Transferable Skills
As Sechelt constituents are beginning to know my name and understand that I am one of three candidates running for mayor… three questions arise for the curious voter:
1. What made you decide to run for mayor?
2. What qualities would you bring to the position?
3. What will you do if you win both mayor and school trustee?
Answer #1: As mentioned, I am running for mayor because I want to lead and serve the community. I was inspired by my experience interviewing women at the food bank as a community reach out for my work with the Community Resource Centre’s Progress Plan. This experience provoked me to ask the tough questions. Where is this voice in municipal government? Where is my voice? Where is the community’s voice? I am the kind of person who is more likely to do something proactive about it, than not. Thus, I put my name forward as mayor to listen, learn, and lead. I want to see the actions of local government to reflect the values of our community. And with my experience in a governance role with the school district, community futures, and BC Schools Trustees’ Association, I know that governance and listening to the people you serve make a difference to the organization.
Answer #2: Being an effective secondary mathematics teacher for 16 years in public schools provided me with many transferrable skills that would lend itself to the position of mayor. I am respectful, knowledgeable, approachable, engaging, communicative, organized, responsive, personable, and professional. I am open-minded, dedicated, and willing to go the extra mile. I have excellent communication skills, a positive attitude, and high expectations. I love Sechelt and want to see young people and young families thrive in Sechelt, socially and economically. I am open to community input and want to hear what people have to say so that we can move forward. I am a life long learner. Even with my teaching experience and involvement as a teacher leader at Chatelech Secondary, in the school district, and with the local teachers’ association, I still encountered a learning curve when I became school trustee. This is expected. With my qualities and attributes as a learner and leader, I was able to succeed and excel as a school trustee, locally and provincially.
Answer #3: I am officially acclaimed as school trustee from the District of Sechelt for the 2014-2018 term as of October 20, 2014. I am proud to serve a second term on the SD46 Board of Education. I am passionate about public education and appreciate the work our board has accomplished this term. We are making change. I am committed to this work and love what I do. If elected as Mayor of Sechelt, my intention is to hold both offices and step back from my professional work as an independent educational consultant. For those who may not be aware, school trustees from around the province hold office and work full-time. For many of my colleagues, full-time employment and being a school trustee is doable and achievable. For 16 years, I was a full-time teacher and actively engaged in committee work and extracurricular activities. I am familiar with the potential workload and I am able. I am passionate about public education and I am passionate about my community. When you love what you do, you just make it happen.
I hope that this blog entry answered a few questions for those in the District of Sechelt. I love the idea that the people of Sechelt will have to make a value-based decision on who they would like to see as mayor in 2014-2018. My campaign is an 8-year campaign. What needs to be accomplished to align municipal government with community values will take at least 3-years. I hope that your decision on November 5th, 12th, or 15th is not made out of fear, but for the right reasons.