Coordinator of Mi\'kmaw Services/Education

Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education
Coordinator of Mi\'kmaw Services/Education 1.00 FTE Vacant
Terms and conditions of employment, including wages, are in accordance with the Nova Scotia Teachers\' Provincial Agreement
Closing Date: Midnight, April 24th, 2023
Scope: The Coordinator, under the direction of appropriate Regional Centre for Education Staff, and through direct connection with the Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaq Services Division (MSD), shall be responsible for the coordination and leadership in all aspects of Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw and Indigenous education, programs and services; supervising Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw Student Support Workers (including Native Student Advisors); collaborating with centre Coordinators; advising and assisting the Regional Executive Director and the Director of Programs and Student Services; coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating the ongoing implementation of Treaty Education initiatives within schools and programs for Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw and other Indigenous students; and participating in decision making with Senior Management on issues related to Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw/Indigenous students and communities. The Coordinator will also assist in the implementation of initiatives and strategies which will have the highest impact on Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw/Indigenous student success as outlined by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Promising Practices in Supporting Success for Indigenous Students.
The Coordinator will have a broad mandate covering students, parents, community groups and staff, and must work closely with Programs and Student Services staff, School Administration, School Advisory Councils, Human Resources, and Race Relations, Cross Cultural Understanding and Human Rights (RCH) Coordinators/Facilitators. The Coordinator will also be responsible for liaising with Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw Communities, Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw organizations, Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw Kina\xe2\x80\x99matnewey (MK), and Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw Elders. The expertise and advice provided to the Regional Executive Director and Senior Staff team shall be in the areas of equity, inclusion, student achievement, and engagement and includes tasks and guidance in such areas as communication, strategic planning, policy development, curriculum, professional development, service delivery and human resources.
Competencies: The Coordinator shall have the following competencies:

• The ability to provide strategic leadership to support a vision of equity and social justice in policy, student services, curriculum, communications, human resources and regional/provincial initiatives;

• The ability to lead strategic initiatives and to provide leadership and direction to a team responsible for cultivating learning environments that support and encourage diversity;

• The ability to analyze needs of Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw/Indigenous students within the region and the lived experience necessary to communicate and collaborate with parents, community members and organizations that represent and support Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw students to effectively recommend actions/strategies to address those needs;

• Demonstrated experience representing and supporting Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw Communities;

• The ability to strategize with Senior Staff in the development and implementation of Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw and Indigenous related initiatives, provincial and regional policy and School Success initiatives;

• The ability to design and implement appropriate Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw and Indigenous related professional development programs;

• The ability to establish strong links and build positive relationships within the region, with students, parents, community members and external groups including Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw Kina\xe2\x80\x99matnewey, local Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw Communities, Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw/Indigenous organizations, and government agencies;

• The ability to develop and manage budgets and funding to ensure the efficient and effective allocation of resources.

Qualifications:

• Designated position for a Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw/Indigenous person

• Minimum Bachelor of Education degree or Master\xe2\x80\x99s degree in Education or acceptable equivalent obtained through training or experience

• Minimum (5) years successful teaching experience is preferred

• Experience in an educational leadership role or acceptable equivalent obtained through training or experience considered an asset

• Experience working with Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw/Indigenous students, communities, and organizations

• Excellent knowledge of Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw/Indigenous history, culture, and educational issues

• Knowledge of the Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw Language considered an asset

Specific Job Requirements: The Coordinator shall perform tasks as assigned by the Regional and Departmental staff (appropriate Regional Centre for Education and Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaq Services Division (MSD) staff). These tasks may vary, from time to time, with the evolution of the organization and may include, but not be limited to the following:

• Work in collaboration with Program and Student Services Staff to identify and implement progressive and high quality tools that support planning and best practices related to Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw and Indigenous issues;

• Provide leadership in fostering equity and inclusiveness in the development and implementation of programs and services for Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw and other Indigenous students;

• Develop priorities for regional and school based professional development related to Treaty Education and Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw/Indigenous issues and provide advice and support to departments to establish and implement priorities and goals for ongoing implementation of Treaty Education;

• Lead a team committed to Indigenous Education and Reconciliation; embedding Treaty Education within the curricula and teacher practice; various provincial programs, initiatives and committees relating to diversity; and liaising with Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw Communities and organizations;

• Participate as an active member of the Senior Staff Team and act as a resource to all departments with respect to Indigenous issues;

• Support specific situations with Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw/Indigenous students, parents, Elders, and communities to collect pertinent information and make appropriate recommendations to the Director or senior management team;

• Provide a strong liaison with Mi\'kmaw communities and families within their region to ensure parents and communities feel a key part of schools and their services and have a say in their directions;

• Provide support for schools in the development of student success plans which place a high value priority upon helping principals to support teachers to teach though promising practices for Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw/Indigenous student success;

• Oversee programming and supports for Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw and other Indigenous students;

• Effectively manage financial resources (provincial, regional, grant, etc.) directed in support of Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw/Indigenous programming and initiatives and participate in the preparation of the annual business plan;

• Provide communication to schools on Program and Student Services initiatives related to Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw/Indigenous students and education;

• Participate in the student transition planning process, in the identification and development of supports for individual program planning teams for students, in establishing needs and priorities in the allocation of human and material resources to support Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaw and other Indigenous students with special needs;

• Any other related duties as required.

Job Segment: Curriculum, Education