In the classroom
I've seen our schools from the inside
A wealth of experience in the education field, including 6 years teaching in SD62.
A career in education since 2004
As a teacher with experience in social work, I understand the challenges facing teachers, education assistants, students and families. Much of that experience came from working directly with the students who need the most support.
Relationships are disrupted. Staff are stretched. Students feel it. Families feel it. We need to do more to retain the people who make our schools strong.
For more than a decade, I've worked in education. But my commitment to this community goes beyond the classroom, and both sides of that experience shape the priorities I'm running on.
- 1
Stable staff change lives
I've seen the difference that stable, committed staff can make in a child's life.
- 2
Turnover has a cost
I've also seen what happens when schools experience constant turnover. Relationships are disrupted and staff are stretched.
- 3
Students and families feel it
When continuity breaks down, students feel it and families feel it. We need to do more to retain the people who make our schools strong.
- 4
Ask the people who do the work
We need to understand why teachers and education assistants are leaving, and work toward solutions that help great people stay.
Experience in one view
What the work has taught me
01 / 04
Inside the classroom
6 years teaching in SD62, and a career in education since 2004.
02 / 04
Staff retention
Stable, committed staff make a difference in a child's life. Constant turnover does the opposite.
03 / 04
Families and students
When relationships are disrupted, students feel it and families feel it.
04 / 04
Social work experience
A teacher with experience in social work, used to working with students who need more support.
What that means at the board table
Decisions made by someone who has done the job
Listen to staff first
The people who work in our schools already know what is going wrong. A trustee's first job is to ask them and then act.
Protect continuity
Retention is not an HR footnote. It is the difference between a student having one trusted adult all year or none.
Communicate with families
Parents should not have to chase information about their own child's school.