Benefits
You would live in dedicated housing provided by the community for teachers. The accommodation is called a teacherage, and it can vary from a single housing unit for each teacher to shared teacher accommodation within the same building. Single teachers or teaching couples will have their own bedroom and will often share living space. Teachers with families will work with the communities to find a teacherage with space to accommodate their needs. Rent varies by community, but it is typically below $600 per month per teacher.
Teachers are connected with professional mentors. These mentors are experienced educators who have volunteered to lend pedagogical and classroom advice to TFC teachers when they need it. Usually teachers connect with mentors by phone, Skype or email once or twice a month.
Selected Teach For Canada teachers join us in the summer before they begin teaching for an intensive, community-focused Summer Enrichment Program, co-designed and led by education experts, experienced teachers, school and community leaders, and Elders. Among other topics, Teach For Canada teachers are immersed in the histories and cultures of the communities in which they will teach, meet two members from the community in which they will teach, visit a First Nations community, learn teaching strategies tailored for northern First Nations students, and discuss and reflect on wellness and self-care techniques.
Health benefits
During the Summer Enrichment Program, Teach For Canada guides the creation of concrete self-care strategies, isolation plans, as well as professional and personal goals to assist teachers with their personal well-being. During the school year, Teach For Canada’s Teacher Development Managers will help teachers problem-solve professional and personal challenges.
Learn more about Teach For Canada
Why we exist
Education in Canada is a success story, but high overall quality masks deep inequality. The twin challenges of teacher supply and turnover compound historical injustice and systemic inequities to produce an education gap between First Nations and non-First Nations communities.
Teach for Canada is a non-profit organization that works with northern communities to recruit, prepare, and support committed teachers who will improve student outcomes in the North.
Photos and videos
See all pictures and video from Teach For CanadaWork environment
Each school and community is different. Resources that tend to be available in each school include:
- TA in the classroom with the teacher
- SmartBoards, laptops, and tablets in the classroom
- Office with a secretary and staff room
- Special Education Teacher (school-wide) for high needs students
Take a tour of a school: https://youtu.be/T9MxChg0JMg
Community involvement
What does a successful northern educator look like? They overcome challenges with flexibility and bring community into their classroom. Outside of school, they get involved in the community, lead extracurricular activities, and explore the natural environment. But above all, they come humbly to learn as much as they teach.
Learn more about our community partners here:
https://teachforcanada.ca/en/community-partners/our-community-partners/