Christine Ho Younghusband

Can’t Control Others

One life lesson I try to emphasize with my daughter is… You can’t control others, you can only control yourself.  Well, I should start to listening to myself.  Political life is all new to me.  Although I was active in the teachers’ union when I use to teach at Chatelech Secondary and situations may have been political, but I was never the politician.  i am rudely acknowleging that my role in the community and school district has changed.  I can’t control what people say to me, but what I can control is what I say to them.  I am 100 percent accountable.  What I do say or not say can positively or negatively affect others.  So, I apologize to those whom I have already affected negatively and to those I may affect in the near future. I guess this is part of what people refer to about being “thick skinned” in the world of politics. Humbled.  Aware.  Moving forward.

Welcome to Political Life

Being school trustee “officially” for 8 hours and “unofficially” for 4 days has been interesting to say the least.  It is not to say that I was not expecting what I have already experienced as an elected politician, but I was not expecting to be experiencing particular aspects of political life so soon.

My personal challenge throughout the campaign process and now as school trustee is to be authentic, honest, and open.  I have nothing to hide and I have no reason to lie.  My primary purpose for running as school trustee is to advocate for student learning from the governance and policy perspective.  To do so, I have to ensure that I have a clear mind and an open heart.

I have much experience as a classroom teacher and as a teacher leader serving the local teacher’s association as a professional development rep, staff rep, and executive member.  I am a mom, graduate student, SFU MEd site assistant, and math teachers’ association executive member.  I have much expertise in the field of education.  What I have to learn is the edu-politics. 

With blogging, tweeting, and facebooking… my life is pretty much accessible by anyone.  Yet, some information that’s out there in the social networking world can be and has been easily manipulated, misinterpreted, or misunderstood.  This is not good for a politician.  Now what?

Here is my stand… now that I am officially one of the SD46 school trustees representing the District of Sechelt… I have removed any local politician from my Facebook friends.  I can be easily followed on Twitter.  My Edu-blog is also accessible via twitter or http://christineyounghusband.blogspot.com/.  And, I have a campaign website at https://sites.google.com/site/voteforyounghusband/.

A line must be drawn between personal and professional.  I am a politician with full intentions of listening to the public, being active in public education on the Sunshine Coast, and advocating for student learning.  There are various school trustee training sessions and meetings scheduled in the next few months I am attending.  Right now, I am humbled and I am learning.  Avoid the drama.

Lessons Learned From Curling

My favorite sport is curling.  I’ve been curling since I was 13.  Although I had taken about 5 years off from curling when I had my daughter 8 years ago, I’ve curled competitively and recreationally for more than 20 years.  There are some lessons learned from curling that extends beyond throwing a rock to the button and sweeping your heart out when the skip yells, “HURRY!”

The lesson I would like to blog about today is teamwork and leadership.  There are 4 players on a curling team: the lead, second, third, and skip.  Each player on the team has a role and strength.  The lead is consistent with draws and an effective sweeper.  The second is precise with take-outs and also an excellent sweeper.  The third is the best all around player who can draw, take-out, sweep, and strategizes.  The skip is the leader of the team.  The skip is the decision-maker.  He/she calls the shots, throws the last rock, and sees the big picture.

The biggest challenge for the skip is leadership… to set a team climate or culture so that each player is willing to work together, communicate regularly, and help each other to become individually and mutually better at the game.   Furthermore, the skip must be able to recognize the strengths of his/her team members to capitalize on them.  A curling team with the best skip, best third, best second, and best lead does not necessarily make the best team.  If the team is not communicating, working together, or focused on the game (versus outcome), then the team is bound to lose.  Sometimes a team composed of average players who work collegially and cooperatively often make the best teams.  As a result, each individual player on that team becomes the best at their position.

In curling, the best feeling as a curler, whether if I am skipping, throwing, or sweeping, is to have a rock perfectly positioned in the house because each person on the team fulfills their role to the best of his/her capacity and functioned as one.  I know Bloggies… don’t judge.  But, the feeling is incredible.  The team feels awesome because each player made that one shot happen.  In the end, that one shot could be the TSN Turning Point of the entire game.  Every shot matters.

