as support the development of a system process whereby Indigenous students are connected with the program.

Among other key responsibilities as an **Indigenous Education Student Advisor, **you will be called upon to:

- communicate with school staff and administration;
- arrange transportation and parental consent to participate in cultural learning opportunities and events;
- provide support for schools with self-identified students in developing culturally relevant programming and interventions;
- respond to individual and systemic barriers (e.g. academic, mental health, justice, cultural knowledge);
- identify and address individual barriers to engagement, learning and well-being;
- provide social-emotional counseling for individual students, if qualified, or facilitate access to the resources needed;
- act as an advocate for self-identified Indigenous students, parents/guardians, school staff and administration in supporting student success;
- support the system and the school in closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in the areas of literacy and numeracy, retention of students in school, graduation rates, and advancement to post-secondary studies;
- collaborate with the Indigenous Education team to develop and implement strategies that facilitate increased participation by Indigenous parents, students, communities, and organizations in working to support academic success and well-being;
- assist in coordinating regional events addressing the unique needs of Indigenous students;
- collect and maintain accurate data and records to support the implementation and revision of the PDSB Action Plan, and provide regular updates to the Instructional Coordinator - Indigenous Education and Indigenous Education team;
- order materials to develop and support cultural awareness, leadership skills, and peer mentorship
- develop and implement a method to gather and analyze student voices to inform strategic goals of Indigenous education in PDSB, with a focus on student needs and meeting those needs in schools.

**EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS**

With your experience working with First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit children, backed by a university degree or college diploma in a relevant field, or equivalent as approved by the Board, you’re poised for success as an **Indigenous Education Student Advisor. **In this key role, you will also draw on the following knowledge, experience and skill set:

- Experience leading groups of First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit students from various Indigenous organizations as well as public schools and/or organizations;
- A valid Ontario Driver’s Licence and access to your own transportation; and
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and anti-oppression, and to working in a diverse school community and/or work environment.

**ASSETS**:

- Familiarity with Indigenous languages (Ojibwe, for instance) to communicate with families; and
- Knowledge of Indigenous teachings.

**Salary range**: $69,211 - $86,515 per annum (under review)

**_The Peel District School Board (PDSB) is a racially, culturally and linguistically diverse board that serves 155,000+ students and approximately 17,000 employees. In PDSB, 87% of students are racialized, non-white, representing 162 different ethnic backgrounds. Students in Peel have 121 different first languages. Student diversity also exists in terms of gender and gender expression, sexuality and in terms of ability and faith. A responsive and empathetic understanding of the lived experiences of the students and communities we serve is vital to those who will take on leadership roles within the PDSB. The workforce consists of teachers, office staff, custodial staff, education assistants and professional staff. The workforce is largely unionized through PDSB’s numerous affiliated barg