What in your experience and qualifications prepares you for the role of school trustee?
As this is will be my fourth term as school trustee in the Chilliwack School District, I bring the experience of the past nine years in guiding the District through a variety of challenges, multitude government changes and student successes.

In continuing my understanding and education on the challenges of effective human resource and contract management, I am now Director in the BC Public School Employers Association.

This has broadened my understanding and appreciation of the complex processes Board of Education face. Recruiting and keeping excellent teachers is a challenge we continue face in the coming years.

A sample of previous experiences include, legal assistant for law firms in conveyancing (real estate), corporate law, civil litigation and a few criminal cases;Schoolnet Advisory Board , IndustryCanada, Copyright Consortium; Provincial Childcare Council; Education Advisory Council; Network of Innovative Schools; Restorative Justice and Youth Diversion and the President & CEO of the Provincial parent organization (BCCPAC and national parent organization (Canadian Home and School Federation.
The most important previous experience, however, is the mother of four children who were educated in the Chilliwack School District. They are my inspiration and motivation.

What steps will you take to work with other trustees to improve student achievement?
First one needs to develop the new board as a collaborative, diverse, team working together respectfully. Then the board can tackle the continuing challenge of student achievement which is the key work of school boards.

The major task of the new board will then be to draft a new strategic plan to guide the District into the future. This is a Board led key community and parent involvment project that identifies the educational priorities and future needs of Chilliwack students and community. This is particulary important as the Board of Education mandate has changed to include both pre-school and adult learners.

As boards govern by policy to guide the Superintendent and staff in their daily work with students, trustees must insure that policy is student focused, current, relevant and followed.

Continue improving the inclusive budget processes that focus additional resources to the areas of most student needs.

Provide teacher support , focused professional development and mentorship for new teachers. Collaborative time for teachers appears to have some positive results.

Strive to encourage risk taking and innovation in educating students.

Celebrate the successes of students, staff and parents regularly.

Work to create a positive learning and working climate in the district.

This is but a brief overview of the work of a dedicated school trustee.

What in your experience and qualifications prepares you for the role of school trustee?

What steps will you take to work with other trustees to improve student achievement?

What in your experience and qualifications prepares you for the role of school trustee?
I had a successful and rewarding 39 year career in public education as teacher, school and district administrator. I have a passion for education and children.

I have always had high expectations of myself to provide high quality learning experiences for my students.

As school trustee, I have the same high expectations for my school district - School District # 82 (Coast Mountains). I have experience dealing with curriculum, resources and finances.

I worked with teachers and district staff under the restraint programs of the early 1980's. Keeping in mind that student development through learning is the overall goal, I believe I have the experience to work at the governing level of a school district to get the most out of the available human and financial resources for the continuing improvement of student achievement.

What steps will you take to work with other trustees to improve student achievement?
If elected I will attend the BCSTA Academy with my fellow trustees to learn more about best practices for boards of education. I will encourage our board to plan and implement professional development activities for trustees. I will keep focus on student achievement and ask often during discussions "How does this decision, or that one, improve student achievement?"

I will be mindful that I will be one member of a board, and after discussion of the various points of view help the Board to take decisions by consensus if possible.

When appropriate, I will bring my experience from the other side of the table to board discussions to promote a broad understanding of the bigger picture affected by Board decisions. I will be a team player.

What in your experience and qualifications prepares you for the role of school trustee?

What steps will you take to work with other trustees to improve student achievement?

What in your experience and qualifications prepares you for the role of school trustee?
I have been a trustee for four terms, I was a business person for 25 years and I volunteered my services for organizations such as the Entrepreneurial Learning Foundation and Junior Achievement.

What steps will you take to work with other trustees to improve student achievement?
I will encourage my fellow trustees to review our Achievement Contract and our Enhancement Agreement when considering our priorities as a Board in order to continue placing student achievement at the top of our agenda

What in your experience and qualifications prepares you for the role of school trustee?

