Theresa Davis

Strategically directed education programs and pedagogy to ensure revitalization of indigenous language and culture, alongside academic success, for continued access to higher education and careers. Engaged learning community in responsive actions to address mental wellness and intergenerational trauma, and build a stronger sense of community among stakeholders. Built a culture of effective student agency through creation of systems, events and training.

Strategic Innovation Highlights

• Implemented the first school Student Leadership Council to engage student voices in school- and community-wide change-making.
• Implemented the first Middle School Model to engage student choice in school programming, and develop career-based training through hands-on learning.
• Increased capacity to deliver culturally relevant programming through envisioning and managing capital projects (interior and exterior) and programs.
• Increased capacity to deliver education services through developing and managing the first Six Nations Virtual Academy.

Leadership Highlights

• Advised senior management on policy and protocol as a member of the district leadership team in special education and progressive discipline.
• Increased recruitment and capacity-building of Indigenous staff to the current 80% level.
• Built trust within the staff team, resulting in a reduction of staff absenteeism.
• Managed the budgeting process for school operations, including programs and supplies, fulfilling procurement mandates on time, annually, since 2021.

Improved resiliency during drought and other economic shocks in marginalized pastoralist community, specifically for women, through two key projects: a rainwater harvesting community center and the installation of a flour mill. The work within this Maasai village has now influenced work in neighbouring villages, drawing attention from the President of Tanzania as a key example of success in grassroots development

• Collaborated with local community members to seek input and build capacity for managing ongoing project success.
• Planned and developed multi-project trajectory.
• Built capacity among community members to ensure local ongoing management of projects.
• Secured and managed donated funds for multiple projects.
• Monitored and evaluated the projects throughout development and after implementation.
• Reported success indicators and financial outcomes to funders.

• Designed and implemented a system alignment tool for performance evaluations of teachers and support staff.
• Advised senior management on policy and procedure outcomes (special education, student discipline policy, contingency procedures, Public Health safety protocols) to improve district-wide systems efficacy.
• Oversaw continuation of service delivery throughout the pandemic through training and monitoring staff, and developing an emergency communication and materials distribution strategy.
• Recipient of Ontario Regional Exceptional Circumstances Award, April 2020, for innovation in the delivery of services during the pandemic.

• Built capacity in support staff (developed onboarding e-learning modules), developing pathways for successful promotion to teaching status in alignment with diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring goals.
• Recruited and retained quality staff, and managed transitions into a new country and workplace.
• Secured accreditation through work on the Strategic Planning Committee (sourcing community feedback, analyzing data, creating and implementing the action plan, monitoring, and evaluating plan).
• Increased school identity and branding through large-scale event planning, concerts, and musicals, and the collaborative composition of a school song.
• Organized special events, school concerts, music competitions, and music examinations.
• Designed and implemented curricula to challenge students and encourage excellence.

• Successfully analyzed and presented data to key donor stakeholders across sectors (WASH, governance, education, health) to enhance resilience of nomadic peoples in Afar and Somali region, Ethiopia
• Secured funding for project development implementation (from DFID, IRF, Save the Children) for £12million

• Increased student achievement through implementation of large-scale assessment and strategic planning of programs.
• Improved relationship between school and board of directors through analyzing and reporting student achievement data.
• Improved teacher capacity through training and co-teaching in classrooms as a Special Educator.
• Increased student voice and input into school change through Student Council as a founding advisor

• Improved strategies for communications between home and school through creation of first ever Round Table on Racism (student presenters)
• Improved student leadership through Kids in Action (advisor)