About Tom Kertes
Tom 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.
Mr. Kertes di waayu. Kittitas ada Boosn di wil ‘waatgu. Canadian ada Boosn ‘nüüyu. Kxeen di wil dzogu. Adabiis di pdeegu.
Teaching & Education Experience
- Prince Rupert School District 52 (Prince Rupert, BC)
- Charles Hays Secondary School – English teacher (2023-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)
- Charles Hays Secondary School – English teacher (2023-current)
- 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)
- Gidg̱alang Ḵuuyas Naay – Language Arts, Socials, Math, and Drama teacher (2016-2018)
- 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)
Community & Communications Experience
- Liberation Learning Project (Vancouver, BC)
- Community Organizer (2010-2015)
- United Workers Association (Baltimore, MD)
- Community Organizer (2005-2010)
- Imagine Tree Consulting (Seattle, WA and Toronto, ON)
- Television Production, Marketing, Viral Video, and Public Relations Consultant (1999-2009)
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)