I was born and raised in Claresholm. At the U of L, I was a Social Studies major with a BA in Urban Studies and a BEd in French. I am a past member of the Minister Advisory Committee, University Affairs, former University of Lethbridge Senator for three years, former University of Lethbridge Alumni President for 2 years, former business owner of Play it Again Sports, former Director of Wesminster Revitalization District, former director of Picture Butte Golf Club, former member of the MPC Committee of the Town of Picture Butte, and former basketball and rugby referee.
I was a teacher for 24 and a half years in the Livingstone Range School Division, teaching all grades from 1 to 12. While teaching, I was ATA local president of Livingstone Range for several years. After retirement, I served as a trustee for almost three years in the Palliser School Division on various committees: budget, audit, Teacher-Board Master Academy Agreement, and Division Review Committee. I was elected as a trustee for four years in the Lethbridge School Division and have served on various committees: audit, policy development, school board/ATA local bargaining, ATA working conditions committee, budget, representative for the Alberta School Board Association (Zone 6), and Board Rep for the Public School Board of Alberta Association.
I am married to Terry, who taught for the Lethbridge School Division for 30 years, and together we have a blended family of seven children and 18 grandchildren. When I am not working as a trustee, I am passionate about my golf game! I am President of the Southern Alberta Senior Men's Golf Association. We have donated money to many charitable organizations throughout the province.
Statement of beliefs
I believe in advocating for the resources and support that educators and students need to succeed. I strive to ensure that the needs of all students are met, so they can have a successful school experience and graduate to become successful adults. All children need to be treated fairly so they can achieve to the best of their abilities. I feel I have been an effective ambassador between the community and the Division. I have attended school councils and various events at the schools, such as fine arts, sports, and skill competitions. I have attended many activities in multiple schools, and I am excited about the learning activities of the students and how much the staff cares for them. I will continue to attend as many activities as possible when I am re-elected. I have regularly gone to community conversations and try to attend as many graduations as possible. I am passionate about developing policies that align with the Division’s goals. The board has been working on the policies, and I would like to continue this work to ensure that all students and staff are fairly represented in these policies. I believe public schools are the most preferable option for all students to achieve.
Priority areas
Advocating for sustainable funding so that we can meet the needs of all students.
Reducing classroom sizes and increasing support to combat the complexities of the classroom.
Adequate support for teachers and staff to ensure our students become critical thinkers.
Views on funding
We need sustainable funding, with the base grant being increased and a hybrid system where rural school divisions are not punished when faced with decreasing enrollment, and urban schools are not punished for increasing enrollment. We must ensure that those students who are neurodiverse and those with physical limitations are fully funded so that they have adequate support to be successful. School boards need to take a more proactive approach in their advocacy with the province to ensure that the government gets up-to-date data on actual class sizes, the number of teachers we need to meet the suggested guidelines, especially in elementary and middle schools, and the number of support staff we need to make sure the complex needs of our students are met. School boards need to advocate that all schools are part of a school division and, if not, receive no funding. This still gives parents a choice of schools but we would have more accountability and transparency into alternative schools.
How learning conditions can be improved
Try to achieve the suggested classroom sizes for K to 9. We need to fund full-time kindergarten. We need a realistic approach for the inclusion of students in the classroom so that all students have optimal learning opportunities. This all depends on funding, and we need a larger base grant and less specific funding for certain situations. We need the government to give the boards more flexibility on how we spend the money given. Local school boards have a better idea of needs than government officials in Edmonton. We need to be flexible to meet the needs of our students. I would continue to keep the cap on the amount of the budget we can spend on administration. We also need to advocate for more funding to modernize and update our schools.
How trustees and school boards can best support teachers
We need to have a working conditions committee to study and evaluate conditions. We need to be transparent in our investigations. Trustees need to take the time to visit schools, talking to staff and students, and visiting classrooms to get a better idea about conditions. and curricula. Trustees need to know so that when we meet with administration, we will be able to ask questions for clarification and work with administration to determine the best course forward for students within the practicality of the budget restraints. Trustees and school boards need to ensure that policies and decisions are made to treat all students fairly.
Views on the new K-6 curriculum
First of all, the curriculum should have been implemented on a year-by-year basis, starting in kindergarten and then progressing up to the other grades. That way, we would make sure there are no gaps in the learning outcomes for students. I feel the math, LA, and health curricula are quite good. I will need to take a closer look at the social studies and science outcomes to be able to comment further. I believe there should be more information in Social studies on treaties 6 and 7 to allow for a deeper understanding by the students. I will be willing to answer questions at the forum after I review the curricula further.