There are two general types of leadership… transformative vs. transactional.  We have all experienced both types of leadership… on the curling ice, in the classroom, or at the workplace.  The tranformative leader believes the team CAN DO IT, motivates them to strive to do their best, and involves himself/herself in the process of doing.  The transactional leader derives much of his/her leadership from power, directives, and focusing on what’s going wrong to make things better.  One team is working together to achieve a common goal, the other team is working as a group of individuals focused on self-interest not necessarily towards the same goal.  Which team is better?

The context does not matter… curling, schools, or corporations… what does matter is leadership.

Closing Up the Campaign

Monday morning after the BC Civic Election… Life returns back to normal.  Campaign signs have disappeared… I’m walking my daughter to school… and I return to my computer click-clacking away blogging, researching, and writing.  The occasional “congratulations,” “well-done,” and “way-to-go” from parents, colleagues, and community members makes life a little different.

Today, I am closing up my campaign as school trustee.  During this campaign, I was the campaign manager, financial agent, and politician.  I did not even have a scrutineer during election day.  It’s sometimes hard to believe that I was able to make it on top with such a modest campaign and few “peeps” helping me out.  I did have a little political posse who supported me behind the scenes, but ultimately, I assumed all of the “official roles” during my campaign trail.

All municipal politicians, win or lose, must submit a financial statement of money spent and contributed, monetary or in-kind, to the campaign.  I will also have to return the official list of registered voters from 2008 and fill out some other forms to ensure that my campaign has been transparent and legitimate.  In the meantime, I will close my “Younghusband Campaign” bank account and “Elect Christine Younghusband for School Trustee” Facebook page.

I will continue to Twitter @Christine YH, provide status updates on Facebook, modify my political website “Vote for Younghusband,” and write in my “YH Edu-Blog” about education from the perspective of a graduate student, math educator, and school trustee. 

I am really excited for what the future holds for me in the next three years.  I am working on my dissertation.  I am attending the SFU TLE Teaching and Learning Certificate Program for Graduate Students to teach university.  I am continuing to present at conferences and submit proposals.  I am looking forward to serving the residents of Sechelt on the School District No.46 (Sunshine Coast) Board and working with the other newly elected school trustees and Superintendent of Schools.

This only the beginning and I encourage everyone to take the first step towards living your dream.

Stage 1: Introducing Myself to Political Life

The 2011 BC Civic Election is now over.  6 weeks of campaigning has led to a climatic moment of winning a position as school board trustee in School District No.46 (Sunshine Coast) representing the District of Sechelt.  What an honour and a privilege to be chosen by the residents of Sechelt.  From what I understand, walking away with 1531 votes, leading the pack, as a newbie candidate is a phenomenal feat.  A teacher’s perspective would be an asset to the SD46 Board of Education. 

Before putting my name forward for the municipal election, I contemplated my reasons for running and how I would be perceived by the public.  With much thought and consideration, my motivations for running for school trustee are to contribute to public education and renew my involvement with School District 46.  I would only run for good reasons.

Before handing in my forms, I asked the election officer a flurry of questions before proceeding with the political process.  I asked if my educational consulting company and tutoring would be perceived as a ‘conflict of interest.’  She replied, “Your business is your livelihood.  This is how you make your living.”  Knowing this, I felt encouraged to put my name forward and announce my candidacy.  Only one day after my victory, I was asked if I would continue tutoring now that I am school trustee.

My impressions from the conversation made me feel like I may be doing something wrong tutoring students.  This information was made public during the All-Candidates SD46 Trustee Meeting on November 14th and I am not ashamed about continuing my teaching practice as a math and science tutor.  I tutor adults, home schoolers, and SD46 students.  My clientele is diverse and transient.

I understand why I would be asked this question and why tutoring would seem controversial.  When I taught in the public schools, I did not appreciate my colleagues tutoring students privately while they taught full- or part-time in the school district.  Yet, tutoring supplemented his/her income and supported student learning in a positive way.  For these reasons, why not tutor?

My educational consulting company is my livelihood.  I make a modest living while I study full-time at SFU as a doctoral student in educational leadership.  Tutoring makes me a better teacher and it keeps me in touch with student learning.  Giving workshops makes me a better educator and it keeps me in tuned with teacher learning.  Being a mom of an 8-year old daughter, a consumer of public education on the Sunshine Coast, gives me insight on elementary education and public schools.

