Growing up in a family of teachers I've always wanted to be one myself. After completing a degree in Education in 2010 I was hired on a permanent contract in Taber teaching high school New Media and various other classes. After over 10 years in the horizon school division and watching conditions in Alberta's schools deteriorate I quit my position and am now running for School Trustee in an attempt to make things better. As a trustee I will not be able to work as a teacher in Alberta but with the support of my family I'm giving up a significant wage and my self interest for the public interest.
Statement of beliefs
I want to ensure every student in the Lethbridge School Division receives a high-quality education that prepares them for the future, whether they choose post-secondary education, a trade, or the workforce. This means focusing on foundational skills like literacy and numeracy while also embracing modern learning that teaches critical thinking and problem-solving.
As a trustee, I will be a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars. I will scrutinize budgets to ensure that funding is directed where it matters most—the classroom. I believe in transparent financial reporting so our community knows exactly how their money is being invested in our children’s future.
Parents are a child’s first and most important teachers. I want to foster a culture of partnership between schools and families. I will work to improve communication, ensure parents’ voices are heard and respected, and make it easier for them to be actively involved in their child’s education.
I’m committed to honouring the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action by supporting Indigenous education, culture, and language programs within our schools. Public schools are a welcoming place and I support LGBTQ+ students and DEHR initiatives I learned to embrace as a teacher.
Priority areas
Inclusion for our most vulnerable students including minorities and those that identify as LGBTQ+
Being a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars while also pressing the government to allocate more.
Classroom sizes and complexities are harming student learning and this needs to be addressed.
Views on funding
School boards are extremely underfunded in Alberta. If that weren’t the case, we wouldn’t be in the middle of a strike.
It is my opinion that school boards need to be careful with the money they have and put it towards the classroom while also being an advocate for additional funding. Alberta is the lowest funded province in the country per student and that needs to change.
How learning conditions can be improved
Learning conditions in schools can be improved when classroom sizes and students with complex learning needs are supported. This means changing the criteria for when assistants are hired to be in classrooms and reducing class sizes. Money needs to be allocated to reducing class sizes not increasing the number of employees at central office.
How trustees and school boards can best support teachers
Trustees and school boards can support teachers by creating policies that help teachers in all the ways they need. Policies that make it easier to have safe and caring classrooms, that trust teacher autonomy, and that show teachers during this difficult stage of education in Alberta that there are boards that understand the complexities and are trying to help are what best supports teachers.
Views on the new K-6 curriculum
The curriculum was pushed through without proper consultation from teachers in Alberta. The very people that are experts are curriculum weren’t asked to help build it and it reflects that this process didn’t respect the professionalism of educators in Alberta.