Contact Us - Indigenous Education Team - Greater Essex County District School Board

We encourage our parents and community partners to contact us at any time. The following staff members work to support all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students through the Indigenous Education Program at GECDSB

INDIGENOUS EDUCATION STAFF
Tina DeCastro Teacher Consultant 519-255-3200 x 10235 tina.decastro@publicboard.ca	Brieanne John Support Worker 519-255-3200 x 40150 brieanne.john@publicboard.ca	Tyler White Support Worker 519-255-3200 x 40152 tyler.white@publicboard.ca	Adrian Klein Support Worker 519-255-3200 x 40151 Adrian.Klein@publicboard.ca
Ahnii/Shekoli/Hello, I arrived here as a young girl from Portugal with my family and was raised in a very traditional home where our language and culture was celebrated and honoured. It is my own personal goal to be a helper, so that this generation and future generations understand the historical and current events that have impacted the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people on what we now know as Canada. I am extremely fortunate to work with a great team of individuals dedicated to improving the educational experiences of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students within our school board. I have been a teacher with the GECDSB for 20 years and have spent 8 of those years dedicated to Indigenous Education. In collaboration with the community, I provide staff and students opportunities to learn the true history of Turtle Island using authentic learning resources, experiences and Indigenous voices. I look forward to continuing to listen and learn from students, parents and guardians in order to do the work with an open mind and heart.	Sheko:li (Greetings), Kaliwahloluks in my Longhouse name, and I am part of the Okw:li (Bear) clan from the Onya:ta^ka (Oneida Nation of the Thames First Nation). I am active in my culture and constantly growing my knowledge and understanding of both my own and other cultures. I have achieved my B.A. in Honours Psychology and I am eager to continue learning what I can do to better assist my students and families. I also have many years of experience volunteering and working First Nations, Métis, and Inuit youth where I was able to build relationships with them and their families. I look forward to continuing this work and nourishing a trust that will will allow parents and students to view me as somebody with their best interests at heart.	Boozhoo/Sheko:li (Greetings), I am an Oneida and Ojibwe from Bkejwanong Territory (Walpole Island First Nation). I am active in my culture, in both traditional and educational aspects. My educational background is law oriented but I have many years of experience working with First Nations, Métis, & Inuit youth. I previously worked with the Walpole Island Secondary School Program as a First Nation, Métis , and Inuit student support worker for Secondary School students. I have been able to add to my experience and learn how to better my support for Indigenous students of all ages while working here at the Greater Essex County District School board with the Open Minds Program. I look forward to continuing to learn as well as share my Knowledge and experience as a member of the Open Minds Team! Yaw^ko/ Chi Miigwech!	Boozhoo/Sheko:lÍ/Greetings I am an Ojibwe and Oneida. I have been active in my culture since a very young age. I continue to learn and build knowledge of my culture so that it can be shared with our younger generation. I have seen and experienced the positive impact our culture has in both the education and everyday activities. My previous work has allowed me to gain years of experience supporting and connecting with urban Indigenous youth. I'm grateful to be apart of the GECDSB Open Minds Team. I look forward to continuing to connect, support, and work with indigenous families and students within our community.

INDIGENOUS EDUCATION STAFF 

Tina DeCastro

Teacher Consultant

519-255-3200 x 10235

tina.decastro@publicboard.ca

Brieanne John

Support Worker

519-255-3200 x 40150

brieanne.john@publicboard.ca

Tyler White

Support Worker

519-255-3200 x 40152

tyler.white@publicboard.ca

Adrian Klein

Support Worker

519-255-3200 x 40151

Adrian.Klein@publicboard.ca

Ahnii/Shekoli/Hello,

I arrived here as a young girl from Portugal with my family and was raised in a very traditional home where our language and culture was celebrated and honoured. It is my own personal goal to be a helper, so that this generation and future generations understand the historical and current events that have impacted the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people on what we now know as Canada. I am extremely fortunate to work with a great team of individuals dedicated to improving the educational experiences of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students within our school board. I have been a teacher with the GECDSB for 20 years and have spent 8 of those years dedicated to Indigenous Education. In collaboration with the community, I provide staff and students opportunities to learn the true history of Turtle Island using authentic learning resources, experiences and Indigenous voices. I look forward to continuing to listen and learn from students, parents and guardians in order to do the work with an open mind and heart.

Sheko:li (Greetings),

Kaliwahloluks in my Longhouse name, and I am part of the Okw:li (Bear) clan from the Onya:ta^ka (Oneida Nation of the Thames First Nation). I am active in my culture and constantly growing my knowledge and understanding of both my own and other cultures. I have achieved my B.A. in Honours Psychology and I am eager to continue learning what I can do to better assist my students and families. I also have many years of experience volunteering and working First Nations, Métis, and Inuit youth where I was able to build relationships with them and their families. I look forward to continuing this work and nourishing a trust that will will allow parents and students to view me as somebody with their best interests at heart.

Boozhoo/Sheko:li (Greetings),

I am an Oneida and Ojibwe from Bkejwanong Territory (Walpole Island First Nation). I am active in my culture, in both traditional and educational aspects. My educational background is law oriented but I have many years of experience working with First Nations, Métis, & Inuit youth. I previously worked with the Walpole Island Secondary School Program as a First Nation, Métis , and Inuit student support worker for Secondary School students.

I have been able to add to my experience and learn how to better my support for Indigenous students of all ages while working here at the Greater Essex County District School board with the Open Minds Program.

I look forward to continuing to learn as well as share my Knowledge and experience as a member of the Open Minds Team!

Yaw^ko/ Chi Miigwech!

Boozhoo/Sheko:lÍ/Greetings

I am an Ojibwe and Oneida. I have been active in my culture since a very young age. I continue to learn and build knowledge of my culture so that it can be shared with our younger generation. I have seen and experienced the positive impact our culture has in both the education and everyday activities. My previous work has allowed me to gain years of experience supporting and connecting with urban Indigenous youth. I'm grateful to be apart of the GECDSB Open Minds Team. I look forward to continuing to connect, support, and work with indigenous families and students within our community.