Kakisa, N.W.T.'s 1-room school welcomes new principal

Greg Reardon is taking on a big jobat a very small school.

He's the new principal at theone-room schoolhouse in Kakisa, N.W.T.

The community boasts a total population of about 50, andKakisa Lake School has 10 students this year, ranging from junior kindergarten through Grade 9. Reardon is pulling double-duty.

"The thing is I'm not just the principal, I'm also a teacher. So during the day I'm trying to dedicate as much time as possible to the kids; that's the reason I'm here. And then I'll try to get all the principal work done when I can," he says.

Originally from Newfoundland, Reardon has worked in other communities in N.W.T., including Whati, Jean Marie River, Wrigley and Tuktoyaktuk.

He was first introduced to Kakisa about10 years agowhen he was teaching in nearby Fort Providence.

"I immediately fell in love with the community," he says.

"Not only with the beautiful scenery and the lake as a backdrop, but the people are very helpful, very supportive, very welcoming."

Reardon says one of the biggest challenges is teaching at the multi-grade level. He does havethe help of a language instructor and gets some help closer to home.

His wife Yvonne works with the younger kids, and Reardon works with the older students.

His two daughters also attend the school.

"They're having lots of fun outside and in school. So I look forward to them learning from each other with their different backgrounds, and growing up in different parts of Canada."

Students, community members also teachers

Right now the students are gearing up for a community moose hunt next week south of the community something Reardon says everyone is looking forward to.

"When we get outside the school, I often see a different side of the kids, getting in touch with nature and the land."

He says he likes the students andcommunity members to be the teachers sometimes, because it deepens their relationship.

"I've been so fortunate to work with the Tlicho, and now I'm working in the Dehcho as well. And I've spent some time in Tuk, working with the Inuvialuit.

"So I'm so interested in the different cultural backgrounds, different ways of doing things, different ways of knowing. And I always try and integrate that into what I teach."

Aside from his teaching duties, Reardon says he'll also have to manage administrative duties for the school board, and make sure all the school's computer systems are up to date.

"There's a lot of things to juggle, but I think I can do it."