My Work
Since becoming a Trustee I've taken on many roles. I will highlight some of the most important work I've been involved with here.
Leadership
I have served as Chair of the Board for the last three years, advocating for fair funding to ensure all students can thrive in a learning environment that's welcoming and inclusive, championing our new Multi-Year Strategic Plan, spearheading several projects to make our work more efficient, and responding to the needs of the families in Halton.
Much of my work has been centred on amplifying student voice. We have two Student Trustees at our Board Table and I am in my second year of mentoring them in their role. They have incredible ideas, talent and energy and it's been a joy to work with them and watch them gain confidence and represent the students of the HDSB.
Another area of focus for me is ensuring that Trustees all have access to professional development opportunities, and that their needs are reflected in what we offer. My personal philosophy is that Trustees need to be continually updating their knowledge and skillsets in order to meet the demands of a rapidly change world.
Governance
Board Policies, Governance Procedures and the Governance By-Law fall within the purview of Trustees. We are responsible for ensuring they are reviewed in a timely fashion, and are in keeping with current legislation.
I have been a leader with respect to our board's governance ever since I was elected 16 years ago. Reviewing existing documents (and creating new documents) is a huge undertaking, but it's something I am passionate about.
Several years ago I brought forward a recommendation to create a Policy, By-Law and Governance Standing Committee to streamline the work so that it could be prioritized, scheduled, and completed in a timely manner. This has worked extremely well and made our workflow much more efficient.
Special Education
I served on the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) for eight years. I have been a vocal advocate for making it easier for parents to navigate through the various special education processes. Significant improvements have been made, and I am pleased with the progress.
School boards receive a specified amount of money from the Ministry of Education to spend on special education. Unfortunately, most school boards must spend more than they receive in order to meet the needs of their students. I continue to advocate for increased provincial funding for special education.