Questions & Answers

Every candidate brings their own experiences and perspectives to the role of Trustee. What I bring is a combination of personal, professional, and educational perspectives that gives me a well-rounded understanding of our school division as a parent, community member, and leader.

As a parent of three students currently attending Hanover School Division schools, I see firsthand how Board decisions impact students and families. My family's experience advocating for learning supports has given me a personal understanding of the importance of ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.

My wife is a teacher in Hanover School Division, which provides additional insight into the challenges and opportunities that exist within our schools and classrooms.

Professionally, I bring more than 20 years of experience in Information Technology, including four years in a management role. My background includes budgeting, strategic planning, project management, problem-solving, and working collaboratively with diverse groups of people.

Together, these experiences have taught me the importance of listening, transparency, accountability, and making thoughtful decisions that keep students at the centre of every discussion.

As a parent of three students currently attending Hanover School Division schools, I have seen firsthand how important strong schools are to our community. My family's experience advocating for supports for one of our children gave me a deeper appreciation for the challenges families can face and the difference that caring educators can make.

My wife is a teacher in Hanover School Division, and through both my family and professional experiences I have gained insight into the importance of communication, accountability, and thoughtful decision-making.

I am running because I want to help ensure students receive the support they need to succeed, families feel informed and engaged, and schools remain focused on student achievement and well-being.

I bring more than 20 years of experience in Information Technology, including four years in a management role. My professional background has involved budgeting, strategic planning, project management, problem-solving, and working collaboratively with diverse groups of people.

These experiences have taught me the importance of listening carefully, evaluating information objectively, and making decisions that balance immediate needs with long-term goals.

They have also reinforced the importance of accountability, responsible stewardship of resources, and collaborative decision-making.

Combined with my experience as a parent and community member, I believe these skills will help me contribute effectively as a Trustee.

A Trustee's role is to provide governance, set direction, establish policy, oversee budgets, and ensure accountability within the school division.

Trustees should focus on student learning and well-being while listening to families, staff, students, and the broader community. Trustees are responsible for making decisions that support the long-term success of the division while ensuring resources are used responsibly and effectively.

I believe good governance requires transparency, collaboration, and a willingness to engage respectfully with differing perspectives.

Transparency builds trust.

Families deserve clear information about decisions that affect students and schools. I support livestreaming public board meetings, improving communication with families, and clearly communicating governance and policy changes.

I also believe Trustees should be visible, accessible, and willing to explain the reasoning behind important decisions.

Good communication helps create stronger relationships between the Board and the community it serves.

Student learning must remain at the centre of every Board decision.

Every student is unique, and as a parent I have seen firsthand that success can look different depending on a student's strengths, goals, and interests. Schools should support a variety of learning pathways, whether students pursue university, college, skilled trades, apprenticeships, entrepreneurship, or other opportunities after graduation.

I support evidence-based approaches to education, strong literacy and numeracy development, and ensuring students have access to the supports they need to reach their full potential.

Teachers, educational assistants, clinicians, and support staff play a critical role in student success.

As both a parent and the husband of a teacher, I understand how important classroom supports are for effective learning. Students benefit when classrooms have appropriate staffing, resources, and access to specialized supports when needed.

I support efforts to recruit and retain qualified staff, advocate for resources that directly support learning, and ensure classrooms have the tools necessary to meet the needs of all students.

Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed.

My family's experience navigating learning supports has reinforced how important early intervention, collaboration, and individualized supports can be. Students with diverse learning needs should have access to appropriate resources, services, and educational opportunities that help them reach their potential.

I support strengthening collaboration between schools, families, and support professionals to ensure students receive the help they need.

Strong schools are built through strong partnerships.

Parents are an essential part of a student's educational experience and should feel welcomed, informed, and respected. Community organizations, local businesses, and residents also contribute valuable perspectives and resources that can support students.

I believe Trustees should actively seek feedback, be accessible to families, and create opportunities for meaningful community engagement.

Listening is an important part of leadership.

Not every issue will have a simple solution, and reasonable people can disagree.

My approach is to listen carefully, gather information, consider different perspectives, and focus on what is best for students. I believe decisions should be guided by facts, policy, evidence, and the division's responsibilities while remaining respectful of community concerns.

Even when people disagree, they deserve to be treated respectfully and to have their voices heard.

My vision is for Hanover School Division to continue being a place where students are supported, challenged, and empowered to reach their full potential, regardless of the pathway they choose after graduation.

