Position: Courage to Soar Alternative Secondary School Education Assistant
Start Date: January 2025, contract position until August 2025
Hours of Work: 40 hours per week
Supervision: The successful candidate will be employed by the Fort Erie Native Cultural Centre Incorporated, responsible to the policies and directions determined by the Board of Directors and under the daily supervision of the Executive Director or their delegate.
Primary Objective
The purpose of the Indigenous Education Assistant position is to enhance urban Indigenous learning and improve Indigenous student well-being under the supervision and guidance of the Education Liaison Officer. This position will help improve coordination of, and access to, Indigenous learning opportunities for Indigenous learners in Friendship Centre communities. The role will engage and respond to urban Indigenous youth, supporting their priorities and approaches to learning.
Education/Work Experience
- Highly motivated with a strong desire to become a teacher or social worker working with Indigenous people in Indigenous communities
- Strong knowledge and awareness of Indigenous cultures, histories, and the impacts of colonization, particularly in the context of student and community well-being within the education system (e.g., Residential schools, intergenerational trauma, child welfare, family violence, youth and the criminal justice system)
- Knowledge of Indigenous pedagogies and traditional teachings, including Indigenous knowledge and language reclamation
- Basic understanding of the Ontario education system, especially its impact on Indigenous learners and families
- Must have a clear vulnerable sector CPIC
- Must have a driver’s license and reliable transportation
- All required vaccinations must be up to date
- Willingness to upgrade skills independently as required by the position
- Minimum 1-year experience working in a not-for-profit setting
Key Responsibilities
- Support youth-led engagement and activities to identify learning needs, opportunities, and goals
- Gather knowledge about Friendship Centre and community learning resources to support urban Indigenous youth
- Follow directions of Classroom Teacher(s) and Education Liaison Officer to assist with learning programs
- Support and reinforce lessons through one-on-one or small group instruction and lesson reviews with students
- Assist the Education Liaison Officer and Classroom Teacher(s) with administrative tasks and tracking
- Provide supervision to students during classes, between classes, lunch, recess, field trips, class outings, and industrial tours
- Work closely with the Education Liaison Officer and Classroom Teacher(s) to identify student challenges and develop positive strategies for resolution
- Support Indigenous students in academic, social-emotional, and behavioral areas, and participation in cultural programming
- Promote balance for students—mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually
- Focus on developing students’ self-esteem during all interactions
- Collaborate with the Classroom Teacher to provide instruction and assistance supportive of regular class programming
- Assist in the development and implementation of Cultural and Land-based learning activities
- Must have a current, clear, vulnerable sector police check
- Must have a clean driver’s abstract and a current driver’s license