A new principal for aboriginal education started her first day last Thursday for the Nicola –Similkameen school district.

Shelley Oppenheim-Lacerte succeeds Opal Charters, to head the school districts aboriginal program.

Charters left the district in June to pursue education opportunities in her home town.

Oppenheim-Lacerte, who is a member of the Coldwater Indian Band, brings extensive experience and knowledge of local First Nations communities to her position.

“I have many relatives throughout the Nicola Valley and my daughters attend Merritt Secondary School,” says Oppenheim-Lacerte.

Oppenheim-Lacerte taught for eleven years at the N’Kwala School in Upper Nicola where she was a teacher and principal and at the Lower Nicola Band School.

Most recently she was the district principal for aboriginal education for School District 74(Gold Trail) which encompasses Ashcroft and the surrounding communities.

“We know that, statistically throughout B.C. and Canada we struggle with the success rates of aboriginal students,” says Oppenheim-Lacerte.

“School districts throughout B.C. are working really hard on making changes so that there is more success for aboriginal students.”

Oppenheim-Lacerte recognizes the importance of creating bridges with parents, elders and the various support services throughout the community in order to create a team focused on the accomplishment of its students.

“In Gold- Trail we had an elders program and we had elders working in the school,” says Oppenheim Lacerte.

“I know the school district is open to bringing more elders in and possibly creating an elders room.”

The idea is to create connections for the students with their elders, with whom they can learn more about their own culture and feel proud about their own heritage.

“I would like our staff and non-Aboriginals to learn and understand, so that they can respect the culture as well,” says Oppenheim-Lacerte.

“I think there is still a lot of work to do within our school system and I really want to allow our students to connect with their language and their culture.”

“The district is looking forward to working with someone having Ms. Oppenheim-Lacerte’s commitment and passion to work on behalf of Aboriginal students in our district,” said School Board chair Gordon Comeau.