What steps will you take to work with other trustees to improve student achievement?

What in your experience and qualifications prepares you for the role of school trustee?
I have lived in the Port Hardy area since 1973 and have thirty-five years experience as an educator in School District # 85. My children completed their K to 12 education in Port Hardy Schools. I served as President of the Vancouver Island North Teachers' Association from 2001 to 2005. In this capacity I attended every public Board meeting for four years. I have also sat on many Board committees. This experience has given me a thorough understanding of board policies and procedures. More importantly it has reinforced my belief that the best decisions a board can make are those that are made in a democratic manner with input from stakeholder groups such as students, parents, employee groups, and the general public.

Presently, I am self-employed and operate a fishing charter business in the summer months. My educational experience coupled with my business experience provide me with an excellent background to deal with issues such as declining enrolment, educational funding, and budget deficits. As well as the experience and knowledge, I now have the time to make the commitment to serve as a trustee. I have spent most of my life in education either as a student or a teacher. Now I would like to serve as a trustee and work to protect and improve public education for future generations.

What steps will you take to work with other trustees to improve student achievement?
I will work with the other trustees as part of a strong team to advocate for the children in our district including lobbying the provincial government for adequate educational funding to meet the needs of all our children.
I would also like to work with the teachers' Professional Development Committees at the school and district levels, as well as the Superintendent and district staff to provide the training the teachers and support staff need to do their jobs as well as they can. It is essential that teachers have the tools they need to meet their students' needs to improve student achievement.

I would also like to work with institutions such as North Island College to provide the post secondary education our students need. Post secondary education is very expensive for students from rural areas. I would like students to be able to complete part of their post secondary education without the additional costs of going down island or to the mainland.

It is important that the Board continues to work with the First Nations Groups in our area to increase graduation rates for native students. An Enhancement Agreement has been signed and trustees have to ensure that it is honoured and that native students continue to succeed in our schools.

As a trustee I would attend school PAC meetings as well as the District PAC to work with parents and their children to improve student achievement.

What in your experience and qualifications prepares you for the role of school trustee?
Over 25 years working with youth and promoting positive experiences for young people.

Background

• Trent University Graduate - BA
• A former journalist/radio reporter, who regularly covered School Board
• Member of School Planning Council - Canyon Heights Elementary
• Member Vancouver Coastal Regional Planning Committee – Ministry of Children & Family Development
• National Board Member for Pueblito Canada - an international development agency that assists in the development of culturally appropriate, innovative Early Childhood Development programs in Latin America
• Extensive work in public affairs/community relations as the part owner of Vancouver communications firm
• Currently, part owner of new media and mobile technology company
• Partner, Sekoma Strategy Group - corporate training company providing personal growth opportunities and team development
• Developed popular community political discussion blog in North Vancouver
• Married to a teacher in another School District
• Two teenage children, both who currently attending Handsworth
• Resident of North Vancouver for the past 11 years
• Executive Board Member of the 3,300 player strong North Shore Girls Soccer Club since 2005
• Registrar North Shore Girls Soccer Club over three years
• Referee North Shore Youth Soccer
• Coach youth soccer, field hockey and baseball teams on North Shore since 1999
• Member North Vancouver Community Players
• Director numerou

What steps will you take to work with other trustees to improve student achievement?
• Provide a strong community voice on the North Vancouver Board of Education

• Provide an effective liaison for parents, teachers and students with the School Board

• Leverage the School District’s record of educational excellence with the addition of new programs that ensure North Vancouver is the public school system of choice for parents and their children

• Advocate for the adoption programs that improve North Vancouver students’ education options and enhance learning opportunities

• Encourage students to become active participants in their curriculum and educational opportunities

• Work within Ministry of Education channels to ensure North Vancouver issues and concerns are heard and meaningful consultation takes place

• Ensure that when students graduate from the North Vancouver school system they feel empowered, have choices and are better equipped for life beyond high school and furthering their education

What in your experience and qualifications prepares you for the role of school trustee?
I am a good listener. I am a people person. I am strongly committed to ensuring our children have access to a quality public education.

