Director of Instruction for Indigenous Education/Director of Indigenous Education

The Vancouver School Board welcomes applications for the position of:

Director of Instruction for Indigenous Education/
Director of Indigenous Education

Should you require further information pertaining to this position, please contact Jody Langlois at jlanglois@vsb.bc.ca

Situated on the unceded and ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, the Vancouver School Board (VSB) is an exciting, progressive, and dynamic school district providing a rich array of educational opportunities for learners from kindergarten to adult. VSB has 110 educational sites and over 8,000 employees, represented by 14 bargaining units and exempt staff. Vancouver schools have an excellent reputation as being diverse and inclusive, and for providing outstanding student-centered choice programs. VSB enrolls nearly 50,000 students of which, nearly 5% identify as being of Indigenous ancestry. VSB respects, prioritizes and supports Indigenous ways of knowing and learning.
With an innovative and collaborative culture, VSB is committed to working alongside the three Host Nations, Urban Indigenous and Métis communities to support Truth and Reconciliation. The leadership of VSB’s Indigenous Education Council, guidance of the Indigenous Education Department and the support of the Indigenous Allies and Leads are cornerstones of the work toward actualizing the equity statement within our Education Plan:
The VSB will create an equitable learning environment where every child can experience a deep sense of belonging and is free to pursue pathways of learning in ways that are authentic to themselves. The VSB will achieve this by:
•    having students see themselves and their communities in the curriculum and in the staff throughout the District;
prioritizing student needs by making informed decisions and engaging in open communication with rightsholders and stakeholders; and
•    actively fighting systems of oppression through relationship building, ongoing communication and transparency. The VSB commitment to equity will be informed by humility and accountability.
VSB is committed to achieving the goals and objectives of our Education Plan with a focus on the three broad pillars of improving student achievement, physical and mental well-being and belonging, increasing equity, and continuing our Reconciliation journey. You will be an integral member of the Senior Leadership and Learning Team, providing input around key decisions being made about VSB students’ future education. In this important and high-profile position, you will work tirelessly in support of the students in our District to improve achievement for all children of Indigenous ancestry, while honouring Indigenous culture, language and traditions within our schools and communities. You will build strong alliances and trusting partnerships with the three Host Nations, Urban Indigenous and Métis communities, VSB staff, the VSB Board, parents/guardians, students, external organizations and municipal groups. As the leader of this portfolio, you will articulate a clear vision of Indigenous education, by developing an Elders/Knowledge Keepers working group. You will motivate and inspire others to meet shared District goals. Collaborative, energetic and culturally attuned, you are able to break down complex concepts and present them in a consistent and engaging manner. You lead by positive example and have the ethical determination to work through challenges in a productive and respectful manner.
Using your passion and profound knowledge of innovation in education, you will lead the District Indigenous Education team to bring forward new ideas and to create and sustain school environments that embrace Indigenous ways of knowing, learning, and being. You will lead the team in providing enhanced educational programming and targeted support to 2240 self-identified Indigenous learners of which 1132 are enrolled in elementary schools, 909 in secondary schools, 38 in Vancouver Learning Network (VLN) and 10 Home Schooling. This role also supports the learning of all staff and students.

The Indigenous Education Department team consists of the following positions:
•    6.0 FTE Indigenous Education Enhancement Workers (IEEW)
•    9.0 FTE Indigenous Education Enhancement Teachers (IEET)
•    1.0 FTE Indigenous Education District Resource Teacher
•    1.0 FTE Indigenous Education Consultant
•    1.0 FTE District Administrator

Your unwavering commitment to excellence in Indigenous Education, knowledge of best practices in Indigenous learning and deep understanding of Indigenous history, culture, language, communities and families make you an ideal candidate for this role.
Preference will be given to a qualified member of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
The successful candidate will have:
•    Demonstrated, verifiable connections and ties to Indigenous community
•    Working knowledge of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDRIP), Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPPA) and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit (MMIWG2S), Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) Education Calls to Action
•    Understanding of the three Host Nations goals related to education
•    Understanding protocols with the three Host Nations
•    Demonstrated leadership in anti-racism and commitment to inter-cultural competence learning
•    Demonstrated commitment to having appropriate curricular inclusion of the history, culture and languages of the ancestral, unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) (MST) Nations
•    Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with the three Host Nations to develop and implement Local Education Agreement (LEA) priorities
•    Understanding the Indigenous Education Department’s work is guided by the Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement (AEEA) to encourage and facilitate Mastery, Belonging and Culture and Community
•    Demonstrated experience as a leader in a unionized environment
•    Demonstrated experience in supervision and supporting both unionized and non-unionized staff
•    Demonstrated experience presenting to diverse groups, establishing agendas, chairing committees, and working through complex challenges
•    Demonstrated experience in a leadership role
•    Demonstrated successful experience in k-12 education
•    Demonstrated school and/or administration including performance management of staff and fiscal accountability as demonstrated through budgeting is preferred
•    Masters Degree in Education and a valid Teachers Regulation Certificate and Teachers Qualification is preferred
The job title and applicable salary range for this opportunity will commensurate with the Educational Requirement as follows:

Director of Instruction – Indigenous Education
(Candidate requires Teachers Qualification, current Teachers Regulation Branch membership and Masters’ Degree)
Salary Range is:  $174,564 to $193,960 annually

Director of Indigenous Education
(Candidate without Masters’ Degree and/or without a Teachers Qualification)
Salary Range is:  $153,878 to $170,976 annually

Benefits: Teachers Pension Plan (with TQS and valid TRB) or Municipal Pension Plan, Vancouver Employee Savings Plan, Extended Health, Dental, Group Life, Long Term Disability, Paid Sick leave, Vacation, Gratuity, Bonus supplemental vacation and potential compensatory time.
HOW TO APPLY:

Qualified applicants are invited to apply online on Make a Future at https://bit.ly/43FdDsT.

1.    Register on Make a Future: http://www.makeafuture.ca
2.    Create a profile
3.    Click on Job Postings then click Search
4.    Select the Job you are qualified for
5.    Answer ALL job posting questions then click Apply
6.    Upload ALL supporting documents
7.    You will receive a confirmation email once your application has been submitted
The VSB has been given approval from the Human Rights Tribunal for a Special Program under s. 42(3) of the Human Rights Code. Under this special program, the VSB seeks to preferentially hire Aboriginal persons to a variety of teaching positions. Therefore, each applicant may wish to provide, on a voluntary basis, information whether they self-identify as an Aboriginal person.