Why choose a career in education in the Yukon?
While there are many, many reasons why we love living and teaching in the Yukon, we decided to highlight a few of the most important. Read all 4 reasons why you should choose us as the next destination for your career, not to mention the fact that we’re one of Canada's Top 100 Employers.
Our curriculum, our way
Yukon schools follow the British Columbia curriculum, with adaptations to include:
- Yukon content; and
- Yukon First Nations language, history, culture and ways of knowing, doing and being in all subject areas and grade levels.
Learn more about the Yukon’s school curriculum.
Connection to place: land, culture and community
In the Yukon, education isn’t confined to four walls – it’s a journey that connects students and teachers to the natural environment and vibrant cultures that surround them. Our pedagogical approach is place-based, transforming traditional instruction into an everyday adventure by using the outdoors and local heritage as the foundation for teaching math, language and other subject areas.
Yukon teachers engage in a reciprocal process that takes the curriculum into the natural environment around their school community and brings elements of nature back into the classroom. This approach, often called 'forest school' or 'bush school' locally, also integrates Yukon First Nations ways of knowing, doing and being.
Here in the Yukon, you’ll find the freedom to innovate, the chance to work with diverse communities and the opportunity to inspire a love of learning in ways that simply are not possible in the big city. Teaching in the Yukon is more than a career – it’s an experience you’ll carry with you for a lifetime.
Next-level experiential learning
In our territory, learning often takes place outside the classroom – way, way outside. Students might take part in a moose or bison hunt or embark on a multi-day paddling adventure along one of the pristine rivers that wind through our stunning mountain ranges. These outdoor and off-site adventures are more than just field trips – they’re transformative learning opportunities that prepare students to excel in hands-on, minds-on environments. Core competencies that prepare students for life are embedded in rich experiential activities. These competencies include:
- communication;
- critical and creative thinking;
- positive personal and cultural identity;
- personal awareness and responsibility; and
- social responsibility.
Ready-to-Learn Schools
Yukon schools aim to create environments where both students and staff feel welcomed, safe and supported. By fostering a culture of calm, respect, and understanding, teachers play a vital role in transforming the school community and driving positive change.
Ready-to-Learn Schools empowers teachers to shape a school culture where everyone feels valued. It emphasizes understanding each student’s experiences, rather than focusing on what’s wrong with them, and meeting students where they are developmentally. As a result, teachers reduce barriers and build stronger connections with students.
Educators see many benefits as part of Ready-to-Learn Schools.
- Professional learning opportunities to better understand and support diverse student needs.
- Effective strategies and skills to build confidence and create positive, inclusive school cultures.
- Stronger student-teacher relationships, fostering trust and emotional growth.
- Improved student safety and attachment, helping students’ feel more connected to the school and the adults within it.
In Ready-to-Learn Schools, educators are not only shaping academic outcomes but also transforming the emotional and social fabric of the school community. By helping children feel safe, valued, and understood, teachers create an environment where all students can grow, learn and thrive.
Hear from educators and learn about their experiences with Ready-to-Learn Schools in our series of informational videos.
The structure of the Yukon’s public school system
The Minister of Education oversees the Yukon’s public school system in accordance with the Education Act. There are 3 school authorities:
- Yukon Education, the Department of Education’s school authority, which operates 18 schools in communities across the Yukon.
- The Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon, which manages two French First Language schools and two school programs.
- The Yukon First Nation School Board, which oversees 11 schools across the territory.
You can learn more about the Yukon’s school boards.
The Yukon’s school system offers several French language programs. Catholic school programs are available in three Whitehorse-based public schools.
Yukon Education
Yukon Education is the school authority run by the Government of Yukon’s Department of Education. We operate schools in many Yukon communities, including:
Carmacks:
Dawson:
Faro:
Mayo:
Teslin:
Whitehorse:
Pay, benefits and leave
We use the teachers salary grid to determine salaries. Salaries are set based on:
- post-secondary education; and
- past teaching experience.
Leave and other terms and conditions of employment are outlined in the collective agreement between the Government of Yukon and the Yukon Association of Education Professionals.
Teachers receive a full benefits package. Reference this guide for a detailed overview of the benefits that eligible employees receive.
Professional development
The Department of Education provides teachers with 30 non-instructional hours per school year for professional development purposes. Teachers also have access to opportunities for First Nation cultural training, such as Yukon University’s First Nations 101 program, as well as training and resources available related to on-the-land experiential learning practices.
Recruiting process
- Resume submission – submit your resume to the job you wish to apply for clearly demonstrating how you meet the required qualifications and experience.
- Resume screening – all resumes are reviewed and screened by human resources and the school administrator. Candidates are notified of their status in approximately one week after a job posting is closed. Qualified applicants for teacher jobs will be hired in the following order or priority:
- Persons of Yukon First Nations ancestry not already employed as a teacher or existing teachers of Yukon First Nations ancestry seeking to return to their traditional territory;
- Permanent teachers with 3 or more years of continuous service in the same school;
- other permanent teachers; and
- other applicants.
- Interviews – candidates who are screened in will be contacted for interviews.
- Offer of employment – the successful candidate(s) will be contacted and issued a verbal offer of employment followed by a written offer.
- Submission of credentials – once an offer of employment is accepted, we will ask for the documentation and credentials required to determine salary and ensure conditions of employment are met.
Job requirements
- Bachelor of Education or equivalent;
- recent successful teaching experience (or practicum) specific to the job posting assignment. For example, experience implementing student learning plans, student behaviour support plans or individual education plans, or recent experience working with First Nation students and families in an educational setting/environment.
Teacher certification
Learn about how to apply for a Yukon teacher certificate.
Teacher on call opportunities
Being a teacher on call provides flexibility, allowing educators to choose their workdays and experience different school environments. This role helps new teachers gain classroom experience, hone teaching skills, and understand diverse student needs without a long-term commitment. Being a teacher on call also fosters networking opportunities within school communities, opening doors for potential permanent positions. Additionally, it offers a chance to make a positive impact by ensuring uninterrupted learning for students in the absence of their regular teacher. For many, it's a fulfilling way to contribute to education while enjoying work-life balance.
Contact
- For more information about this role, contact [email protected].
- Apply for a teaching job.
- Visit the career profile for educational assistants.