Long-time educator to retire
After 40 years in education, Reanna Erasmus steps down
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Published Friday, July 4, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The city of Yellowknife and the community of Ndilo are losing a well-known, tireless community worker.
Reanna Erasmus has retired from her position as program director of the Aboriginal Head Start Program, and is set to return to her hometown of Port Alberni, B.C., in the fall. - John McFadden/NNSL photo |
After almost two decades on the job, Reanna Erasmus has retired as program manager for the Aboriginal Head Start Program.
The mother of two grown children is married to Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus.
"It was time," said Erasmus, whose final day was June 27.
"I'll be turning 62 this year and as rewarding as my job has been, it seemed like the right time to step away."
The Aboriginal Head Start program helps children, aged three and four, get ready to enter kindergarten.
It is run out of the education centre in Ndilo, across from the K'alemi Dene School and gives young children an opportunity to interact with others their own age and helps ease the fears of heading off to kindergarten.
It is based on what is known as child-led learning.
The program teaches early math and literacy skills as well as how to get along with others and also emphasizes Dene culture and history.
About 20 students went through the half-day program this year.
"Our surveys have shown that the program works, said Erasmus. "Students who have come through it have a substantially decreased high school drop out rate."
She said the biggest challenge has always been funding and staffing.
The program is funded by the federal government.
Erasmus said they like to keep a 1:7 teacher to student ratio but added that because of funding shortfalls, that hasn't always been easy.
She said she has watched about 600 children come through the program and seeing them succeed has been the most rewarding part of her job.
Erasmus, who has lived in Yellowknife for more than half her life, has been involved in education for some 40 years.
She has worked for the Yellowknife Catholic School Board, and spent nine years as a trustee and three years as chair of Yellowknife Education District No. 1.
Erasmus said her time with those boards helped prepare her to deal with the funding and policy challenges she has faced with the N'Dilo District Education Authority.
| "... it is discouraging to see what the territorial government is doing" |
She intends to move to her hometown near Port Alberni on Vancouver Island in B.C. some time this fall, but said she will remain in Yellowknife while a new program manager is found.
"We have property there and we intend to build a house," she said. "It's where I grew up and I still have family and friends there."
Erasmus said she's been turned off by politics somewhat over the past few years.
"I don't like the way the GNWT is ramming through the implementation of junior kindergarten across the territory," she said. "They think they always know what's best for us without really even asking for input."
Erasmus said it is discouraging to see what the territorial government is doing, especially considering how many MLAs are aboriginal.
"The same thing goes for devolution where the government feels it knows best, while ignoring treaty rights and the wishes of some aboriginal leaders."
Erasmus said she expects to do a lot of gardening and reading over the next year.
"If I do get back into politics, I'd like to do something on the environmental front," she said.
"There are many environmental issues in B.C. and I may want to bring my knowledge and perspective to the table."
Erasmus said she'll miss Yellowknife tremendously, adding the hardest part about moving will be leaving her daughter, Sarah, behind.
She said she'll also miss the students in the Aboriginal Head Start program.
"My office looked out onto the playground, and I'll miss having that view every day," she said.
What she says she won't miss is the ice and snow and bringing in firewood when it's -50 C outside.
