Effective Governance Effective Governance RelationshipsRelationships

Wetaskiwin Regional Public Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools StorySchools Story

A:A: The Snail, The Turtle, and the The Snail, The Turtle, and the HareHare

(Twiss, R 2000 (Twiss, R 2000 One Church many TribesOne Church many Tribes))

Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools Boundaries

WRPS Sept 30, 2009 Enrolment

77%

11%

12%

Non FNMI

FNMI On Reserve

FNMI Off Reserve

Alberta’s Commission on LearningAlberta’s Commission on Learning ( Every Child Learns. Every Child Succeeds – Oct. 2003) ( Every Child Learns. Every Child Succeeds – Oct. 2003)

“Aboriginal education gets a “Aboriginal education gets a failing grade”failing grade”

Goals• All children have the opportunity and support they need to succeed

in schools and recognize and celebrate diversity

• Aboriginal students achieve the same levels of success at school as non-aboriginal students in and environment where their cultures and values are respected and reinforced.

• Teachers are well prepared…to address the diverse needs of all of their students including Aboriginal students…..

Statement from the Nipsihkopahk Peoples of the Maskwacîs Cree of Treaty No. 6 Territory

UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (Sixth Session)

New York, 14-25 May 2007

“Madam Chairperson, the frustrations of our Peoples is evident from the huge gap between the successful completion of secondary school of our Indigenous students and mainstream society’s students. Literacy levels are extremely low; our students in public schools are often placed in special education classes and labeled. This is one cause for low self-esteem; and through feelings of inadequacy we have seen many of our youth leave school before completion, which often leads to social problems for our peoples such as drugs, alcohol abuse and suicides.”

“As our Elders’ have taught us, education does not commence at the age of six in the first grade; education begins in the womb of the child’s Mother and continues to the time when we leave our Mother Earth. This is why it is vitally important that we have control of our education, we know the teachings of our ancestors and we know how to blend the traditional teachings with the academic education required to stand beside our non-Indigenous brothers and sisters through innovative programming.”

How we established relationships.How we established relationships.

• Board Development (ongoing)• World View Seminars• Residential Schools• Treaty• Racism• Visit the Community (Board Meeting held on Samson Cree

Nation)• Ceremony

• Traditional Protocol• Meeting with Chiefs and Education Directors• Appointment of Maskwaci Trustee

Our Core ValuesOur Core Values

• Courage• Creativity• Empathy• Ethics• Honesty • Integrity

• Respect• Responsibility• Service

• Spirituality

• Teamwork• Trust

WRPS Board PrioritiesWRPS Board Priorities

• Improve the academic success of all students.

• Enhance the success of First Nations students and encourage the active involvement

of their families.

What Collaboration Looks Like.What Collaboration Looks Like.

• Maskwaci Trustee appointed by the Chiefs

• Use of Elders and Cultural Advisors

• Ceremony

• Tuition Agreements

• Professional Development

• Maskawci Education Council (in progress)

• Partnerships

Who supports collaboration?Who supports collaboration?

• Board of Trustees

• Superintendent

• Associate Superintendents

• Cultural Resource Coordinator

• Principals

• Teachers

Closing the Gap – research based Closing the Gap – research based recommendationsrecommendations

(Bell, D. et al, 2004 (Bell, D. et al, 2004 Sharing our Success: Ten Case Studies in Aboriginal Schooling )

1. Clearly schools that can engage FNMI parents/community and develop positive, supportive relationships are more likely to produce positive outcomes.

2. Schools that include cultural and language programming for their FNMI students capitalize on a powerful positive practice supported by current literature

Closing the Gap – Cont.Closing the Gap – Cont.

3. Schools that hire teachers who have high/flexible expectations and are able to build strong, healthy relationships with their students built on trust and mutual respect have a greater chance of success in the education of their FNMI students. In addition to the successful characteristics noted above, research suggests that FNMI teachers can play an important role in the educational success of FNMI youth.

Closing the Gap – Cont.Closing the Gap – Cont.

4. Classrooms that have culturally relevant materials, are informal in nature, encourage cooperative learning/group work, support open-ended questioning, inductive/analytic reasoning and student participation, produce positive results for FNMI learners.

5. Schools that adopt and utilize a FNMI epistemology provide an opportunity for all students to succeed.

Closing the Gap – Cont.Closing the Gap – Cont.

6. The infusion of FNMI culture, issues, and perspectives across the curriculum and access to appropriate instructional resources to support the infusion are integral to FNMI student success.

7. Clearly, to be successful, schools require access to superior professional development programs that engage teachers in meaningful experiences regarding FNMI culture, issues, and perspectives.

Closing the Gap – Cont.Closing the Gap – Cont.

8. Planning for student transitions and ongoing services to individuals within the school setting are important factors to FNMI student success. Transition planning, Elders, on-site counseling, and social work, leadership and mentorship programs are examples of wrap around services that support FNMI learners

CelebrationsCelebrations

• Inclusion of Maskawci Trustee• Strong leadership and governance structures• Improved understanding eg: protocols• Increased involvement of FNMI community in

schools eg: elders• CIRCLE project• Tuition Agreements • WRPS Learning Cycle

ChallengesChallenges

• Leadership Turn over

• Initiative overload

• Jurisdiction barriers

• Complexity of needs

• Transportation

Stories

Randy RistoRandy Ristoᑭᐦᐁᐁᐧᐤᑭᐦᐁᐁᐧᐤ

Associate Superintendent: InstructionAssociate Superintendent: Instruction

Wetaskiwin Regional Public SchoolsWetaskiwin Regional Public Schools

ristor@wrps.ab.caristor@wrps.ab.ca