Steve Bentley

My most recent position was as Principal at PIB’s Outma Sqilx'W Cultural School, Penticton, B.C, where we focused on the language and culture of the Okanagan people combined with the Ministry of BC’s Educational curriculum. 

To support this mandate, I accessed funding through grant proposals, complementary to the normal funding for B.C. First Nations Schools. In my first year I applied for and accessed $300,000.00 in funding aimed again at supporting various initiatives in Okanagan Language/Culture. The first $200,000.00 came from the British Columbia Language Initiative application to begin a two-year in-house, curriculum creation for the local Okanagan Language/Culture. Included in that funding was a position for a curriculum developer and for an e-curriculum developer. A second funding amount was from the Aboriginal Language Initiatives gained us an additional $50,000.00 with a focus on providing Okanagan language instruction for my classroom teachers in an after-school program. There were additional grants accessed.

Collectively we presented an extended Outdoor Education program based on the seasonal activities of the Okanagan people.

In my other roles I was the Treasurer for the First Nations School Association (FNSA) representing over one hundred and thirty First Nation Schools on Reserves. In that role I was also a member of the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) Financial Committee. I was the Vice President of the FNSA, elected June 14/2019. I stepped down in the fall of 2020, but remained a Board Member, when I began teaching for Okanagan College in Penticton in the evening. I taught a unique Special Education course for Aboriginal Special Education Assistants

Prior to this I was employed as the Principal of OKIB’s Cultural Immersion School, Vernon, B.C.  I began an initiative in which all teachers – Indigenous and Non-Indigenous participated as support staff and as students in our Culture and Language classes. The result was the adoption of N̓səlxcin̓ (Okanagan Language) in all classes at the school and using the N̓səlxcin̓ names of our students as the incremental beginning to the extended use of the language in a regular classroom. The programs here were very similar to PIB, which helped me when I moved to PIB’s Outma Sqilx’w Cultural School. While I was at OKIB, for two years, I was the representative for the Kootenay-Okanagan region on the FNSA Board. In addition to my principal duties, I represented OKIB in negotiations and renewals for their Local Education Agreement with SD 22 and as a member of the Aboriginal Enhancement Agreement.

· Outma Sqilx'W Cultural School, Penticton, B.C.  Principal – August 2018 to September 2020

· Okanagan College, Penticton, B.C.  Part Time Instructor – August 2019 to June 2020

· OKIB Cultural Immersion School, Vernon, B.C.  Principal – July 2016 to July 2018

· Windermere Elementary School, Windermere, B.C. S.D. NO. 6 (Rocky Mountain)

  Principal - August 2009 to June 2016

· Lady Grey Elementary School, Golden, B.C. S.D. NO. 6 (Rocky Mountain)

  Vice Principal - September 2008 to August 2009

· Tahayghen Elementary School, Masset, B.C. S.D. NO. 50 (Queen Charlottes / Haida Gwaii)

  Principal - August 2006 to September 2008

· John C. Yesno Education Centre, Eabamet Lake, Ontario. Eabametoong First Nation Ed. Authority

  Principal - March 24 2003 to August 2006 Created Culture specific Outdoor Ed. Curriculum

· John C. Yesno Education Centre, Eabamet Lake, Ontario. Eabametoong First Nation Ed. Authority

  Principal - August 1998 to June 1999

  Vice Principal / Special Ed. Head – August 1997 to September 1998 

  Vice Principal / Special Ed. / Visual Arts / Communication Technology- September 1996 to June 1997 

  Special Education / Visual Arts – October 1995 to March 1996 - Grades 7, 8, 9, and 10

· Thames Valley District School Board, London, Ontario

  Supply and Occasional, mostly at Oakridge Secondary School, September 2001 to June 2005

· Fanshawe College, Continuing Ed., Computer Applications (Concurrent with Thames Valley position)

  Digital Imaging / Software Applications Instructor – October 2000 to November 2002

· Dunnville Secondary School, Dunnville, Ontario. Grand Erie Board of Education 

   Visual Arts / Photography / Special Education – September 1993 to September 1995

  Delivered programs to Grades 9, 10 and 11, except Photography Grade 11 only

· Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre, London, Ontario, Prison Arts Foundation

  Visual Arts / Basic Literacy – November 1989 to April 1991

  Delivered programs to Minimum and Medium Security Inmates of both genders

Education at a variety of levels and positions, special education specialist, photographer, artists, writer…. Counsellor and so much more.