Digital platforms and documents for consultation or sharing
PEI Department of Education and Lifelong Learning Public Schools Branch website
**New website coming soon**
Project Overview
- Research topics
- Region: Atlantique
- Project Overview
Project status
- Completed :
- Phase 1: September 2020-August 2021
- Completed :
- Phase 2: September 2021-March 2024
Project manager or
resource person
- Jaclyn Reid
- Director of French Education, Programs and Services
Partner organization(s)
Prince Edward Island Department of Education and Lifelong Learning
French Teacher Growth Plan: Recruitment and Retention Strategies - phases 1 and 2
PHASE 1
Research and development: identify French-speaking teachers and build a database
A database provided a better understanding of the profile of the current 400 teachers to inform future recruitment, address potential shortages and provide additional instructional or language support. The information collected would include school, current position, number of years of teaching, French language proficiency, province or country of origin, and training (e.g., degrees, programs [Core French, Immersion, FFL], language needs, teaching needs...).
Bilingual job fairs and activities/events for high school students
Such events were opportunities to gather information about potential future teachers by surveying high school students and possibly post-secondary students enrolled in French-language programs, which would allow the province to develop recruitment materials in partnership with other local and national organizations. The materials highlighted the benefits of teaching in Prince Edward Island and were part of a larger provincial strategy to recruit a bilingual workforce. The information collected in 2019-20 provided a basis for teacher recruitment and retention strategies for the coming year.
PHASE 2
Recruitment and retention
Provincial recruitment to grow the number of French teachers
The aim was to provide a financial incentive for students to complete their internship/practicum in a francophone environment. Collège de l'Île and UPEI’s Centre d’excellence en français (CEF) or Centre of Excellence in French, provided language support. More diagnostic services in French and follow-up language interventions and tools were offered to students before and during the B.Ed. program.
International recruitment to increase the international pool of candidates
In collaboration with the provincial immigration office and the Coopérative d'intégration francophone (CIF), a clear and streamlined process would be developed to recognize equivalent work experience and review all requirements for teaching in PEI.
Retention strategies for FSL and FFL teachers: preparing and supporting new teachers
The purpose was to provide resources, tools and support to new teachers in the English-language Public Schools Branch to help maintain and enhance French language skills in an English-language context. School principals were also provided with training and tools on how to support new French teachers.
A similar project was also being carried out in French First Language by the Commission scolaire de langue française (CSLF) French-language school board.
Targeted Results
PHASE 1
- The research data provides the basis for teacher recruitment and promotional strategies and helps the province develop promotional materials with other local and national organizations that address current needs.
- A minimum of 300 French teachers are registered in the database.
- A minimum of 100 students are surveyed.
- 90% satisfaction among database users.
PHASE 2
- Increased quality and quantity of B.Ed. applicants.
- A minimum of 10 students receive support before entering the B.Ed. program.
- A minimum of 10 students are offered scholarships.
- 100% of students receive direct support in French.
- A comprehensive recruitment process for international French-speaking teachers is provided to 50 potential candidates and recruiters.
- 85% retention rate for new teachers in the Prince Edward Island school system.
- A minimum of 20 teachers are mentored.
Main takeaways (learnings)
PHASE 1
- Developing innovative recruitment tools for the 21st century.
PHASE 2
- The creation of two promotional videos (one French version and one English version) to promote the two PEI school boards.
- The opportunity for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Education program (French) to register in the Perfectionnement linguistique program (a program that matches candidates with a mentor to improve their French language skills before completing their B.Ed.).
- School board participation in ‘Destination Acadie’ and ‘Destination Canada’ career fairs.
- Developing a clear and simplified process for recognizing work equivalencies and reviewing all the requirements for teaching in PEI.
- Offering training designed specifically to support new teachers, such as Literacy 101, Numeracy 101 and Core French 101.
- Offering funding to support new teachers' requests for training/professional pedagogical development, e.g. application form for financial assistance (scholarships, conferences and institutes, other expenses).
- Training for immersion school principals - to learn how to better support FSL teachers in their schools (if they don't speak French themselves). They were provided with turnkey tools and resources.
Potential/desired collaborations
ACPI and ACPLS
- To support teacher recruitment.
Canadian School Boards Association (CSBA)
- To foster greater collaboration between school boards: sharing expertise, best practices, interviews, hiring.
