| Considerations | | | Teaching in the NWT will provide educators with an unforgettable experience. The most successful NWT teachers are those who thoroughly researched the implications of teaching here before accepting a position. These educators are flexible in their thinking, have an understanding that things will be different than expected and, most importantly, come to learn as much as teach. - BEFORE YOU ACCEPT A TEACHING CONTRACT
BE SURE TO DO YOUR RESEARCH - Basic information and items to further investigate for educators who may be considering a position in the NWT. (Click a category below to go directly to that section) Note: In addition to the above linked information, prospective teachers are welcome to contact the NWTTA office with further questions.
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| | LARGER VS SMALL COMMUNITIES | | | Larger Communities Many larger communities have their own websites: Small Communities A small community is one in which five or less members of the NWTTA reside and is isolated from other communities by more than a 30 km all weather road. Small community populations range from 70 to 285. All are isolated from other communities either by air or distance. The following twelve communities fit the small community definition: - Colville Lake
- Dettah
- Gameti
- Jean Marie River
- Kakisa
- Nahanni Butte
- Paulatuk
- Sachs Habour
- Trout Lake
- Tsiigehtchic
- Wekweeti
- Wrigley
Transportation: Most of the small communities are fly in and/or winter road access. This means that transportation costs are high for all goods. Northern Allowance, which is identified in the collective agreements, is designed to subsidize the costs of goods and services. Shopping: One small community does not have any shopping with the nearest grocery shopping almost 100 kms away. All other communities have 1 - 3 stores with various supplies; costs are relatively high. Medical Services: Small communities do not have resident doctors, although two communities have nurses. All of the communities have lay-person dispensers. Only one of the small communities is within 100 kms of medical facilities on all weather roads. Two other communities can drive to medical facilities the majority of the year. The rest must fly or use winter roads. As part of this, teachers find it difficult to miss school when they are sick or need to visit a medical centre outside the community. In some of the communities there are no people who can replace an absent teacher. Sometimes they need to take extra days to get to a medical facility. Social Services: Small communities do not have Social Services personnel based on location. Services are provided every 4-6 weeks on a rotational basis by staff out of Yellowknife. RCMP: Small communities do not have an RCMP detachment. All are served are on a rotation - every 4 to 6 weeks, or on an call basis. Some communities have been known to wait days in emergency situations; non-emergency situations might take weeks.
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| | QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT A TEACHING ASSIGNMENT | | | - RESEARCH BEFORE ACCEPTING A CONTRACT - What subjects or grade levels will I be teaching? In larger centres you may be teaching your area of expertise, the smaller the community, the more subjects/ grade levels you may be teaching. A high percentage of NWT teachers are required to teach more than one grade level at a time and more than one subject at a time. You are expected to follow NWT curriculum guidelines. Curriculum guides can be found in the schools and online at the Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Education, Culture and Employment's website (click here to go to Curriculum services). What size class will I have? The larger centres have traditionally larger class sizes ranging from 26 to 32 students. In a smaller community, teachers may look forward to a lower teacher-student ratio. Along with the smaller class sizes however, you will be expected to teach several grade levels and more than one subject at a time. Experience in Differentiated Instruction (DI) will be extremely useful. This is the trade-off for small classes and time for more personal attention with students. How are Special Ed students served? The NWT has a policy of inclusion for all students (see Ministerial Directive on Inclusive Schooling -2006). This can be a positive factor in your classroom, especially when there are appropriate staff development and materials. It can also be frustrating for all involved if a student is light years ahead or behind the rest of the class and you have only limited resources. Depending on your school site, you may have access to a trained and experienced Program Support Teacher (PST) on a regular basis. In some small schools, you may get a visit from the board PST on a monthly schedule. Education aides range from trained experienced individuals to untrained recent high school grads. Besides teaching, what are other expectations? NWT teachers are often expected to coach, supervise extra-curricular activities, chaperone trips and dances, attend local meetings, organize and run various community functions (both connected and unconnected with the school). As a general rule, these duties cannot be required under the teacher contract. They are voluntarily assumed. The NWTTA's Code of Ethics does state that " A Principal may request but not require that a member engage in extra-curricular activity beyond the duties that are necessarily incidental to the professional obligations of the member under the collective agreement. However, in small schools, there exists an expectation that the staff will be willing to pitch in and contribute to after-school and extra-curricular activities. It’s a good idea to find out beforehand what the expectations are. Will I have an educational assistant? Educational assistants (EA) can be effective bridges between the community and a new teacher and can be indispensable in the classroom. Often your EA has had many years of experience in the school providing the only continuity in the classroom and he/she can provide you with valuable information about students and community if you ask and are ready to listen. What facilities are available? Does your school have computers? How many and what kind? All NWT schools have Internet access, however, the band width is not necessarily up to par and a couple of NWT schools are still on dial up Internet. Does the school have a library? How big is it? Most schools do have library facilities that are also open to the public. Is there a regional resource center from which to obtain materials? Most regions have teaching and learning centres with resources for teachers. There are curriculum resources as well as locally developed materials for culture based education. What about athletic equipment? Are there cross country skis? Most schools have a gym on site that is also open to the community after hours. Equipment varies from school to school depending on previous staff involvement. Is there a shop on site? Is it equipped with the materials and tools you need? What about TV’s, VCR’s, videos, software and any other equipment? Some new staff members have expressed disappointment that equipment or resources promised was either nonexistent, in disrepair, or reserved for the exclusive use of another staff person. In some cases there are insufficient funds to support certain initiatives. Does the district have some kind of support system for new staff? There is a NWT Teacher Induction program for new and beginning staff. All new to the north teachers are suposed to receive an Induction binder with information for NWT teachers. This information is