Pauline McKay, photo courtesy Facebook.
Pauline McKay has been a teacher and educator for several years, but has always been troubled by the low graduation rates for First Nation students in the province.
That’s why after years of teaching she jumped at the chance to help develop “Following their Voices” a program through the Ministry of Education aimed to help improve the educational outcomes for First Nation and Metis students.
“We can’t keep losing kids the way we are,” said McKay, a teacher and administrator from Cumberland House. “Did you know that every ten seconds in a school year a First Nation student walks out the door and we lost that kid, so that has to stop.”
The program aims to improve teacher and student relationships by having entire classes completed in a 24 day block rather than a semester. McKay says the idea came after her son struggled to pass a math class in the semester system, but when he took a condensed course was able to grab a passing grade.
Several schools have adopted the program including Carry the Kettle First Nation where Pauline says 23 of 24 students graduated from grade 12 last year.
For her efforts Pauline will be receiving an Indspire Indigenous Educator Award for innovative practice. Ten of these awards are given out across the country and McKay was the only Saskatchewan recipient. According to Indspire these awards are given out to educators who truly help Indigenous students reach their full potential.
McKay says she is honoured to receive the Indspire award and now hopes to spread the word on the “Following Their Voices” program.
“That’s my whole excitement about getting this Indspire award because I am going to be able to talk to teachers and administrators and say there is another way. You don’t have to be stuck with a system that’ has never worked for our people.”
McKay will receive the Indspire Award at a gala in Toronto on November 4th.
If anyone is interested in nominating someone for the 2017 Indspire awards, the nominations close at 11:59 pm on Friday.