I have learned much over the past few years on how the school district operates. I feel with my life experience I can contribute positive approaches to develop community based planning for our childrens' education.

I will work hard to implement longterm plans for French Immersion, and Aboriginal education using community direction.

I will support Alternate Education programs so these learners have opportunities for success. Retention is a critical concern in these programs.

I will work hard with other trustees to design a public consultation process where families feel comfortable expressing their ideas. School district resources should not be wasted on professional PR firms. People just want to hear their voices heard.

I have volunteered on boards of community groups like the Kinette Club of Lake Cowichan, and the Stselthun Swim Club. I volunteer for the Cowichan Valley Music Festival, Carlson's School of Dance, Celtic Rhythm Dancers, and the Cowichan Valley Highland Dance Association. My experience working with these groups have more than prepared me to perform the job of school trustee. I will be a devoted, and committed trustee, if elected.

What steps will you take to work with other trustees to improve student achievement?
I will work with other trustees to make sure schools in our district have better library time. Librarians are keystone figures in our schools, but many schools have inadequate librarian time.

I am respectful of other people's cultures, and backgrounds. I feel diversity can provide greater opportunities for everyone to experience different ways of looking at things. This open, and flexible outlook would help me work well with other trustees.

Providing concrete education plans that are based on student need, and not driven by financial constraints will be an area to work on with other trustees. The Province of BC has identified a dearth of qualified trades people. With the help of other trustees we can create trades programs that will give BC the people they need for our province to be self sufficient.

What in your experience and qualifications prepares you for the role of school trustee?
I am the parent of two children that are enrolled within our school district. For the past 12 years, I have been fortunate enough to be a stay at home parent to support and nurture my children.

A willingness to negotiate, be open-minded and respectful will allow me to work collectively with all the many partners involved in public education.

I have worked on various executive committees, with many different people with different needs and requests, yet still be able to achieve the same vision in the end. Respect is very important in regards to how I treat people, as well as how I want to be treated. I value that in myself.

I will hold myself accountable to being transparent and open with all involved in achieving quality education for our children.

My approach to becoming a trustee is quite simple ~ students first. With support from our partner groups, we will be able to ensure this will transpire with decisions that are made in the best interests of our students.

With thoughtful and other like-minded individuals, I plan to re-establish an environment that develops and nurtures a work environment in which respect, open communication and risk-taking are encouraged, and concerns and problems are addressed quickly.

I believe that the success of all our students within our district depend and benefit when all partner groups work toward the same goal – the students. I will hold myself accountable to the community and responsive to the needs of students and staff. I will ensure that all are dealt with in a respectful manner.

What steps will you take to work with other trustees to improve student achievement?
The success of all students within our district requires accountability that is shared amongst parents, school employees, and students, themselves. Being able to provide effective opportunities for teachers and support staff to professionally develop will promote learning opportunities for our students, a win-win situation for all involved.

Ensuring that our students are in a safe, caring, learning environment will contribute to the success of our graduation rate. I would be an advocate to seek an increase in funding to help reduce class size at all grade levels, which in turn would help support the success of this.

I am an advocate for:

~ Re-establishing relationships with our partner groups
~ Maintaining quality public education for all students
~ Accountability for fiscal and educational decision making at the board table
~ Direct classroom instruction instead of Distance Education as a substitute
~ Removing portables from our schools
~ Ensuring district students are not displaced from a seat from International Students
~ Openness and transparency in school board decision making
~ Re-instating proper funding to Hornby and Denman Islands from Community Link Funds

The approach I take to becoming a trustee is quite simple ~ students, teachers and community first. Working with them and our other partner groups, we can strengthen the public education system in the Comox Valley.