Thomas Kertes

Thomas Kertes di waayu. Kittitas ada Boosn di wil ‘waatgu. Canadian ada Boosn ‘nüüyu. Kxeen di wil dzogu. Adabiis di pdeegu.

Thomas 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.

Course Website

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 of Education 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)