THUNDER BAY -- Lakehead Public Schools has unveiled a roadmap to the future that’s been designed with an Indigenous lens.
The school board earlier this week released its latest strategic plan, a five-year document that places reconciliation efforts front and centre and works to ensure every student, regardless of their background, sexual orientation or if they have a disability, to feel they belong.
The document also seeks ways to inspire students to follow life-long learning aspirations and provide programs that will help them achieve academic excellence both within the school system and beyond into post-secondary education and into the work world.
Ellen Chambers, chair of the public board’s board of trustees, said it’s an ambitious plan, but one that’s right for the times – and more importantly, for the students it aims to serve.
“It’s a new direction. It’s a very concerted focus on Indigenous education. It’s really important for reconciliation. It’s important for Indigenous student and for all students, because that’s what reconciliation is. It’s everybody together,” Chambers said.
“When we’re doing Indigenous learning and Indigenous ways of learning, those are really important for all people.”
The reconciliation branch aims to increase knowledge of both staff and students around Indigenous history and perspectives, while empowering students to develop a strong understanding about the cultural realities in their communities.
The belong pillar promises to provide for the needs of all learners and make sure everyone, including Indigenous, Black, people of colour, persons with disabilities and members of the 2SLGBTQIA communities feel welcome in all of the board’s schools. Additionally, it wants students to be comfortable expressing who they are and what they believe.
The leadership branch promises to incorporate reconciliation in everything the board does, while providing teachers, education workers and leaders the guidance and knowledge they need to understand the importance of being global citizens. Anti-Indigenous and other structural and institutional racism will be addressed.
The inspire pillar will promote pathways to success beyond graduation and aims to include community partners in the education process, while the achieve platform will look to include current and future trends and experimental learning into already successful practices.
It took a lot of work getting to this point, said director of education, Ian MacRae.
“After many months of thorough study and engagement with the community, Lakehead Public Schools is proud to present its most inclusive and comprehensive strategic plan yet,” MacRae said.
“This plan will help guide leadership and staff in accomplishing the meaningful goals the community and the Board have selected to focus on for the next three years. We look forward to knowing that students feel that they belong, that they can lead and achieve, and that they will in turn inspire through the spirit of reconciliation.”
