Location: Heritage Schoolhouse Museum & Archives (located at 21 Renfrew Dr, Markham, ON L3R 8H3) (Hybrid/Remote Options Available)
Anticipated Start Date and End Date: May 12, 2025 – July 17, 2026 (60 weeks)
Please Note: Travel from site to site will be required.
The York Region District School Board (YRDSB) Museum & Archives is seeking a Museum Education Programs Researcher (60-week contract) to conduct in-depth research on the soldiers of No. 2 Construction Battalion, the largest Black military unit in Canadian history, and create an educational resource on their findings. This research and educational resource will offer students, educators, and the general public the opportunity to better understand the exceptional, significant and lasting contributions to Canadian society of the Black soldiers of No. 2 Construction Battalion. The successful candidate will ensure that the resources are Black-affirming and culturally relevant, and address the new mandatory Ontario curriculum expectations with an emphasis on embedding Black history learning for Grades 7, 8 and 10 classes.
The ideal candidate will conduct archival research, connect with descendants of No. 2 Battalion members, and collaborate with Museum and YRDSB curriculum teams to build an educator resource embedding primary sources in the learning materials. The final product will include fully researched, vetted inquiry packs for Social Studies, History and Geography teachers with relevant, embedded thinking routines, that honour the service and sacrifice of the soldiers of No. 2 Construction Battalion, while also highlighting the families and communities that supported these veterans.
Our ideal candidate would be aligned with our commitment to disrupt systemic racism, to support and advance the YRDSB’s Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Strategy. They will have excellent research skills, with an ability to collect, organize and analyze large amounts of information. They will be detail oriented and knowledgeable in reading primary sources. They must be an effective and empathetic communicator, both orally and in written form. Required work hours may be a combination of Museum office hours, offsite community engagement and on the rare occasion, work from home; the intern will be flexible on work location, based on system needs.
For further information regarding this position, please email [email protected].
Major Responsibilities:
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Conduct archival and historical research, responsibly citing primary sources while adhering to culturally responsive pedagogy.
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Co-plan and co-create with YRDSB Museum & Archives staff and curriculum consultants and coordinators to develop comprehensive inquiry packs for teachers.
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Collaborate with descendants, families, and community members to ensure the research and educational materials are accurate, respectful, and age-appropriate.
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Integrate primary sources into teacher resources, utilizing inquiry-based learning approaches and include strategies to address misinformation (fake facts).
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Lead and engage with students during in-person and outreach teaching of the Museum & Archives programming.
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Produce resources from research, through an anti-racist and anti-oppression lens and ensure that the final product aligns with the YRDSB’s Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Strategy, which guides the development of Black-affirming and culturally relevant curriculum resources.
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Present findings through reports, presentations, and potential public outreach initiatives.
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Work as an active member of the Museum & Archives team.
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Attend meetings and other professional development sessions/training as required.
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To perform other duties as assigned.
Education, Experience, and Qualifications:
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Recent graduate student from a university or college program in History, Museum Studies, Education, Archival Studies, African Canadian Studies, Public History, or a related field.
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A strong interest in education/museum programming and working with students.
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Knowledge of the Ontario Curriculum, with a specific focus on Social Studies, History, and Geography for Grades 6-12.
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Strong research and analytical skills, particularly in archival research, oral history collection, and historical documentation.
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Experience engaging with diverse communities and stakeholders.
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Understanding of culturally responsive pedagogy and historical research ethics.
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Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a museum/educational setting.
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Have excellent English verbal and written communication skills. French is an asset.
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Prior experience with research in museums, libraries and archives strongly preferred.
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Have a valid Drivers Licence and access to a vehicle.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
The York Region District School Board (YRDSB) believes in giving each and every applicant an equal opportunity to succeed on their own merit and we strive to hire staff that reflect and support the diverse perspectives, experiences and needs of students and communities. We remain committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion in our living, learning and work environments. We know that diversity underpins excellence, and that we all share responsibility for creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive Board-community.