I want to see strong academic outcomes, safe and respectful learning environments, meaningful supports for students and classrooms, and transparent governance that builds trust with families and the broader community.

I believe strong schools are built through collaboration among students, families, staff, trustees, and community members. By working together and keeping students at the centre of every decision, we can help ensure Hanover School Division remains a place where every student has the opportunity to thrive.

I would support 2SLGBTQ+ students the same way I would support any student who belongs to a minority group or who may be vulnerable to discrimination or bullying.

Every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and able to focus on learning. That starts with clear policies that protect students from discrimination based on race, religion, culture, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

I also believe we need strong anti-bullying policies that are applied consistently. When bullying occurs, there should be appropriate consequences, but there should also be opportunities for education and growth. The goal is not only to address the behaviour, but to help students better understand and respect people whose experiences may be different from their own.

At the same time, we need to ensure supports are available for students who have been targeted, so they feel safe and included in their school community.

Ultimately, I want every student in Hanover School Division, including 2SLGBTQ+ students, to know they are valued, treated with dignity and respect, and have the opportunity to succeed.

Violence in the classroom should never be accepted as a normal part of school life. Students deserve a safe place to learn, and teachers, educational assistants, and other staff deserve a safe place to work.

At the same time, it's important to recognize that violent behaviour is often a symptom of a larger issue. A student may be dealing with a disability, trauma, mental health challenges, family instability, or other factors that affect their ability to regulate their emotions and behaviour. Understanding those root causes is important, but it cannot come at the expense of the safety of other students and staff.

When a violent incident occurs, the immediate priority must be safety. The student who is dysregulated should be removed from the situation and appropriate supports put in place. We also need to ensure that any students or staff affected by the incident receive the support they need to process what happened and feel safe returning to the classroom.

Every serious incident should be documented and reviewed. If incidents continue, support plans need to be reassessed rather than repeatedly putting students and staff back into the same situation and hoping for a different result.

As a trustee, I would focus on the areas where the board can make a difference by:

• Prioritizing funding for educational assistants, counsellors, psychologists, resource teachers, and behavioural supports.
• Advocating for smaller and more manageable class sizes where possible.
• Ensuring there are clear division-wide policies for incident reporting, follow-up, and staff support.
• Requesting regular reporting on violent incidents so trustees can identify trends and ensure resources are being directed where they are most needed.
• Advocating to the provincial government for increased funding and faster access to assessments, mental health services, and specialized supports.
• Supporting professional development in areas such as de-escalation, trauma-informed practices, and classroom management.
• Ensuring teachers and educational assistants have opportunities to provide input on policies, support plans, and budget priorities.

I also believe trustees need to spend time listening. Teachers and educational assistants are on the front lines every day. They often recognize when a student needs additional support long before anyone else. If elected, I want to hear directly from them about what is working, what isn't, and where the division can do better.

Inclusion is important, but inclusion should not mean accepting unsafe learning environments. We need to support students with complex needs while also protecting the safety and well-being of their classmates, teachers, and educational assistants. Those goals are not in conflict. In fact, achieving both is essential if we want schools where every student can learn and thrive.

Trustees are responsible for setting policy, approving budgets, providing oversight, and hiring senior leadership such as the Superintendent. In my view, decisions about hiring teachers are best made at the school level by principals who understand the needs of their students, staff, and school community.

When it comes to hiring, I believe positions should be filled based on qualifications, experience, professionalism, and an individual's ability to support student success. Religious beliefs should not be used as a litmus test for employment, nor should they disqualify someone from employment.

As a trustee, my focus would be on ensuring schools remain welcoming, respectful, and supportive environments for all students and staff. That includes students and families from different religious and cultural backgrounds, as well as members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

More broadly, I believe trustees should be careful not to impose their personal beliefs, whether religious, political, or otherwise, on the education system. Our role is to represent all families in the division and to make decisions based on student needs, evidence, and what will best support student success.

My goal is for Hanover School Division to be a place where every student feels they belong, every staff member is respected, and hiring and educational decisions are guided by qualifications, fairness, and the best interests of students.

Reconciliation begins with learning and understanding our shared history.

Schools play an important role in helping students learn about Indigenous Peoples, residential schools, and the lasting impacts these experiences continue to have on individuals, families, and communities.

I believe students benefit from learning accurate history, hearing diverse perspectives, and developing respect for people from different backgrounds and experiences.

As a trustee, I would support educational opportunities that help students better understand Canada's history while fostering respectful, inclusive, and welcoming school communities for all students.