Tutoring, my research, being a parent, or this blog can be easily perceived as ‘a conflict of interest.’  It would only be a conflict of interest if my intentions were ill-willed or destructive.  On the contrary, my involvement in education keeps me in-tuned with public schools on the Sunshine Coast, it hones my practice as a math/science educator, and I am helping students with their learning.  To answer the question, I am going to continue tutoring students while holding office as school trustee.

I am grateful for the question.  I need to make a living and fuel my passion for education.  Tutoring is part of the equation.  In the end, if anyone feels unsafe to talk to me about education or my intentions as school trustee, then how will I know what is going well and what needs to be worked on?

LEARNING IS DIALOGICAL.  Formative Assessment.  Learning Communities.  Restorative Practices.  Please do not hesitate to ask questions or share stories.  That’s my job as school trustee.

School Trustee Younghusband

Unreal.  It’s 3:30 am and I’m beginning to acknowledge that I was elected to be one of the School Trustees representing the District of Sechelt.  I had such a modest campaign.  I had a restricted budget and I was truly a novice to the political process.  With 1531 votes, I came out on top, edging out the incumbent by 28 votes.  What a victory.  And, I have only the voters and my supporters to thank.  I would not be where I am without you.  Thank you for acknowledging my love for education as a teacher, parent, and community member.  To be a part of School District No.46 (Sunshine Coast) is truly an honour and I’m looking forward.  I would like to thank all of the other trustee candidates for putting your names forward.  I am optimistic of the 2011-2014 SD46 School Board. 

Here is the local news article in the local paper, the Coast Reporter, listing out the 2011 BC Civic Elections for the Sunshine Coast.  Thank you Bloggies.  You were an integral part of my campaign.
www.coastreporter.net/article/20111119/SECHELT0101/311199996/-1/sechelt/rowe-new-mayor-in-gibsons-henderson-wins-in-sechelt

BC Civic Election Day – November 19, 2011

Here I sit in my husband’s car approximately 100m away from the West Sechelt polling station waiting for him to cast his vote in the 2011 BC Civic Election.  It is likely that I will be waiting here for about 35 minutes. Apparently, there is a huge line up to vote.  This is a good sign.  We came here earlier, before lunch, and the line was equally long then.  I hope that my daughter has someone to play with while they wait in line to vote.  Personally, what an excellent opportunity to blog and say THANK YOU to all of my supporters.  Running for school trustee in the community I had worked in as a high school math teacher for 16 years was not an easy decision.  Now at the end of the 6-week campaign process, I have no regrets.  I have met so many great people, I have learned how to make strategic campaign choices with limited funds, and I have learned that education is my passion regardless of I’m teaching, attending school, or running for municipal politics s a school trustee candidate.  I am truly grateful for this life experience and I look forward to the next chapter.

One More Sleep… What to do?

Move signs?  Send out emails?  Knock on doors?  Nope.  A nice quiet evening at home with the family seems like the best thing to do tonight.  Tomorrow is the CIVIC ELECTION.  From 8 to 8, I am hoping everyone in BC participates.  In the District of Sechelt, the Advanced Polls on November 9th and 16th combined had almost doubled the 2008 turn out.  Impressive.

To the District of Sechelt residents… Get out and vote for 1 Mayor, up to 6 councilors, and up to 2 school trustees… in addition to voting YES or NO in the non-binding referendum regarding Target Marine… Polling stations:  West Sechelt Elementary, Davis Bay Elementary, and Senior Centre. 

For more information about the SD46 Trustees, read All-Candidates Meeting for SD46 Trustees.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT.  I love the Sunshine Coast.  I love public education.  I love advocating for kids and their learning.  In less than 24 hours, we will all soon find out if I will have the greatest opportunity to serve the residents of Sechelt as school trustee.  Tomorrow marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.  Looking forward.

