Sharon's Platform: Making Every Student Count

SCHOOL TRUSTEE, DISTRICT #68: NANAIMO-LADYSMITH

LEADING WITH PASSION AND INTEGRITY

I believe that the Board must set an example of collaborative and responsible leadership. We cannot continue to doing things the way we've always done them. Times are changing, resources are scarce, partnerships are essential, and technology is growing at a faster pace than ever before. We must be more responsive to our students' needs, and we must ensure that our District is organized in a manner that is effective, efficient, and accountable at all levels. Adversarial relationships must be replaced with collaborative ones that allow us to move forward and to maximize our resources for our students.

DEVELOPING STRENGTHS

Each student brings different strengths and weaknesses to Nanaimo's school system. While it is important to give students tools to improve their weaknesses, it is even more important to recognize and encourage the development of each individual's strengths. Some students are contending with learning disabilities, while others begin school without a basic understanding of the English language. These students also bring strengths to our school system. Teachers and educational assistants need the support of the leaders in the school system to be able to give each student the attention needed to realize and develop his/her strengths.

HONOURING DIFFERENCES

Our students represent a variety of cultures and learning styles. Understanding and embracing these differences should be part of every student's learning experience. Opportunities for the development of special talents and interests, such as those provided by Nanaimo's specialized academies, should be part of a well-rounded, government-sponsored education for all students. Again, teachers need adequate support to be able to teach values around diversity and individualized achievement.

PRESERVING THE ARTS (Music, Performing Arts, Visual Arts...)

Unfortunately, in a time of increasingly difficult budget challenges, the Arts have often been overlooked. Studies show that music students often excel in math and keyboarding, among many other subjects. Music, performing arts, and visual arts can also relieve stress by providing creative outlets for artistic students. While sequential and analytical tasks develop 'left brain' intelligence, the arts promote 'right brain' intelligence. According to Gardner's theory on multiple intelligences, we need to employ the 'whole brain' approach for a well-rounded education. We need to advocate for a larger presence of these classes, especially at the primary and intermediate grades, in our schools.