We are Hiring Replacement Teachers and EA’s
We are looking to hire some more replacement teachers and EA’s. The work is casual so you have flexibility when you work. For further information and rates of pay click here or please contact Mr. Gemmell, Principal at Johnson Elementary. To apply to be on our replacement list click here (click apply on the green button at the top left).
Johnson Elementary School
Welcome!
We hope you come back often
Johnson Elementary School has an enrolment of about 135 students from K4 to Grade 7.
Through this website, we hope to share the exciting experiences of our Learners and staff. We hope you enjoy viewing it and visit again soon.
We respectfully acknowledge that Johnson Elementary School is situated upon the Territory of the Liard First Nation.
School Growth Plan
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Literacy
Johnson Elementary School is committed to ensuring that every Learner becomes a proficient reader by implementing evidence-based literacy instruction grounded in the Science of Reading and the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) framework.
Our goal is to close achievement gaps, support struggling readers, and equip all Learners with strong foundational literacy skills for lifelong learning.
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Land and Language
Situated on the Territory of the Liard First Nation, Johnson Elementary School (JES) is committed to honouring the Kaska language and Kaska culture.
We aim to foster deep connections between and among JES Learners, the community of Watson Lake, and the Land by integrating Indigenous knowledge, land-based learning, and language preservation into our educational practices.
Our goal is to ensure that Kaska traditions, language, and ways of knowing are embedded into daily learning experiences, strengthening Learners’ cultural identity and community engagement.
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Whole Child
Johnson Elementary School (JES) is committed to fostering Learners’ holistic development by addressing their academic, social, emotional, and physical well-being.
We recognize that Learners thrive when they feel safe, supported, and engaged in a learning environment that nurtures their unique strengths and identities.
Through a comprehensive Whole Child approach, we are empowering JES Learners to reach their full potential and become resilient, compassionate, and confident individuals.
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Numeracy
Johnson Elementary School (JES) is committed to ensuring that all our Learners develop strong numeracy skills by implementing evidence-based mathematics instruction grounded in cognitive science and best practices in Education.
Our goal is to close achievement gaps, support struggling Learners, and equip all JES Learners with the foundational numeracy skills necessary for academic success and real-world problem-solving.
A message from Johnson Elementary School’s Principal, Wade Gemmell
I am incredibly excited to serve as Johnson Elementary School’s (JES’s) Principal.
It is an honour to hold this leadership role and be part of the dedicated teams at JES and the First Nations School Board.
With over 33 years in Education, including 27 years as a Vice-Principal and Principal (25 of which were in the Chilliwack School District), I’ve had the privilege of working, leading, and learning in eight different schools. Each experience has deepened my passion for building strong, collaborative school communities focused on Learner success.
I am especially committed to improving outcomes in Literacy (reading, writing, and communication) and Numeracy (computational fluency and problem-solving). I believe in the power of teamwork and open partnerships with staff, families, the Liard First Nation, and the broader community to support every Learner’s journey.
I am a lifelong advocate for place-based learning, and I am deeply honoured to live and work on the Territory of the Liard First Nation. My previous experiences in Hartley Bay (Tsimshian Territory), Bamfield (Huu-ay-aht Territory), and Cultus Lake (Stó:lō Territory) have taught me the value of weaving local Indigenous knowledge and traditional teachings in everyday learning.
I look forward to learning about the Kaska language and building meaningful connections in Watson Lake.
Outside of school, I’m a proud father of three adult children, I enjoy the outdoors, exploring trails by dirt bike, and I’m hoping to add snowmobiling to my Yukon adventures.
Wade Gemmell,
Johnson Elementary School Principal
What makes FNSB schools different
Accountability
We take the words of past reports and the wisdom of our communities seriously. The Auditor General Reports of 2009 and 2019, the Joint Education Action Plan (JEAP), and the various reports from the Yukon Child and Youth Advocate (YCAO) have given us a clear map with checkpoints to ensure the needs of our Learners are met and our communities are heard and empowered. An overarching theme of these reports is accountability. You cannot have accountability without objective data and transparency.
Through our Yukon First Nation values, we have built all aspects of FNSB around this, especially how our schools operate and support our Learners' education. Everything from our school growth plans, to teacher evaluations, academic assessments, and the development of new data measures for cultural connection and belonging, FNSB is ensuring we are accountable to our Learners, families, First Nations, communities, and the public.
Together with local First Nations
We are changing what education looks like at Johnson Elementary School because local First Nation citizens are involved and leading everything from staffing and budgets to school rules and programming. Our school is a part of the community, not separate from it. Our Leadership Team includes education leaders from Liard First Nation, and our localized governance model of Community Committees, made up of citizens and families, enables our community to genuinely share the delivery of public education.
High Expectations, High Support
Johnson Elementary School follows the BC Curriculum, and we work with Liard First Nation to integrate local knowledge, histories, languages, and cultures with high academic rigour. We know true learning engages minds by reflecting lived experiences and fostering a sense of belonging. Our community should maintain high expectations of our Learners, and the Educators and School Teams entrusted to teach them. In reciprocity, all Learners, Educators, and families are supported through a localized First Nations approach, which is strengths-based and wraps around the whole person, not only one aspect.
Inclusive of all
All Learners, Educators, and families are welcome at Johnson Elementary School. Every decision we make holds our Learners and families at the centre. We provide education grounded in reconciliation. A Yukon First Nations model puts the whole Learner first through a strengths-based and community-centred approach. We all hold the privilege and the responsibility to learn about and from the people, teachings, and languages of this land.
