Building to a bright future

​Ayla Laforte just finished school and she’s already qualified to work in one. 

The St. John’s High School graduate is a participant in Build from Within – Ozhitoon onji Peenjiiee. The teacher development program is a collaboration between Winnipeg School Division, Indigenous charity Indspire and the University of Winnipeg’s Faculty of Education. 

Starting in Grade 11, Build from Within students work to complete the Education Assistant Diploma Program while they are still in high school. 

After graduation, the students attend the U of W to earn Integrated Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees, while also working part-time as educational assistants in WSD. 

The Build from Within program pays its participant’s university tuition fees, while also providing a monthly bus pass, cultural activities, mentors and summer job opportunities. 

Laforte, who is Ojibwe, said the Build from Within program is empowering her to fulfill a life-long dream.

“As a kid I always joked about how I was going to become a teacher,” Laforte said. “I love kids. I’ve always wanted to have kids and I want to teach kids.”

In September, Laforte will begin working in WSD in a classroom internship role at Inkster School. 

“It’s called a teacher intern, so I’ll basically be shadowing and doing my university practicum two years early while also taking university classes online,” Laforte said.

On June 26, Laforte had her high school diploma delivered straight to her doorstep by St. John’s Indigenous grad coach Stephanie Midford and Build from Within project manager Shane Bostrom. 

St. John’s teachers Melissa Steeves and Cole Hunt, who coached Laforte in basketball and rugby respectively, were present as well. Laforte’s parents Tim Chartrand and Carrie Laforte also shared in the moment. 

“It makes me feel so much more loved and cared for than I ever thought was imaginable,” Laforte said of the visit. “Some students say school is a horrible place, but school was amazing for me. It was a sanctuary. These teachers made me a second home.”

Midford said Laforte has excelled in the Build from Within program and is a model student.

“Ayla has been a gift. She’s taught me so much in my role,” Midford said. “She’s always been dedicated and open to opportunities, which is what our student’s need. Every student has a dream and we need to support them along their journey so they can aspire to their dream.”

“I’m so proud of Ayla. She’s an Indigenous graduate who is going to be an amazing Indigenous role model for our students in WSD.”

Bostrom is also confident that Laforte has a bright future. 

“She’s been a superstar in the program and I feel like she’ll go far as a teacher,” Bostrom said. “I think she’ll go into administration at some point. I can see her being a future principal or a director or maybe even superintendent. I can see her being my boss someday.”