Therefore, in pursuit of the Board’s values, we seek members who will work respectfully and constructively with differences and across the organizational hierarchy in actualizing the Board’s priorities, goals and principles outlined in the District Action Plan. Candidates who have strong racial literacy practices and a commitment to dismantling anti-racism, anti-oppression, and creating identity-affirming spaces, in order to intentionally disrupt racist and hateful acts.
We actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to sovereignty, equity, including, but not limited to:
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First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, and all other Indigenous peoples;
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African, Black and Black Caribbean peoples (in alignment with Anti-Black Racism Strategy);
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South Asian, East Asian, Southeast Asian, Middle East/West Asian, Latino/Hispanic (in alignment with YRDSB Workforce Census to address disproportionalities identified).
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members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, colour, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin;
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persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities;
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persons who identify as women; and
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persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.
At YRDSB, we recognize that many of these identities intersect and therefore, equity, diversity and inclusion can be complex. We value and respect the contributions that each person brings to enriching the Board and are committed to ensuring full and equal participation for all in the communities that we serve.
Accessibility and Accommodation Statement
We also recognize the duty to accommodate and foster a culture of inclusion. Consistent with the principles of dignity, individualization and inclusion, we will make any appropriate accommodation based on any of the protected grounds in the Human Rights Code to support candidate participation in the hiring process. When contacted, candidates will be provided with an overview of the various elements of the hiring process, such as skills assessments, written practicum, presentation, interview, etc. If an accommodation is required, requests can be made in advance of any stage of the recruitment process. All information received relating to a candidate’s required accommodation will be addressed confidentially by the Recruitment and Retention Team. Please make this request to [email protected] or a member of the Recruitment Team. If this position is a school based LTO/Contract Teaching position, please email the Principal directly to request the accommodation to be made at the school in collaboration with Human Resource Services, Disability Management Team.
Important Note for YRDSB Employees: If you have a current accommodation in place through Disability Management, please inform your Disability Management Case Manager ([email protected]) to ensure that your accommodation needs can be met in the new role that you are pursuing. If invited to participate in the hiring process, and you are unable to perform the essential/bona fide requirements (e.g. physical, cognitive requirements), please notify the Recruitment Team by emailing [email protected] to review next steps (in the email please reference the job title you are applying to).
Important Information for CUPE 1734 Members:
LA.11.7 Those twelve (12) month employees filling vacancies as a result of their applying to a job posting are to remain twelve (12) months at their position. Ten (10) month employees are to remain in their position until the end of the school year. This requirement can be waived with permission from the Superintendent responsible for Human Resource Services. This does not prevent employees from applying for a position or from applying for a promotion during the twelve (12) month period.
CUPE 1734 applicants will be considered to have the required educational qualifications based on the job description for the CUPE 1734 classification they currently hold on a permanent basis, in accordance with the terms of the CUPE 1734 Collective Agreement.
As a condition of employment, and In accordance with the Education Act, anyone seeking employment or wanting to volunteer must provide a satisfactory police record check. A Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) must be completed by the police services in the jurisdiction in which you reside, this is based on your home address (only accepted by police services within Canada); must be satisfactory to the YRDSB and completed within six (6) months prior to the scheduled start date. It is the candidates responsibility to provide the results to the Board upon instruction.
We will accept satisfactory PVSC’s that name any other school board and other employers (daycare centers, OCT, and employers that would require a police check for vulnerable persons) in Ontario and obtained within the last six (6) months.
Online applications are collected centrally at the Education Centre – Aurora and are monitored by Human Resource Services. All applications will be screened based on the required education, experience and qualifications as noted in the posting and job description and as reflected in the application. Only those candidates meeting these criteria will be eligible to participate in the selection process and only qualified candidates will be contacted.
The personnel file of all internal applicants will be reviewed as part of the selection process.
