Indspire

Background of the organization:

Founded as the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF) in 1985, Indspire is a national charity led by and for Indigenous peoples. It is best known for the Indspire Awards, which celebrate Indigenous achievement. It is the largest supporter of Indigenous education outside of the federal government, and currently awards over $5 million per year in bursaries to First Nations, Métis and Inuit learners, mostly for post-secondary studies.

Grant description:

The Foundation’s grant supports the development of Indspire’s Virtual Training Institute, with a specific focus on the Virtual Networking and Coaching Program, which will provide access to coaching and mentoring for teachers of Indigenous children. The Virtual Training Institute’s objective is improving success among K-12 students and dramatically increasing high school completion rates. It will operate five linked programs, each developed through extensive consultation with educators and students, and advised by a distinguished panel of First Nations educators.

The Coaching and Networking Program will include a moderated, interactive online forum that provides teachers of Indigenous children with access to coaching and mentoring around instructional strategies, as well as more complex social and cultural issues. In addition to the online component, the program will make available a cohort of experienced teachers to provide in-person assistance within their community or region.