Candidates for School Trustee

Rucku was born and raised in Vancouver, and recently graduated from UBC with a BA in economics. Currently, she works with Vancity Credit Union and is an active volunteer in the Indo-Canadian community with the Khalsa Diwan Society. Rucku's volunteer work includes organizing elections and special events, as well as running summer camps for youth.

My priority as a candidate for School Board is to give a voice to minorities and youth. My youth and Indo-Canadian ethnicity is an advantage, and I will provide my fellow school board trustees insightful knowledge and understanding from a unique lens.

My focus as a School Trustee will be to develop proactive measures, such as easily accessible mentoring programs, that will prevent youth from getting involved in crime and drugs.

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Allen Blakey was first elected to the Vancouver School Board in the fall of 1999, and was re-elected in 2002. He began a teaching career in Cranbrook and Prince George, before moving to Vancouver in 1959 to teach in Southlands, Carleton, Lord, Nootka, Nightingale and Simon Fraser elementary schools. After 35 years as a classroom teacher, Allen retired in 1992. He has a son, who is now in his 30s.

"In the past three years I have been part of the COPE team of Trustees that has made such a positive difference to education for the students and staff in Vancouver schools. I would like again to be part of a COPE team of Trustees in consolidating what we have achieved and in progressing further."

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Jane became active in education issues after her son was assessed as having a developmental disability. She recognized there are barriers that prevent many students from getting the support they need. A former regional representative for the National Action Committee on the Status of Women, Jane is an assistant manager at an independent bookstore.

Elected to the Vancouver School Board in 2002, Jane is proud to have served on a COPE School Board that advocates so effectively for all our children. She played a key role in the formation and implementation of the VSB's groundbreaking LGBTQ policy. Jane chairs the Board's Education and Student Services Committee, and sits on both its Special Education and Pride Education Advisory Committees. She represents lower mainland trustees on the BC Trustees Association's First Nations Education Committee. Jane also represents the School Board at civic bodies including the Joint Council on Childcare.

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Ken chaired the Vancouver School Board between 1986-88 and 1995-96 and served as Executive Member of Directors and Chair of the Human Resources Committee for the Vancouver Health Board from 1994-96. During that period, he also served on the Caraim Hospital Board, responsible for denominational hospitals in Vancouver. In 1997, he became regional representative with the BC Trustees for the Ministry for Children and Families. In 1998, he was elected by representatives by all school boards across the province as Director for the BC Public School Employers Association, which he chaired from 2000-02.

Ken is a graduate of the University of British Columbias School of Community and Regional Planning as well as the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School of Business. He is faculty emeriti at UBC and researches transportation and information systems in the Department of Geography. He is the recipient of a number of awards.

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Why an independent? As an independent, I am responsible only to the parents of Vancouver, so that we have an educational system that is one of the best.

* Encourage a safe environment for our students and all employees

* Develop a leadership program to involving all partners

* Create and encourage a healthy lifestyle through nutrion, sports and literacy

* Have a responsible budget program that really involves all partners

My involvement in the educational system

* PAC Chair lord Roberts Annex

* DPAC representative for Jericoe

* Information Technology Committee

* School Library Resource Centre Consultative Committee

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Carol is a graduate of UBC who has worked for 30 years as an educator and administrator. She began her career in elementary education with specializations in physical education and early childhood development. Following graduate school, she focussed her career in post-secondary administration. She also worked as a policy and budget analyst in the university sector and continues to work on contract and as a volunteer.

She is committed to:

• creating a high quality, effective learning environment for every student; and accomplishing this with professionalism, accountability and fiscal responsibility
• supporting learning environments that emphasize lifelong learning
• exploring public and private partnerships that enhance learning and retain public values within our education system
• providing healthy, respectful and safe environments that facilitate learning for students, teachers and administrators
• open and transparent decisions that are informed by research, analysis, public input and reasoned discussion

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Born and raised in Vancouver, I have worked for the Vancouver Public Library for over 20 years. In this role, I have had the opportunity to work in every corner of the city, including working with many ethnic communities. I have worked and volunteered in the Downtown Eastside as well as with Junior Achievement, and have first hand knowledge of the difficulties youth encounter in the inner city environment. I have a Bachelors Degree from SFU and I am completing a Masters of Information Science with UBC.

My priorities are:

1. To put balance back into the decision-making process.

2. Life-long learning in education, nutrition and exercise is key to success, I will work to ensure curriculum and resources reflect these needs.

3. Classrooms must be places of learning - to do this social workers, aid workers, and other assistance must be available in the schools on a permanent basis.

