Locke Spencer is a faculty member of the University of Lethbridge dept. of Physics and Astronomy and a former Canada Research Chair in Experimental Astrophysics. He is also the lead negotiator for the faculty collective agreement, head of the Lethbridge Regional Science Fair and Science Olympics, a member of the Lethbridge APEGA executive, an avid cyclist, and involved in several music and arts programs in the community. He is also a parent and has kids in multiple schools in Lethbridge.
Statement of beliefs
I am a firm supporter of public education amd its ability to empower amd build the rising generation. I believe in meaningful stakeholder and community consultation, and ensuring that much needed resources find their way to the classroom. I hope that all students can be nurtured in a respectful learning environment and be given tools to identify and develop their potential. I also see a need to fortify and repair bridges between the school teachers, staff, and administrators with each other and with the broader community at this time of high stress on our public education system.
Priority areas
Meaningful consultation with community and stakeholders regarding Board policies and initiatives.
Collect and analyze data on class size and complexity to enable data driven solutions going forward.
Fortify and restore trust among stakeholders following a difficult job action.
Views on funding
Funding public education is a top priority as it is the best way to ensure generational prosperity and thriving community. School boards can help to advocate for the needs of their constituents and can be well informed to address the challenges facing the local system.
How learning conditions can be improved
Listen to the teachers! Appropriate class sizes and resources to deal with class complexities. The sooner this is addressed the better as problems ignored tend to?get bigger and harder to resolve.
How trustees and school boards can best support teachers
Trustees can listen and understand the issues teachers fave and then advocate for the resources needed to resolve issues. Planning for future needs is especially important to avoid challenges before they get harder and harder to resolve. Trustees can also help connect the community with schools and school needs.
Views on the new K-6 curriculum
I feel that the curriculum was pushed ahead too fast without sufficient consultation and without providing teachers the resources they need to be well prepared amd equipped to teach the curriculum in an effective way. Curriculum changes should be made in consultation with subject experts in a non partisan manner.