COMMUNIQUÉ
Kahnawà:ke Education Center (KEC)
Kahnawà:ke, Quebec - 15 Seskéha / August 2024
KEC Announces New Director of Education
The Kahnawà:ke Education Center is proud to announce Falen Iakowennaié:was Jacobs as the new KEC Director of Education. During the 2024-2025 academic year, Jacobs will be transitioning out of her current role as Associate Director and into her new role under the guidance of retiring Director Robin Delaronde. The transition plan ensures a seamless continuation of our education initiatives during the 2024-2025 academic year and beyond.
“I am pleased and confident that Falen will lead our education system into the next phase of revitalization and growth. She demonstrates the commitment, dedication and passion for education required for this position,” noted current KEC Director of Education Robin Delaronde.
With over 20 years of diverse teaching experience, Falen has served the community in various capacities including Educational Assistant, Classroom Teacher, Resource Teacher, and more recently in leadership roles as Interim Principal, Associate Principal, and KEC Associate Director. Her academic journey, marked by undergraduate and graduate degrees from Concordia and McGill Universities, highlights a commitment to educational excellence and leadership development, including an impending M.A. in Educational Leadership by spring 2025. Her educational background and years of experience within the education system make Falen an invaluable addition at the forefront of the KEC.
Jacobs expressed, “I am honored to have been selected as the successful candidate for Director of Education. I assure you of my commitment to ensure that our education system and direction remains guided by the community, as represented by the parents, for the benefit of our elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students, as well as the faces yet to come. Through honoring the significant contributions of those who came before me who have advocated for our rights to self-determination, my goal is to keep Tsi Niionkwarihò:ten and our values as Kanien’kehá:ka at the forefront as we continue to move forward and make strides together.”
Kahnawà:ke Combined Schools Committee Chairperson Tahothoratie Cross had this to say, “The KCSC and the Directors Supervisory Committee are pleased to announce Falen Jacobs as the successful candidate. While the process for choosing our new Director was lengthy and very thorough, Falen demonstrated strong abilities and the dedication needed for the position. We have full faith and trust in her intentions and goals as the incoming Director of Education and have full confidence that she will bring our education system into the future while maintaining our collective goals and mission.”
As we embark on this new chapter under Jacobs’ leadership, we remain confident in the continued growth and success of our educational journey, deeply rooted in the principles of Tsi Niionkwarihò:ten and a strong educational foundation that has enabled our community to flourish. The search for a new KEC Associate Director will begin soon, with the posting to follow.