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A Vancouver resident since 1977, Eleanor obtained a BA and MA at UBC, completed teacher training at SFU in 1982, and graduated in from UBC in 1986. She has practiced law since then, engaging in legal research, public policy development, legal writing and publishing, and mediation. Eleanor volunteers in a pro bono family law clinic at Ray-Cam Cooperative Centre, and has volunteered with the Autism Society, in her children's schools, and with Girl Guides.

All children need to feel welcome, safe and accepted in their schools, and obtain the best education possible in the setting most appropriate to their needs. Eleanor's goal is to deliver that. Her own children--particularly her adult son, who is autistic--are her incentive for wanting to serve as a school trustee. Vancouver has a history of strong commitment to its public schools, and Eleanor wants to continue that commitment.

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Sharon Gregson, mother of four children ages 10 to 21, has a long history as an outspoken advocate for a publicly funded, quality child care system. She is the BC representative to the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada and is the spokesperson for the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC.

Sharon is committed to a well-resourced public system of K-12 that meets the needs of Vancouver's children in every neighbourhood and that provides teachers with the tools they need to do their work effectively. Sharon was involved in the No Cuts To Kids campaign speaking out against government cuts.

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Born and raised in Vancouver, Clarence has a Master's degree in school administration and has retired after over 30 years experience as a teacher and principal. He also has an extensive background in athletics, where he has coached or served as a board member with organizations that promote youth participation in sports. Clarence is a recipient of a Certificate of Merit from the Government of Canada for outstanding volunteer work in the community. Most recently, he has served on the boards of the Killarney Community Centre Society and CLICK (Contributing to the Lives of Inner City Kids). After retiring as a teacher and principal with the Vancouver School Board, Clarence was elected as a park board commissioner, finishing his term as chair of the board.

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Noel Herron has been a COPE School Trustee for the past three years. He served as Chair of the board's Committee IV, Personnel and Staff Services committee, and is a member of the VSB Education and Student Services committee, the board's Planning and Facilities Committee, and the VSB Advocacy Committee. Herron is also Chair of the No Cuts to Kids Coalition. He is Liaison Trustee to 14 elementary and secondary schools and one adult education center.

A former principal and an assistant director of education, Herron holds a BA and B ED from University College, Dublin, an M ED from the University of Montreal and a graduate of the masters degree program in teaching from St.Michael's College ,Vermont. He served on two BC Ministry of Education advisory committees-ESL and Special Education.

He is is the author of a history of inner city schools in Vancouver entitled: Every Kid Counts.

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I believe that our education system is evolving with the changes in the society, but certain aspects of education should not be changed, for example, education on the ethical side of a Canadian citizen.

I also believe that discipline should be maintained in school; I like the traditional school approach in which students follow stricter guidelines. Assignment is a must to practice materials learned. I was involved in the traditional school movements in the 90s and I still would like to see a traditional school in our school district.

I am a professional engineer working for the Vancouver International Airport Authority. Over the past 10 years, my community involvements were:

Trustee, Board of Trustees, Vancouver Hospitals
Director, Vancouver Richmond Health Board
Councillor, Association of Professional Engineers & Geoscientists of BC
Director, College of Licensed Practical Nurses of BC
President, Canadian Airports Electrical Association
Director of the Board, Collingwood Neighbourhood House

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An outspoken advocate for public education, Angela has 20 years of active involvement in Vancouver schools. She is seeking her second term as school board trustee. Angela understands that the best decisions are made through broad community involvement. As Chair of the Finance Committee, she has implemented the most participatory and transparent budget-setting process in the province to determine school board spending priorities. Recently, Angela was appointed to the Finance Committee of the provincial trustees association. Through her experience as trustee for Killarney and University Hill secondary schools and their feeder elementary schools, Angela has developed a deep understanding of the concerns of the diverse communities within our city. She will continue to welcome community input to strengthen and enrich the relationships between school and community so that all Vancouver students can experience learning success. Angela has also served as a trustee on the Public Library Board since 2002.

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Don received a BSc from UBC, completed his teacher training at the Ontario College of Education, taught Mathematics & Physics for 31 years, the last 26 years at Templeton Secondary.

Don served in civic politics as well as in many community organizations including:

• Vancouver City Councillor, 1996-2002
• Director, Greater Vancouver Regional District, 1999-2002
• Red Cross Chinese Advisory Group, Lower Mainland Region
• Canadian Cancer Society's Chinese Advisory Committee
• Chinese Culture Centre of Greater Vancouver
• National Congress of Chinese Canadians

Don has received numerous community awards and recognitions and is a recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.

Don's priority is to support and develop a diversity of program options catered to the student's individual needs. His focus would be to help youth at risk by instigating preventive measures in early childhood education programs.

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As a parent, Conrad Lew sees the disparity and challenges that exists in our schools. He wants to make a positive contribution to the success of COPE's progressive and inclusive school board. A board that listens, advocates and protects.

