Priorities

Making Informed Decisions

My top priority is to consult with students and parents before making decisions. I will represent the diverse voices within Zone 12 and bring your suggestions and concerns forward. I would not make decisions lightly, also taking into consideration:

Decisions of local and neighbouring school boards.
Any reports provided by the school board to inform the decision-making.
Guidelines that are issued by health agencies and municipal, provincial, and federal governments.

Communicating with Students and Parents

I commit to keeping this priority page updated during the trustee term. In addition, I will send newsletters informing students and parents of changes and feedback opportunities relevant to schools in Zone 12.

Data Collection

Having the appropriate data from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board graduates is key to measuring the success of the school board. I want to advocate the relevant provincial departments and post-secondary institutions to see if we could obtain data that evaluates how ready Ottawa-Carleton District School Board students were for post-secondary education or if we could set up an alumni survey to collect this information from Ottawa-Carleton District School Board graduates.

Learning in a Safe and Inclusive Environment

Students should feel safe and supported by the school system. I will advocate to make sure our schools are a safe space for students to learn and be their genuine selves both in and outside of the classroom.

How will I uphold this?

Vaccinations: Infectious diseases can spread among children and adolescents at school who are not vaccinated. Parents can keep their kids healthy with routine health care and vaccines. Research shows vaccinations are safe and vaccine use can provide long-term protection against a variety of diseases. I will advocate to include the COVID-19 vaccination to the list of nine required vaccinations within schools and would promote the listed vaccinations required for all students.

Positive school environment for all students: A positive school climate and a safe learning and teaching environment are essential for students to succeed in school. This means that everyone feels they are safe, welcome, and respected. I will encourage school climate surveys to inform planning decisions and support the implementation of programs helping to prevent bullying and promote safe and inclusive schools.
Healthy learning environment for all students: Keeping students healthy and our schools open is the top priority. I will advocate that schools keep the enhanced cleaning requirements, improve ventilation systems, and if recommended by public health agencies, implement a mask mandate.
Addressing bullying in schools: All students should feel safe in school and have a variety of ways to report bullying. It is not a one-size-fits-all solution to address bullying and a resolution should be determined on a case-by-case of bullying and depending on the circumstance should be a combination of reformative justice and disciplinary steps. There are a couple of general avenues that can be pursued to start addressing bullying including:
- Creating an open dialogue about bullying between teachers, parents, and students. Part of this open dialogue should focus on what to do if students are a victim of bullying or if students are a perpetrator of bullying.
- Making sure students have a safe space to talk about bullying including supporting student groups that have been lacking over the past three years.

Addressing students’ mental health: It is not a one-size-fits-all solution to address students’ mental health. Each solution should be customized to the student. There are a couple of avenues to pursue to increase the conversation and support within the school community including:
- Making sure students have a safe space by supporting student groups and activities that have been lacking over the past three years.
- Creating an open dialogue about mental health in our classrooms and schools.
- Making sure the appropriate supports are in place and promoted to students including guidance counsellors and peer support groups.

Accessing Fair and Equitable Education

Accessing Fair and Equitable Education: Every student has the right to the same opportunities and deserves the appropriate personal and educational support to thrive in school and the world beyond. Diversity amongst students should be celebrated and should not hinder any student’s access to education.