As well as being BCSTA’s President, Connie Denesiuk has served as Director, member of the Finance Committee (two years as chair), Board liaison to the Education Committee, Ad-Hoc Policy Review Committee chair, and representative to the Advisory Committee on Provincial Assessment and Certificate for School Management and Leadership (UVic) Advisory Committee. Connie says, “I believe that public education in British Columbia currently faces a unique window of opportunity – to advance the goal of improved student learning and increased student success.”

With the Okanagan Skaha Board of Education, Connie’s service includes being: board chair and vice-chair, as well as extensive community leadership and involvement. A school trustee since 1992, Connie has been a business owner/partner with her husband Bob since 1980.

School District 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Telephone: (250) 770-7700
E-mail: connie_denesiuk@telus.net

Michael McEvoy is BCSTA's vice-president and a trustee on the Greater Victoria Board of Education who believes public schools provide the best opportunity for British Columbia’s students to become well-rounded, confident and productive citizens who want to make our society a better place to live.

Michael became involved in public school issues as a Parent Advisory Council president before being elected school trustee in 2002. Elected three times as Chair of the Greater Victoria Board of Education, his priority has been working collaboratively to enhance learning opportunities for all children and to emphasize the needs of our community’s vulnerable children. He helped lead the process toward the signing of the district's Aboriginal Enhancement Agreement and he supported the formation of a District Literacy Team responsible for supporting teachers who work with children in the Victoria District’s inner city schools; an initiative that has expanded to embrace the entire district.

Michael believes in the collective strength and wisdom of trustees working together, and has been active in BCSTA as a four term provincial councillor and a member of the BCSTA Finance Committee before first being elected to Board of Directors in 2006. As Director he has served as Board liaison to the BCSTA Aboriginal Education Committee.

Michael is a lawyer working in the public service for the province of BC. He has served on numerous local community boards including Chair of the United Way Campaign for Greater Victoria.

School District 61 (Greater Victoria)
Tel: (250) 475-3212
Email: mmcevoy@sd61.bc.ca

Valerie Adrian – Director

 A St’at’imc, Valerie is a member of the Xwisten (Bridge River Band), near Lillooet. She is married with eight children, including six foster children, and is grandmother to three. Valerie is currently looking at furthering her postsecondary education. She holds a Certificate in Administration of Aboriginal Governments and a Diploma in Public Sector Management from the University of Victoria.

Valerie is the chair of Gold Trail Board of Education. She has also been board vice-chair, member of the district’s Education Committee, Business Committee and First Peoples Education Council. Provincially, she has been a member-at-large for the Okanagan Branch, co-chair on BCSTA’s Aboriginal Education Committee. Valerie currently sits as the Board of Directors’ Representative to the BCSTA Aboriginal Education Committee and for the Northwest Branch.

Over this next year in our working relationships with each other, our education partners and the provincial government, Valerie says she will keep this Henry Ford quotation in mind, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

Valerie thanks the membership for the opportunity to serve BCSTA for another year.

School District 74 (Gold Trail)
Tel: (250) 256-8608
Email: vadrian@gw.sd74.bc.ca

Melissa says, “Trustees need to be supported by a strong provincial organization that advocates for and supports boards of education around the province. A strong BCSTA Board will give school trustees the voice we need to continue the important work that we do of ensuring students of all capabilities have the right to an education that enhances achievement, shaping productive and responsible citizens. I believe more than ever that the integrity of local boards and the public education system will always be our common goal and the priority of the entire province.”

School District 43 (Coquitlam)
Tel: (604) 939-9201
Email: mhyndes@sd43.bc.ca

Jane is in her third term as school trustee with the West Vancouver Board of Education, serving as board chair for three years. As well she has served as chair of the Metropolitan Branch, BCSTA Provincial Councillor and a member of the Legislative Committee.

As a BCSTA Board Director, Jane supports the Association’s continuing to be a strong voice that represents boards at the provincial level. Having witnessed successes in working collaboratively at the local level, Jane looks to more provincial collaboration, with all educational partners working to improve educational opportunities for all students.

A former federal government employee, Jane believes in the importance of volunteer involvement in the community. On Bowen Island, where she and her husband raised their two sons, she has contributed her skills and time to many of the Island’s organizations.

School District SD45 (West Vancouver)
Tel: (604) 947-0771
Email: jkellett@sd45.bc.ca

Teresa, a school trustee with the Boundary Board of Education, includes in her local service roles as: board chair; member of all board committees; and member of the Boundary Integrated Services Model. With BCSTA, Teresa has been a member of the Finance and Education Committees. She’s also been our representative to committees such as District Review, Grad Requirements, Standardized Report Cards, Healthy Schools, and also to the Breakfast for Learning BC Advisory Council. Teresa is a member of the planning committee for the new Key Work manual, to be published in 2008. “The voice that is BCSTA’s is all of ours together, and together we are making a difference,” Teresa says.

Married for 26 years, Teresa is the mother of four children. She has a Diploma in Business/Public Administration, BC Institute of Technology. Teresa has also been the regional coordinator for Special Olympics, East/West Kootenays/Elk Valley, Special Olympics Provincial Leadership Council member, and Community Social Inclusion Video Project leader. She was chair of Parent Advisory Councils at both elementary and secondary schools.

School District 51 (Boundary)
Telephone: (250) 442-8258
E-mail: teresa.rezansoff@sd51.bc.ca

A school trustee with the Nicola-Similkameen Board of Education, Gordon served many years on the BC Public School Employers’ Association board. During his term as its vice-chair, the board achieved its first negotiated collective agreement with the BC Teachers’ Federation. Gordon also served over 10 years as a BCSTA Provincial Councillor.

Gordon says, “No matter how we slice the education pie, if the students, who are our future, are not at the forefront of our discussion, then the rest is meaningless. At the end of the day it somes down to the students and it always will. Our deliberations should always be about the students, and what’s in their best interests for a brighter future.

School District 58 (Nicola-Similkameen)
Telephone: (250) 378-5161
E-mail:TrusteeSwan@gmail.com

 Stephen Hansen – Executive Director

Stephen Hansen is BCSTA’s Executive Director. Stephen is responsible to the BCSTA Board of Directors for the overall staff operations of the organization. He provides direct support to BCSTA's President. Stephen has 15 years of teaching experience, holds a doctorate in education policy and leadership, and has held leadership positions in the health and private sectors.

Phone: 604-734-2721 (115)
E-mail: shansen[at]bcsta.org