As an active community member, Lew has tried to make a difference in his community by effectively advocating for Family Literacy. He have worked successfully with community organizations to develop programs in the community and within the schools to benefit families and children. Some of these include the Wonder of Words family literacy event, now in its sixth year, Parent-to-Parent program at Kiwassa Neighbourhood House and Project REAL (Relevant Education for Adult Learners) at Hastings Elementary School.

Lew am currently serving a fifth year on the Vancouver School Board's Family Literacy Steering Committee. Working to support children's education through enriching relationships between children and parents, families and schools, schools and communities.

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Kevin Millsip was elected as a School Trustee in 2002 and is Chair of the Planning and Facilities Committee. A passionate advocate for public education, Kevin is focused on making public education work for every child with schools as centres of creativity, education and exploration. Current projects include increasing student involvement in Vancouver schools, quickening the pace of Seismic upgrades, developing an ethical purchasing policy and linking the environment and education to make Vancouver schools the most environmentally sustainable in Canada by 2010.

Kevin is a third generation Vancouverite and a graduate of Vancouver schools. He has worked in educational programs overseas and in Canada with over 10,000 students and hundreds of teachers and parents, focusing on global issues, citizenship, and environmental leadership. Kevin is a director of Check Your Head, sits on the Board for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and is developing a Centre on Citizenship.

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Born in London, England, and raised in the Caribbean, Michelle currently works in marketing and business development management. She was also employed at Science World, where she developed Opening the Door, a unique and award-winning educational networking program for students in grades 10-12 interested in pursuing a career in science or engineering. Opening the Door was awarded the BC School Superintendents' Award of Recognition.

My priorities:
Providing high quality education in a fiscally responsible environment is imperative. I will also ensure a high level of transparency in the School Board as well as improve the level of cooperation between the Board, the provincial and federal governments and community organizations.

My goals:

• I will explore external funding opportunities in an effort to provide safe school and special needs programs
• I will develop a system that recognizes exemplary work performed by many of Vancouver's teachers

Nomination papers

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Bang Van Nguyen was born on the 1st of November, 1978. He's the 4th of a 5 children household. His parents were not wealthy but they made sure that every child was clothed, fed, and educated. Bang has been volunteering in inner city programs since he was 15 years old. Even though Bang's highest level of education is high school, he always encourages his peers that any level of post secondary education is the best choice in life. Bang is currently working in the retail industry to support his loving wife and 2 kids. Having kids has taught Bang a lot about life's importance. Bang is running for school board trustee because he is worried about how it is currently being managed. Programs are being slashed due to budget restraints. There has to be a smarter way to make budget cuts that won't jeopardise our children's education and future.

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When I was elected in 2002 many people asked what difference one Green Party trustee could make. At that time, Vancouver schools had suffered tremendously under massive provincial cuts and a board that sowed division and inequity.

I can confidently say that one trustee can make a lot of difference. I've been a successful advocate for many issues, including:

• restored provincial funding for Vancouver learners' diverse needs
• bylaw changes that increase board accountability
• an inclusive, plain-language budgeting process
• getting junk food, corporations and toxics out of schools

Current Appointments
Executive Director: Western Canada Wilderness Committee
Director: CCEC Credit Union; Labour Environment Alliance
VSB: Food Policy Council; Finance, Budget & Modern Languages Committees

Nomination papers

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"Public education must be properly funded," said COPE School Trustee Allan Wong. "I have worked towards that goal. I have four children, two in McCorkindale Elementary and one in Killarney Secondary."

After graduating from UBC's Multicultural Teacher's Education Program, Allan worked as a Teacher-On-Call in Richmond and Vancouver. Allan has taught in every elementary school in Vancouver. And he has worked at Telus for over 18 years.

He was first elected as a COPE School Trustee in 1999 and re-elected in 2002.

"I am particularly fortunate to be able to gain access to the Chinese community to promote, detail and describe many of the directions and accomplishments of the COPE School Board," said Allan. "Those include increased ESL and Special Needs support, developing a seismic program, acting on equity issues, implementing anti-racism and anti-homophobia action plans, and advocating for public education funding."

Nomination papers

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As an educator for more than 40 years, 15 years as a secondary teacher in Burnaby and 25 years as a professor of Business Education at UBC where I still serve as a volunteer, the centre of my life is the education and welfare of children.

I promise to work with energy and enthusiasm to represent all the stakeholders. Resources will be directed to maximize student growth, especially during the elementary school years. The focus will be on English and math fundamental skill levels so that all students can achieve their goals. They will learn in an environment where every student feels secure and capable, with a sense of self-respect and respect for others.

Another objective is to make the Vancouver School Board more accountable by systematic and regular reporting on the students' learning progress and how funds are spent in plain language reports that all can understand.

Nomination papers

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