35 More Hours… Who’s Counting?

Well… the Municipal Election is happening 35 hours from now.  On Monday, I was participating in the SD46 All Candidates Meeting for School Trustees.  On Tuesday, I attended the FABS Table Talks with the ‘new’ councilor and mayoral District of Sechelt candidates.  On Wednesday, I was out of town attending 2 wonderful presentations by Nel Noddings at SFU.  Today, I have been tutoring, delivering the last few flyers I had, and brought my daughter to swimming lessons.  After I blog, I will engage in the night-time routine, read with my daughter, and hopefully clean the house.  It may be another late night as I have to do some work for SFU as a site assistant for one of the MEd cohorts and do some revisions on my 3 chapter proposal (again).  What Friday has to bring is one tutoring session, my daughter’s swim club, and more work on my doctoral studies.

Every minute has been accounted for.  I could considering distributing more YH Handouts or knock on a few doors… but it seems to me that the YOUNGHUSBAND CAMPAIGN has taken a life of it’s own.  People have sent me emails expressing their support, some have approached me face-to-face to ask how my campaign is going, and others wish me the best of luck on Saturday.  I don’t want to over think the situation and honestly, the people of Sechelt will decide who is best fit for school trustee.  My small and modest campaign could not afford the large newspaper ads or an unlimited supply of campaign signs.  I had 9 large sign (now 7) and 48 little signs (now about 30).  I distributed about 500 mini flyers and I have maintained my blog, Twitter, and campaign website.  I attended a couple of FABS events and All-Candidates for Sechelt Mayor and Councilors.  I did a few profile write ups for School District No.46 Website, the Coast Reporter, the FABS (For a Better Sechelt) website, and the SCTA (Sunshine Coast Teachers’ Association) website.  That’s about it.

What my campaign is relying on is word-of-mouth, my performance during the All-Candidates for Trustees, my reputation as a public school educator, and the belief that I can do the job.  Will this be enough?  Who knows.  What I do know is… I am officially stepping back at this point in time from campaigning and taking tomorrow evening off.  Saturday, I will be getting the house in order, maybe grocery shopping, and possibly checking out Target Marine (the hottest topic of this year’s Sechelt Municipal Election).  That evening will wait patiently for the final count of the election.

Nel Noddings at SFU

With a few days left of campaigning, I have opted to return back to my graduate student lifestyle and commuted to the Lower Mainland from the Sunshine Coast to see Dr. Nel Noddings, PhD at SFU.  She is speaking twice today, once at the Surrey Campus and the other in Burnaby.  I signed up for both events.  Nel Noddings is a guru on the “ethics of care” and education.  I learned this morning that she had started her teaching career as a mathematics teacher.  This caught my attention.  This morning’s session was designed for students enrolled in the Professional Programs of the Faculty of Education.  Nel spoke about her new book about the love and hate for war.  This afternoon’s workshop will be about the “ethics of care” addressed to graduate students and faculty.  I am looking forward to listening to her speak again.  She has clear ideals and vision for education. I appreciate her passion and the work she does as an emeritus of Stanford.  Nel is someone to aspire to.

In the meantime, I am waiting for the second session to start.  I’m sitting in the lobby of the Halpern Centre at SFU-Burnaby with my Educ 809 buddy, Harri.  We met at the SFU-Surrey Campus this morning, had lunch together at the Surrey Central food fair (thank you Harri), and took Skytrain to the Burnaby Campus.  I got the chance to drop off my application to the Faculty of Education and engage in a bit of used book shopping at the AQ.  I bought 2 books for $4 that relate to my dissertation.  SCORE.  Very happy with my purchase and excited to be here as a learner to hear more about Nel Nodding’s views on education, conversation, and caring.

Today could not have happened without my awesome family.  After staying up all night to work on my SFU application package, I had planned to catch the 5 am bus at West Sechelt to catch the 620 am ferry from Langdale.  It was 5:22 am and there was no bus.  I started to panic.  Where was the bus?  Did I read the schedule wrong?  I did not understand what was happening with the Sunshine Coast transit system, but I was stuck.  I called my husband and he did not hesitate to come get me to drive me to the ferry.  What a guy… best of all, my daughter woke up to come for the ride, and my dog came along too.  It was a family morning adventure and I am truly grateful for my family.  What a sacrafice… What love.  Aside from feeling really tired today and spending time with my 809 buddy, the best part of the day was my family picking me up at the bus stop so early in the morning.

Thank you Randy, Zoe, Sally, and Harri for making my day at SFU x2.  I had a great day.