Education
Education connects teachings of the past with dreams for future generations.
The overall operations of the Mississauga First Nation Education Department are under the direct supervision of the Education Director who is supervised by the Director of Operations.
A Band Council member is designated with the Education Portfolio and is responsible for addressing educational concerns at the regular scheduled Band Council meetings.
The Education Committee is comprised of community members who volunteer their time and energy to assist in overseeing community needs regarding education, advising the Education Director of community input and establishing a vision for future generations.
Roles and Responsibilities
Education
Director
The Education Director's role at Mississauga First Nation involves managing and coordinating various education programs and services, including Post-Secondary, Secondary, Elementary, Adult Education, literacy, language, summer student employment, special needs, transportation, and library programs. The goal is to enhance student success and elevate education levels within the community. This position reports to the Director of Operations and encompasses program development, community engagement, policy implementation, financial management, human resources oversight, and collaboration with various committees and agencies. The Education Director is responsible for developing budgets, monitoring expenses, ensuring compliance with policies, participating in committees, promoting education services, and maintaining administrative tasks. The role aims to improve the quality of education services and foster collaboration with other departments to serve the membership effectively.
Post-Secondary Administrator
The Post-Secondary Administrator's role at Mississauga First Nation involves delivering the Post-Secondary Program to both on-reserve and off-reserve students. This includes coordinating activities that support educational studies, assisting with action plan development for career and educational goals, and fostering Anishnabek culture within program delivery. The administrator manages around 60-75 students and ensures compliance with established policies. Networking with institutions, other First Nations, and relevant associations is crucial. Student support services are a key responsibility, involving advocacy, orientation, application processing, funding eligibility assessment, referrals, and regular communication. Financial and monitoring tasks include managing budgets, handling cheque requisitions, responding to inquiries, monitoring budget variances, and providing progress reports. Collaboration in policy development, participation in cultural and social development activities, and maintaining financial administration of the program are integral to the role. The administrator is expected to plan, implement policies, participate in committees, and contribute to youth-focused initiatives.
Native Student Mentor (Binojiihn Gego Mentor)
The Native Student Support Mentor's role is to assist Aboriginal elementary students in achieving success both academically and within the Mississauga First Nation community. This involves raising awareness of cultural, personal, and community issues that may affect the students' success. Reporting primarily to the Education Director and secondarily to the Principal of Blind River Public School, the mentor's key functions include assisting special needs children through individual or small group teaching, adapting methods to cater to individual needs, collaborating with teachers, assessing learning difficulties, working with professionals, engaging parents, organizing learning activities, and managing behavior. The mentor also advocates for students within the education system, provides counseling, improves communication and life skills, promotes the importance of education, and conveys traditional teachings. They participate in committees, coordinate cultural activities, and maintain liaison with the community while also handling administrative tasks and other duties as needed.
Literacy Instructor
The Literacy Instructor's role involves various key functions, including assessing learners, developing training plans, providing instruction, curriculum development, maintaining learner files, promoting the program, organizing workshops, fundraising activities, research, filing, and reporting.
Literacy Coordinator
To plan, organize, direct, control, evaluate and coordinate the Literacy Program for Mississauga First Nation. Supervision of Literacy Instructors and ensure resources are secured for successful implementation of the Program. The Literacy Program is to promote adult literacy incorporating Aboriginal culture and traditions.
Anishinaabe Aadziwin Manager
The Anishinaabe Aadziwin Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and delivering cultural, heritage, and language projects for Mississauga First Nation. The role involves defining project requirements and scope, acquiring resources, ensuring efficient project delivery, quality control, and stakeholder communication. The manager oversees projects like the Annual MFN Pow-Wow and Aboriginal Day. They supervise existing roles and seek funding for positions such as Special Events Coordinator and Anishinaabeowin Shkabewis. Key functions include organizing, coordinating, and supporting cultural projects, developing workshops, seeking funding, coordinating committees, engaging the community, supervising staff, ensuring confidentiality, adhering to policies, and managing project activities within budget and timeline. The manager also communicates regularly with stakeholders, produces reports, and tracks project costs.
Librarian/Archival Clerk
This program is responsible to ensure library services are available to Mississauga First Nation. The Librarian will also be responsible for the quarterly production of the Smoke Signal and archiving materials as required.
Data Input Developer
The Data Input Developer is responsible for inputting, integrating, testing, verifying, and maintaining databases related to reporting, ensuring compliance with government regulations. Key functions include entering text and numerical data from source documents, verifying accuracy, sorting data, correcting errors, generating reports, maintaining data confidentiality, responding to queries, and adhering to data integrity and security policies. The role requires experience in data entry, software design, implementation, documentation, problem analysis, resolution, and maintenance. Additionally, the developer must have a good understanding of office equipment usage and troubleshooting.