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RANKIN INLET
Kivalliq schools will have five new homegrown teachers this coming year.

Northern Teacher Education Program fifth year student Morris Manilak works with young students in his classroom at Leo Ussak Elementary School in Rankin Inlet this past month. - photo courtesy of Brian Manning

Morris Manilak, Kayylynn Kusugak, Laura Merritt and Blandina Airut of Rankin Inlet and Ellen Rumbolt of Baker Lake are in the final year of the Nunavut Teacher Education Program (NTEP) in Rankin and will soon be classroom ready.

Nunavut Arctic College has also announced the next NTEP will begin in Rankin in September of 2012.

Another NTEP is in the second of its four years (five for students who take a foundation year) in Baker.

The NTEP and the Nunavut Teachers Association (NTA) also renewed a key partnership this past month, which sees fourth year NTEP students vested with the same rights, responsibilities and professional benefits as regular NTA members.

The agreement allows them to participate in scheduled sessions during the territory-wide Professional Development Conference in Iqaluit in February 2012.

The partnership also provides opportunities for student teachers to engage in capacity building and enhance their skill sets as they complete their degrees through the University of Regina.

Mike Pickles has taught the NTEP in Rankin for the past four years and said it's running a lot smoother now than it did in the beginning.

"Where we were going to be kept was an issue at the start, but that seems to have been taken care of with our move from Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik (MUI) to (Kivall-iq) Hall," said Pickles.

"Housing is always a concern because not everyone in the NTEP is from Rankin, so where they stay while here for the program is an issue.

"I don't know if that's being addressed as quickly or efficiently as it needs to be, but it is being addressed."

Pickles said the five finishing the Rankin NTEP have been phenomenal with their effort and attitude.

He said they're in the schools doing their practica, or internships, until Christmas, after which they'll return to class to finish the program.

"My students are really excited about graduating, getting hired as teachers and serving their communities.

"They're going to do a fantastic job at any school.

"I've had them in the classroom during the entire process and the principals, co-op teachers and students were happy to have them there."

Upcoming grad Manilak, 28, started at MUI as a student support assistant in 2004.

He said while he enjoyed his time at MUI, he felt he had more to offer and decided to give the NTEP a shot when it was offered in Rankin in 2007.

"I went into this thinking it really wouldn't be too hard, based on my experience as a student support assistant," said Manilak.

"But the work actually became pretty heavy.

"I found the subjects fairly easy, but I was surprised by the amount of writing I had to do."

Although Manilak aspires to be a high school teacher, he's enjoying his internship at Rankin's Leo Ussak Elementary School.

He said the majority of elementary kids are great students with positive attitudes.

"There's so many differences between high school and elementary school.

"The little ones want to do more work and they come to school every day, so it's a really positive experience being at the elementary school.

"High school appeals to me because I feel more connected to senior students and can cope with them easier than the little ones."

Manilak said Rankin teachers were a great help and gave him lots of good advice during his time in the NTEP.

He said NTEP instructors also provided a lot of great pointers on how to make being a teacher easier.

"I've had positive experiences with all the teachers and instructors.

"As for the overall program, some segments call for a lot of work while I found others a little easy.

"The government needs to really look at what it's trying to teach and promote."

Manilak said, in his opinion, a lot more should be done to promote Inuit culture at all levels of schooling.

He said cultural-studies-type programming is the biggest element needing work in Nunavut schools.

"Text books and materials need to be updated for younger students to get all they need academically, and more Inuit culture needs to be added.

"I'd say those are our two biggest challenges.

"They're working to upgrade the text books now, but they're still a little behind."

Manilak said while there is room for improvement, the NTEP has adequately prepared him for the classroom.

He said the program is a learning experience and everything comes into focus during the final year.

"The puzzle becomes more complete in the last year.

"The NTEP put me in good hands to become the teacher I need to be."

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