Photo Credit: Aadil Dharamsi

I am a Southwest Edmonton resident, proud graduate of the University of Alberta (MMus), a professional musician and conductor, and a mother of two young children. I want to raise your voices and advocate for your children and their teachers in Ward F.

This past year has been a year of adaptation. One of pivoting, and of not giving up. Over the past year, I saw my entire industry in the performing arts disappear in the blink of an eye. Just like the amazing teachers and administrators all across the country, I too had to completely shift the way I delivered my music lessons and lead my ensembles. It is in this spirit of resiliency, determination, and adaptation that I have decided to use my teaching experience, and proven skills of leadership and communication, to put myself forward as a candidate for School Board Trustee.

I want to be a part of the solution: to work to create a full COVID recovery strategy that addresses the struggles that our children are facing; educational gaps and discrepancies created by constantly changing learning environments; social development that has been interrupted by isolation; and dealing with losses of family members or friends.

I want to advocate for our teachers as we navigate through the rest of this pandemic and its recovery. They have faced immeasurable hurdles with incredible grace and commitment to their students. They need a board of trustees that they can count on to prioritize their needs and well being.

Cast your vote for me if you are looking for a strong advocate, a teacher, and a progressive and experienced leader as your Public School Board Trustee in ward F.

My commitments are to:

• Actively listen to the parents, teachers, and children of Ward F;
• Advocate to ensure that the draft curriculum is not implemented in 2022
• Fight hard for a strong, funded, and fully functional COVID-19 recovery plan;
• Ensure that funding for educational resources, in particular funding for the arts, is properly allocated and protected;
• Ensure that our schools are a safe and inclusive environment for all students and teachers, regardless of gender identity/expression, ethnicity, faith background, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, or ability;
• Fight to put an end to “period poverty” in our schools by advocating for the free distribution of sanitary products in all bathrooms in junior high and high schools;
• Work to restore program unit funding (“PUF”) to again allow for the inclusion of kindergarten students.