What’s your occupation? (Current and/or past):
Who inspires you? (Real or fictional)
Please list any current and/or past committees or organizations you've been a part of in your career.
- Vice Chair, West Vancouver Board of Trustees; Human Resources, Vice Chair; Audit Committee, Chair; BCSTA Professional Learning Committee; BCSTA Provincial Council ; BCSTA Metro Branch Executive; Joint School Traffic and Safety Round Table (START), Co-Chair; District Indigenous Education Council; English Language Learners Consortium; West Vancouver Historical Society, Director
- West Vancouver Minor Hockey, director and coach; Cypress Park Little League (now part of WVLL), president; District Student Council trustee liaison; West Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) Chair; Rockridge School PAC Co-Chair; West Vancouver School District Technology/Digital Literacy Committee; DPAC Rep District Finance and Facilities; DPAC Rep Human Resources; School Planning Council at Gleneagles Ch’axay Elementary; BCCPAC
What are your school board priorities for the next term?
Our priorities not only reflect our challenges locally and provincially, but also include developing the 2023-2026 strategic plan, COVID recovery, increasing locally generated revenue, and our work with the Squamish Nation for which I act as the trustee on our joint council. We will seek community partners, like BICS, and find relationships that enhance the school experience for everyone. Each school has its own character and I will ensure that our vibrant array of arts, teams, clubs, and academies continue to enrich the lives of students, staff and families, and that supports are there for all who need them.
What do you think the biggest challenges in education today are, and how will you work to tackle them?
We are challenged by daunting fiscal constraints and rapid social change, some of it long overdue. At the same time, we must deliver the finest educational outcomes for our students now in K-12, prepare them for a smooth transition out of our schools and into their future, and manage childcare—an emerging part of the education landscape. This work is not tied to municipal election cycles and I have the experience needed to provide continuity as an effective advocate for complex issues involving all three levels of government while keeping the needs of our school communities top of mind.
Why do you want to serve as a trustee for the next four years?
I do this work because I love our communities and I believe in public education. A thriving public system benefits everyone, not just those who have children in schools. I want to help keep public education great here in our district, for our families and for our staff and students. I want to protect what's good about our school system, be part of solutions where there are challenges, and work for positive change that reflects the values of our communities, and honours both newcomers and the history and people who came before us.
Contact:
www.sheelahdonahue.com
604-250-5383
