Why We Exist
By working with northern First Nations to recruit, prepare, and support committed teachers, we can begin to make education more equal.
Education in Canada is a success story. Study after study shows that our public schools are among the best in the world. But high overall quality masks deep inequality. Only 48 percent of First Nations youth living on reserve have a high school diploma. In the North, those numbers are even lower. And, too often, teachers arrive in northern First Nations without the preparation and support they need to succeed—and stay—in the classroom. The twin challenges of teacher supply and turnover compound historical injustice and systemic inequities to produce a statistical education gap between First Nations and non-First Nations communities.
The right kind of teacher can help fill this gap. We work with First Nations education leaders, principals, teachers, and many others to recruit and select teachers who have the motivations, aptitude, and fit to be successful in a northern First Nation. Once selected, we provide teachers with a 2 week community-focused summer preparation program and provide ongoing support during a teacher’s minimum two-year teaching commitment in the North. Inspired by the leadership of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action on Education, Teach For Canada teachers emphasize a spirit of reciprocal learning in the classroom and community.
Currently, there are 120 Teach For Canada educators working in 23 partner First Nations in Northern Ontario and Manitoba. These educators have launched student councils, coached sports teams, started music programs, led dance classes, developed school websites, hosted radio shows, organized field trips, run outdoor activities, and more. Their inspirational approach to teaching and leadership is increasing student attendance, student engagement, and student achievement.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT TO MAKE EDUCATION MORE EQUAL
“My own experience of being inspired by teachers is why I support Teach For Canada. I believe that Teach For Canada could truly revolutionize the entire country.”