Resume – Thomas Kertes

Highlights

  • Language Arts Teacher (focus: English First Peoples and Storytelling)
    • K/1, 4/5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
    • Debate Team Coach (Grades 7-12) and Drama Advisor (Grade 8)
    • Haida Gwaii and Prince Rupert
  • Master in Educational Leadership
    • Vancouver Island University
  • Bachelor of Education (PDP), Bachelor of Arts (4-year), Diploma (2-year)
    • Indigenous Perspectives in Education
    • Environmental Education
    • Psychology
    • Early Childhood Education
  • English Language Arts Department Head
    • Charles Hays Secondary School (CHSS)
  • Chairperson of the SD52 Joint Professional Development Committee
  • Other Experience:
    • English 9 & 12
    • English First Peoples 11 & 12
    • Communications 11/12
    • Early Literacy
    • Drama 8 & 11/12
    • K/1 and 4/5
    • Early Childhood Educator (preschool, toddler, and infant)
  • Policy Advisor
    • Ontario’s self-regulatory College of Early Childhood Educators
  • College Instructor (in Early Childhood Education)
    • Seneca College

Resume

EXPERIENCE

  • Prince Rupert School District 52 (Prince Rupert, BC)
    • Charles Hays Secondary School – English teacher (2023-current)
      • English Language Arts Department Head (2025-current)
      • Debate Team Coach (2022-2026)
      • Ama Goot, Ama T’ilg̲oolsk (Community Builders Club) Co-Advisor (2024-2026)
      • Sag̲ayt Wa̲n A Lax Yuup (Outdoor Club) Co-Advisor (2023-2026)
    • Prince Rupert Middle School – Grade 7 teacher and Drama 8 teacher (2018-2023)
      • Ama Goot, Ama T’ilg̲oolsk (Grade 8 Leadership Council) Co-Advisor (2021-2023)
      • Drama Club Co-Advisor (2021-2023)
  • Haida Gwaii School District 50 (Daajing Giids, Skidegate, and Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC)
    • Gidg̱alang Ḵuuyas Naay – Language Arts, Socials, Math, and Drama teacher (2016-2018)
      • School Play Advisor (2016-2018)
      • Student Council Advisor (2017-2018)
      • Outdoor Club Co-Advisor (2016-2018)
    • Sk’aadgaa Naay Elementary – K/1 teacher (2015)
    • Tahayghen Elementary – 4/5 teacher (2015)
  • University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC)
    • Early Childhood Educator – Owl Child Care Centre (2010-2013)
  • College of Early Childhood Educators (Toronto, ON)
    • Policy and Communications Advisor (2009-2010)
  • Seneca College (Toronto, ON)
    • Instructor – Early Childhood Education and Child Development (2008)
  • Pike Market Child Care (Seattle, WA)
    • Executive Director (2003)
  • Puget Sound Learning (Silverdale, WA)
    • Director of Learning Services – Reading and Writing Specialist (1994-2000)
    • Early Childhood Educator – Children’s Garden Preschool (1997-2000)

EDUCATION

  • Vancouver Island University (Nanaimo, BC)
    • Master in Educational Leadership (2019)
  • Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, BC)
    • Bachelor of Education: Indigenous Perspectives in Education (2014)
  • Langara College (Vancouver, BC)
    • Diploma: Early Childhood Education (including Infant/Toddler) (2010)
  • University of Toronto / OISE (Toronto, ON)
    • Graduate Studies: Human Development and Applied Psychology (2008-2009)
  • University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
    • Bachelor of Arts: Psychology (2003)
  • Olympic College (Bremerton, WA)
    • Associate in Arts and Sciences (2001)
  • Olympic High School (Bremerton, WA)Cheney High School (Cheney, WA)Gonzaga Preparatory School (Spokane, WA)
    • High School Diploma — Olympic High School (1991)

Contact

Introduction: Mr. Kertes di waayu. Kittitas ada Boosn di wil ‘waatgu. Canadian ada Boosn 'nüüyu. Kxeen di wil dzogu. Adabiis di pdeegu.

About: Mr. Kertes is a high school English teacher in Prince Rupert, which is in the territory of the Ts’msyen, at Charles Hays Secondary School (CHSS) - home of the Rainmakers. The language of the Ts'msyen is Sm’algya̲x.

Thomas Kertes Resume