The Reality
Some may not understand that a trustee takes on a governance role when elected in our district. While it is nice to think that once elected, you can fix the entire education system; the reality is that everything we do needs to be with strategic and operational plans in mind. These plans are reviewed and updated during our term. I would be lying if I said it was not hair-pulling and frustrating at times, but I have learned a lot, asked many questions, and realized that advocating for changes in public education is one of the biggest and most important roles I have as a trustee.
I will focus on keeping the topic of better and safer education for all in mind in every part of my work at the table and in my advocacy. The fact that we cannot provide sufficient alternative spaces for students to be successful, timely assessments, adequate support, staffing or time to prepare meaningful work impacts the learning and safety of every child and the safety, mental health, and quality of work of every staff member.
The good news
We are very fortunate to have so many dedicated people working in education in our district. We see and hear amazing stories of various staff doing great things under difficult circumstances. Sadly, we also learn of some who leave their profession due to injuries, stress and general mental health challenges caused by the state of public education. Luckily others, like myself, are optimistic that there will be light at the end of this tunnel. There has to be, as children are our future.
Why we need local representation
Working day to day in public education exposes me to the problems and challenges we are currently facing and allows me to bring this knowledge and information to the board table. The intimate knowledge I have of our education system and the challenges facing our school district today allows me to fully understand what needs to be advocated for and makes me a valuable member of the board.
While some have said that trustees are political puppets that are no longer needed, I disagree and feel it is more important than ever to have local representation. I have dedicated myself to the board work, working my other jobs around my board commitments. This is not just a job for me, it is making a difference. I have been elected to the BCSTA Learning Committee twice and, along with trustees from around the province, helped to develop meaningful learning opportunities for trustees. I have no interest in running for any other level of government, nor do I want to become a trustee to add another line to my resume. I choose to be here because public education is in crisis and I want to be part of the solution.
I have worked in education for many years, and my head and heart are dedicated to the children, educators and all the many people who chose to work in our school system. I take the responsibility of serving on the board seriously, and I believe my voice of experience is invaluable.
Please vote for me, Pascale Shaw, for School Trustee, on either October 17th or in the advance polls.