HIGH SCHOOL TEAM LEAD

Hello Everyone!

My name is Nicholas Vienneau, I was born on the traditional territory of the Moose Cree First Nations in Moosonee, Ontario. I come from Austrian, French and Mi’kmaq heritage. I have had the honour of calling Yukon my home for the past 17 years. I taught at Ghuch Tla Community School in Carcross for two years before making the transition into Whitehorse. Since that time, I have taught at both the elementary and secondary levels as a teacher and LAT, as well as worked at the Department of Education as the Experiential Consultant. I have spent some time at FH Collins and in Dawson City teaching and supporting the Individual Learning Centers (ILC). From a teaching roll, I moved into leadership and have had the privilege of working with the Yukon First Nation Education Directorate and school teams as Principal at JV Clark in Mayo, St. Elias in Haines Junction, and Selkirk Elementary in Whitehorse. I am now thrilled to join the FNSB team as the High School Lead Coach.

Through these varied experiences, I have learned a lot about strong, unified literacy and numeracy programming at both the elementary and secondary level. I know the graduation paths a student can take and have helped high school students with their graduation goals and transition into the post-secondary world. Experiential education and working closely with Yukon First Nation knowledge holders has always been a large part of my teaching career. Perhaps, most importantly, I have had the great honour of observing, participating and seeing the value of integrating Yukon First Nations ways of knowing and doing into curriculum.

My family a I spend a lot of time outside enjoying learning and playing around the Yukon. When not at school you can usually find us hiking, fishing, and cross country skiing along with a host of many other outdoor activities with friends and family.

I am looking forward to working with students, school staff, First Nations and Community Committees, greater communities, and the First Nation School Board on this new endeavor.

Sincerely,

Nicholas Vienneau

HIGH SCHOOL COACH

Wren was raised between the Niagara Escarpment and the shores of Lake Ontario on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinabewaki, ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ, Attiwonderonk, Mississauga, and Mississauga of the New Credit, and they have over 15 years’ experience working with children, youth, families, and community partners on the land and behind the scenes in education design and delivery. Wren’s Grandmothers are Victoria Leach (McCallum) from Glasgow and Paisley, Scotland, and Anna Nicolardi (Silletti) from Sannicandro di Bari, Puglia inSouthern Italy.

With a BEd in Outdoor and Experiential Education, and over 10 years in Kwanlin and other Yukon and Northern communities, Wren thrives when working alongside Elders, Knowledge Holders and community members to support and facilitate the decolonization of educational systems through learning design. Currently, Wren is a Coach on the High School Team under Instructional Leadership. Our Team is focused on working with schools and communities to support students’ pathways to graduation.

Wren feels most alive when working in relationship with youth as they develop their sense of self in connection to place/land; working with dedicated teams to create meaningful learning experiences; learning from local land stewards; supporting young people in embracing challenge and taking risks; and celebrating bird language and song as a doorway to deeper connection to the land.

TRADES CONNECTOR

Hello, my name is Greg Fischer. I was born in Kamloops BC and raised in Dawson City YT. I have lived in Whitehorse since the fall of 2010. I enjoy being outdoors and taking in the spectacular beauty of this territory I am lucky to call home. Having grown up in a small community, I have experienced firsthand the difficulties there are with some aspects of education and really look forward to helping to fill some of those gaps, especially at the high school level. I have worked as a small engine mechanic since I moved to Whitehorse but spent my childhood in my Grandfather's shop learning the ropes of being a mechanic. I have been involved with Skills Canada as both a competitor and National Technical Committee member. I have also worked with the Department of Education helping with the Rural Education Model (R.E.M.) programming. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and working and learning from First Nations around the territory.