Experience
As chair,
- Provided steady leadership to the Board during a time of significant change to trustee membership including the death of a trustee and the resulting by-elections.
- Continued to cultivate a respectful and team-based relationship with our Chief Superintendent. This is an important relationship as it enables the CCSD to move forward with Board priorities and cultivates district success and innovation.
- Member of Alberta Education’s Action Committee on Aggression and Complexity in Schools Action Team in 2025
- Participated in the Metro School Board Chairs working group strengthening the relationship among the 4 metro Board chairs and the 4 metro boards. The working group successfully advocated to the provincial government to address key common concerns.
As an individual trustee,
- Nurtured productive relationships with elected officials, including the Provincial government, local MLA’s and city council which leads to finding solutions to the often-complex problems that occur in public education and that occur in a school district the size of CSSD.
- Consistently supported decisions and budget measures that provided students with complex needs more resources including decisions that increased teachers and Educational Assistants and Educational Support (ES) programs in the CSSD
- Consistently voiced support for alternatives to traditional learning such as on-line education and outreach schools such as St. Anne’s. In 2023, I supported budget measures that led to the opening of St. Gemma high school, a school for students who do not find success in traditional learning paths.
- Vocal advocate of Catholic education
As a Board of Trustees, we have individually and as a group,
Advocated to the provincial government which aided in
- Significant capital investment in new and modernized schools resulting in full construction funding for 7 new schools including a new K-9 school in Chestermere
- Changes in the provincial funding formula that moved to a two-year funding model.
Provided direction to administration as they navigated
- The rapid enrolment growth experienced by CCSD over the last four years and advocated for appropriate funding to address growth.
- The changes to education policy and legislation including Standards for the Selection, Availability, and Access of School Library Materials, the Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, Real Property Governance Act, and the ban on student school cellphone usage. Trustees provided feedback to the government on the challenges of these changes and proposed solutions.
My voice and priorities as a trustee will continue to focus on
Student success
- Decision making that positively impacts student learning and schools
- Creating learning environments where students can be successful no matter their set of complex learning needs or background
- Keeping dollars in the classroom
- Recognizing that staff well being is a key to student success
- Advocating for support to help students and staff care for their mental health
Faith Formation
- Strengthening the relationship between Home, School and Parish as well as the relationship between the Diocese and CCSD
- Strengthening relationships with other Alberta Catholic school trustees to strengthen and protect publicly funded Catholic education in Alberta.
Transparency and Accountability
- Engaging and connecting with the CCSD’s shareholders and parents, the primary educators of their children, to hear what they need and want from our schools
- Striving for open, clear and meaningful communication between the Board of Trustees, CCSD, parents and community shareholders about the CCSD’s plans and decisions
Governance, commitment and leadership
- Focusing on educational outcomes and sustainability through effective and efficient management of the CSSD
- Advocating for education to be a top priority for the Alberta government