also available at The NWT Teacher Induction website at www.newteachersnwt,ca Check to make sure your school offers a trained mentor. Some sites suggest mentors; others attempt to pair experienced and new staff members. How many staff will there and how will I fit in? NWT schools range in size from one teacher schools to staffs of over 50 teachers. Teachers in the NWT are a varied group. They come from all over Canada including an increasing number of homegrown NWT teachers from the Teacher Education Program offered at Aurora College. We have beginning teachers, experienced teachers, and those in the middle. We have teachers who came for a short time and stayed. Some of our staffs have seen a lot of changes over the years. In some cases complete staffs have turned over. Be careful about the personal and professional space of staff already on site. Acceptance by your colleagues and community members takes time. Your enthusiasm may be misinterpreted as pushiness and you may be seen as an interloper. Don't rush it. Many teachers have commented on how the community warmed up to them after they returned to the community after the first time out, usually Christmas. Working together in northern schools creates unique relationships in staffs. When a newcomer arrives there is a period of adjustment. The process is subtle to the point that it seems to be self-directing. Respect your colleagues’ individual autonomy, teaching styles and lifestyles. A little sensitivity early on can reap huge rewards in the form of fast friendships later. If you experience hostility from an established staff member, try to understand the origin of those feelings. The veteran may just be tired of training one more in a long line of rookies. On the other hand, there is sometimes no reason for the hostility. You may spend the entire year allowing that person his/her space. What type of professional development is available to me once I am hired? Each district is required to provide training to new employees regarding child abuse and neglect. There are also several inservices throughout the year for teachers to learn about new programs and curriculums. Teachers have access to conferences through their regional professional development committees. There are also opportunities for educational leaves and sabbaticals depending on your collective agreement. See more in our Professional Development Section. What opportunities will there will for me to learn about the language and culture of the students I'll be teaching? Most regions also provide an orientation to the cultures and communities that you will be teaching in. You need to learn something about the cultures, spiritual values, belief systems and family relationships of the people who have welcomed you into their lives. Remember this also will take time. Some teachers have commented that it wasn't until they returned from Christmas Holidays before the community warmed up to them.
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| | HOUSING - RECOMMENDATIONS AND QUESTIONS TO ASK | | | - RESEARCH BEFORE ACCEPTING A CONTRACT - There is a wide range of housing issues across the NWT. The employer does NOT provide housing for its teachers. Some employers/principals/ education authorities may assist in locating housing. It is recommended that you research this issue thoroughly. Important questions to ask include but are not limited to: Will I have a roommate? This is mainly a factor for single staff members, though it’s not unheard of for single parents or married couples to be assigned a roommate. Single units are not available in many small communities forcing teachers to double up. This can be a difficult situation in the long dark months of winter. Does the housing include water and sewer? Are these reliable? Most communities do have running water and flush toilets. Ask what condition the plumbing is in and recent maintenance. Ask to speak to the current tenants. What should I bring with me on my arrival? There is a strong possibility that you will not receive your moved items until after you have arrived in your community. In addition to the two pieces of luggage that you can bring, you are allowed to bring six pieces of excess baggage when you first come up, for a total of eight pieces of luggage. It is strongly suggested that you pack the following in those six bags: - All of your outdoor summer and fall clothing (ie. wind pants, jacket, raincoat, sunglasses, fall boots, rubber boots, hat, mittens,)
- Clean bedding and a pillow - towels, facecloths, dish towels, curtains, etc. - a large supply of comfortable clothing, as well as clothes that you would wear to work. Every day is casual day at work in the NWT: sweaters, jeans, and tracksuits are acceptable teaching attire.
- Pots and pans, a juice jug, coffee maker, cups, plates, bowls, a can opener, and some utensils.
- The food store in your community may not be open when you arrive. You should bring a supply of dry and canned food, some powdered milk (if you plan on having cereal the morning after you arrive), several bottles of water, and some juice crystals.
- A good book or two, a deck of cards, and a board game.
- Toiletry items such as shampoo, toothbrush, soap, and toilet paper.
- Cleaning supplies, such as dish and laundry detergent,
- Any classroom and or teacher resources that you feel will be necessary in the first few weeks of school
- Anything else that you will need to make living more enjoyable while you are waiting for your boxes to arrive.
To what degree is the housing furnished with appliances, furniture, etc.? Depending on the community, you may need to provide everything or nothing. It is important to determine what small appliances, furniture and heating your rental unit will have before arriving at your site. These items are usually not available in small communities and shipping is very expensive. You are often able to pick household items from departing staff if you are hired early enough to make contact with outgoing teachers, nurses etc. Should I bring a satellite dish? Find out if satellite television works in your community. If you choose to have a satellite, purchase it down south and have the moving company pack it for you. When you order your satellite, make sure that you order the largest size dish. In some communities, Bell ExpressVu works better, and in other communities, Starchoice is the best. Ask about which product works best in your community. Are pets allowed? Check with your principal and landlord. Note: The community may not be a safe place for domesticated dogs and cats. What kind of heating is available? How much will it cost me? Some educators chop their own wood, while others have electric or oil furnaces. You may not have a choice. Make sure to ask questions about the source of heating, maintenance records, monthly estimates. During the winter months, the air can become very dry, so you may wish to bring a humidifier with you as well as a good hand moisturizer. What’s the rent; how is it calculated and how is it paid? Prices across the NWT are expensive compared to the rest of Canada. Yellowknife's cost of living is second only to Vancouver.
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| | ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR HOUSING INFORMATION | | | | News stories regarding housing issues can be accessed via northern and national media outlets. Additional information on each NWT community, including photographs, demographics, history and culture, is available on the GNWT website for Municipal and Community Affairs. - REMEMBER TO DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE ACCEPTING A CONTRACT - | | |
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