Education Officer | Indigenous Education
Ministry of Education Organization Ministry of Education, Ontario Public Service
Division: Student Achievement Division
Position Title: Education Officer
Job Term: Up to Three Years Secondment
Location: Toronto Region – 315 Front Street, 13th Floor Toronto, Ontario, M7A 0B8
Compensation Group: Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario (AMAPCEO)
Salary: $76,382 - $131,864 per year
Posting Status: Open Targeted
Posting Date: May 8, 2023
Closing Date: May 31, 2023
Are you interested in helping to shape the future of education in Ontario, with a focus on the teaching and learning of Indigenous education in Ontario schools? Join the Student Achievement Division at the Ministry of Education and become part of a highly motivated team in the Curriculum, Assessment and Student Success Policy Branch that leads the development and implementation of Ontario’s curriculum.
We are seeking an individual with the following experience:
• Extensive Ontario teaching experience focused on Indigenous education, including the teaching and learning of Indigenous histories, perspectives, contributions, and ways of knowing.
• Experience teaching or supporting the teaching of Indigenous languages will be an asset.
• Demonstrated understanding and experience supporting the integration and implementation of Indigenous histories, perspectives, worldviews, pedagogy, and emerging issues related to curriculum-policy making, writing, and research.
• Knowledge of and expertise in consultation and engagement principles and practices related to building relationships and collaborating with First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuit communities and organizations.
• Expertise building anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and anti-discrimination cultures in schools and fostering culturally responsive and relevant, equitable and inclusive learning environments.
• Extensive knowledge of school systems, curriculum implementation, and professional learning that have been developed through work within the school system as an educator, school leader and/or system leader.
• Experience and knowledge with the development of culturally relevant and responsive curriculum and curriculum-linked resources.
• Implementing a range of high-impact instructional and assessment practices in schools designed to identify and meet the needs of diverse learners.
• Dismantling a range of practices and attitudes that marginalize particular groups of students, such as addressing bias, building cultures of accountability and developing culturally responsive and relevant practices.
• Curriculum expertise, instructional leadership experience, and a passion for increasing the achievement and well-being of all students.
• Ability to plan, conduct and make recommendations on highly diverse, complex and far-reaching array of educational curriculum and related policy issues.
• Ability to develop, evaluate and facilitate digital resources and implementation strategies to support appropriate implementation in school boards and schools.
• Ability to coordinate committees to develop policy or supporting documents used as a basis for instructional programs across the province.
• Ability to interpret and instruct school officials, professional associations, and other areas of provincial and federal governments on curriculum policy and specialized areas of education, as well as prepare briefs, respond to correspondence, and develop and deliver professional learning workshops.
• Ability to develop and sustain positive relationships and networks with all major stakeholders, including to gather information; identify needs; provide advice, interpretation and clarification; and collaboration and cooperation amongst stakeholders on education policies and materials.
• Ability to coordinate with branch colleagues to ensure consistency in policy approaches and seamless education policies between elementary and secondary schools, and participate on committees, study groups and task forces addressing a wide variety of major policy and program related issues.
What can I expect to do in this role?
You will support the development and implementation of learning on Indigenous histories, perspectives, contributions and ways of knowing across the Ontario curriculum.
You will also:
• Provide leadership with a team across the ministry to revise curriculum to ensure all students, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students, see themselves reflected in the teaching and learning in Ontario classrooms and have every opportunity to pursue the pathway of their choice after their K-12 education.
• Review, develop and/or implement resources to support student achievement, equity and well-being.
• Ensure curriculum supports are aligned with ministry priorities (e.g., Education that Works for You, the First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Education Policy Framework, Learning for All, and Growing Success).
• Develop and maintain internal and external partnerships and represent the Student Achievement Division as needed with key stakeholder and partner groups.
Desired Knowledge and Experience:
• Extensive experience teaching and leading learning related to Indigenous histories, perspectives, contributions, and ways of knowing across multiple grades and/or disciplines of the Ontario’s curriculum
• An excellent understanding of and extensive experience with the Ontario publicly-funded education system.
• Knowledge and understanding of current educational research and promising practices in support of equitable, inclusive, and culturally responsive education
• The ability to manage multiple, complex and sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy within demanding timelines.
• Reflective listening, questioning, and facilitation skills to provoke thinking and co-reflection
• Excellent relationship building skills in a collaborative professional learning environment
• Research, analytical, evaluation and interpretative skills
• An ability to think strategically, anticipate and absorb complex and large-scale issues and to develop practical and effective policy positions.
• Strong planning, time-management, organization and collaboration skills.
• Excellent communication skills, including listening and giving feedback, presenting and oral and written analysis and reporting; and proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Power Point and experience with other web-based applications.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please send your cover letter and resume to Theodora Vales at theodora.vales@ontario.ca by the closing date.
If you require an accommodation under the Ontario Human Rights Code in order to participate in the recruitment process, please contact Theodora Vales at theodora.vales@ontario.ca.
Please note that to qualify for a Broader Public Service secondee, that a successful candidate must be a full-time, permanent employee of a Broader Public Service organization.
In addition, please note that commuting, moving and relocation expenses will not be covered by the Ministry. The successful candidate will continue to be covered by the benefit plans and pension plan of their home board/organization, with the Ministry covering the employer costs of maintaining such coverage.
Remember:
The deadline to apply is May 31, 2023, 11:59 pm EDT. Late applications will not be accepted.
We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.
The Ontario Public Service is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer.
We will accommodate your needs under the Ontario Human Rights Code