The pandemic taught us that 100% virtual online learning is NOT the best learning environment for students and that few thrived in that environment. I think that in-person classroom interaction is essential for a balanced and healthy education for our students. That said, I do think that there are many tools that teachers learned to use during the pandemic that can be used as excellent supplements and supports to students learning. I think we should continue to explore how digital tools can enhance student learning.

I spent my teaching career working in Huntsville and my children go to school in Huntsville. I decided to run in Bracebridge because I want to get a broader perspective on the needs of the school board as a whole and feel that serving in a different town will allow me to see our school board from many angles. I will always represent what is best for students, teachers and parents in Bracebridge.

As the representatives in their local jurisdiction, trustees are required to listen to the concerns and needs of their communities, bring those to the attention of the board, and ensure that programs and strategies of the board help all students. It is through the process of collaborating and engaging in joint decision-making as members of the board that trustees work with the values, priorities, and expectations of the community to translate them into policy.

Once the board of trustees has voted, individual trustee members are legally bound by the majority decision, regardless of whether they supported it during debate or voted against it. They are required to uphold the implementation of resolutions passed by the board. Although they may not agree with the decision, trustees should be able to explain the rationale for the policy and ensure that it is understood, implemented, and monitored. Trustees who wish to explain a school board decision should do so in this context and express any divergence in their personal views in a manner that respects the decision-making authority of the collective board. In this way trustees carry a dual responsibility – as a representative of their area and as a member of the board.

As required under the Education Act, individual school board trustees are to: ▪ Carry out his or her responsibilities in a manner that assists the board in fulfilling its duties under this Act, the regulations and the guidelines issued under this Act, including but not limited to the board’s duties under section 169.1 ▪ Attend and participate in meetings of the board, including meetings of board committees of which he or she is a member ▪ Consult with parents, students and supporters of the board on the board’s multi-year plan under clause 169.1 (1) (f) ▪ Bring concerns of parents, students and supporters of the board to the attention of the board ▪ Uphold the implementation of any board resolution after it is passed by the board ▪ Entrust the day-to-day management of the board to its staff through the board’s director of education ▪ Maintain focus on student achievement and well-being ▪ Comply with the board’s code of conduct. Individual trustees interpret the role of representing their community in different ways. Some community members expect a trustee to be very active, others do not. Because Ontario’s communities are so diverse, the job of school trustee varies widely. What all trustees have in common is serving the community as elected representatives while focusing on the primary task of acting as members of a board that makes policy decisions, oversees curriculum and program delivery, and fulfils its responsibilities as an employer. Trustees bring a range of skills, experience, knowledge, values, beliefs, and opinions to their role. Their background does not necessarily include teaching, administration, or any other aspect of education. This diversity can support processes to be democratic and can contribute to good decision-making. The board must balance the interests of the broader community with the interests of those involved in the delivery of education.