NNEC hires new ED

Northern Nishnawbe Education Council’s (NNEC) new executive director is looking to strengthen communications and increase community engagement at the 32-year-old Sioux Lookout-based education organization.
“My goal is to strengthen the communication within the organization, both in the organization and outside with our tribal councils, with our communities directly and with the parents, getting more community engagement involved in NNEC,” Norma Kejick said.
Kejick has worked with NNEC for 20 years, including as principal of Wahsa Distance Education Centre.
“I’m a big team player. I really believe in teamwork and that is one of the things I will promote. That is my management style, to let my team do the work.”
The Lac Seul band member took over as executive director Aug. 31 and has completed her first annual general meeting in conjunction with Kwayaciiwin Education Resource Centre as a cost-sharing measure.
“It’s been very busy,” Kejick said. “We had two very good chairpersons, Wally McKay and Eno Chapman, who did great in keeping the meeting moving along.”
Kejick has also been meeting with various partners to look at how the Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School (DFC) residency program can be achieved.
“There are no new developments,” Kejick said. “NNEC doesn’t have the funding so now we have to look at how can we get this going in partnerships with other people.”
Kejick said two new recreation coordinators were hired at DFC to plan activities for the students in the evenings.
“The school is open for them in the evenings so they can come here to hang out and do different activities, whether its sports clubs or culture clubs, beading or drumming,” Kejick said. “We try to keep the students busy here at the school and have it open for them until at least 9 o’clock.”