Educational Assistant Apprenticeship Program

EA Apprenticeship Program Description:

Background:

The SMCDSB’s Adult, Continuing, and Community Education Department, with support of our Human Resources Department, the Manager of Educational Assistant Services, local O.S.S.T.F., Program and Services, Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, Specialist High Skills Major, our schools' Principals, and Vice Principals, and our Senior Leadership Team has been working on a plan to address the overwhelming shortage of qualified EAs in the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.

Our schools frequently use unqualified/emergency supply EAs in their schools to fill jobs that have not been filled by qualified staff.

Part of the solution is to introduce an Education Assistant Apprenticeship Training program in partnership with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skill Development (MLITSD). This program will support our current emergency E.A. staff to become qualified/trained Education Assistants. The program also creates an opportunity for other potential E.A.s to join our Apprentice Program and join our school board staff!.

The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board is very excited to be able to support and train our new Education Assistants as they journey through their apprenticeships! The goal of our EA Apprenticeship program is to be able to offer a viable pathway to a career for many people and will support our schools by helping to deal with staffing shortages.

Eligibility:

There are FOUR Potential Pathways:

A. EA Apprentice Candidates that are Currently not an Emergency Supply List at an SMCDSB School. These potential candidates need to be hired on an Emergency Supply List for at least one school.

Candidate can either go into a school and meet with the Principal or Vice Principal OR
the Continuing Education department will set up a brief Virtual Interview with you
If successful, Candidate will need to submit:
Criminal Background Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening
Human Resources Paperwork needs to be submitted
Direct Deposit Form
Health and Safety Training

B. EA Apprentice Candidates who are required to complete their grade 12 diploma. We will be able to sign these apprentices through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP). The Con Ed Department will be working with these candidates help them complete their grade 12 diploma while they are training through your apprenticeship.

C. EA Apprentices Candidates that have received their education internationally. The Con Ed Department will working through those situations to ensure that the Candidates meet the requirements for the EA Apprenticeship Program.

D. EA Apprentice Candidates that are on a schools emergency supply list and have completed their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. They can move to the next step to register their apprenticeship.

CTV NEWS Story

SMCDSB Media Release

Overview of the SMCDSB EA Apprenticeship Program