Vote Sheila Bouman

Success for Every Student

My name is Sheila Bouman and I am running for Trustee for the District of North Vancouver because I believe our school system is under great strain. On top of the obvious challenges of school closures and reduced funding, we are eroding the strength and potential that currently exists. I believe that difficult decisions are in front of our Board of Education, and I want to ensure that they are made in the best interests of our students, staff and our community.

As Trustee, I will apply my teaching experience with the last ten years of helping leaders plan and implement organizational improvements to help the Board show leadership during these tough times. I want to ensure that the decisions the Board makes results in success for every student.

To prepare our children for a positive and successful future, we need to work together to:

• Better focus resources on the programs that we know work;
• Deliver more integrated services to students and families;
• Share proven practices and resources with others;
• Collaborate with families and educators to design and implement changes;
• Inspire excellence in students and staff; and
• Consider the future of the North Vancouver community in all decisions.

I invite you to explore my blog to learn more about me and my vision for the North Vancouver School District. I am confident that I can help strengthen our Board of Education, but I can’t do it without you. I welcome your feedback on ways we can work together to achieve success.

Please come out on September 19th and vote for Sheila Bouman.

Vision

I have a vision where each person in our community cares about the success of every child, and sees the educational system as the hub to foster student academic and social achievement. Community members and educators must partner to explore ways to strengthen our educational system, especially during times of declining enrolment, constrained funding, diverse and complex learner needs.

Without changes, we will continue to see disengaged students, dissatisfied parents, and discouraged teachers and staff. The effect of these factors on our children’s potential is of huge concern to me. If we fail with our children, we fail as a community.

Experience

Changes are necessary and inevitable. I believe my skill set can help the current Board of Education, administration and educator to partner effectively with the community to explore and implement positive changes that benefit all of us.

My career began as a high school teacher on the North Shore where I helped create new programs such as computer immersion, university-high school student mentorship co-op, and new teacher orientation. I am co-founder and principal of a consulting firm, which has worked with leaders and their people in large and small companies, both public and private, to design and implement changes that improve their performance. As past-president of BC Organization Development Network, I have experience working on a Board. In my work, I also have extensive experience providing facilitation and consulting services to Boards and leaders at all levels. I have a long track record of helping people create changes that are supported at all levels of an organization.

I have two school-aged children – one in the elementary school system and one just about to enter high school – and have been very involved in their schools and out-of-school activities. As a mom, I have recently helped launch a Fun-at-Lunch program for our school and strengthened parent-administration planning for grade 7 extra-curricular programs. I am also active in my children's sports, as manager or coach.

Raised on the North Shore, I am passionate about where we live and the people who live here. My participation on the District Community Services Advisory Committee inspires me to explore ways that we prevent social issues and build community health, starting with the success of our children.

Opportunities

Critical to meeting the challenges that our district faces is the sharing of proven practices, resources and expertise between schools, across the municipalities, and with other districts. We can benefit from better optimizing the talent, facilities and resources that already exist, or partnering with others to address future needs. We need to work with others to design and implement changes that strengthen our education system.

Specifically, I would like to see more:

1. Focus

With limited resources, we need to focus resources on program and priorities that we know meet the diverse needs of students and result in success for everyone. In trying to balance the many inputs and opportunities from all stakeholders, there is a risk that the District has become diluted in its focus, spreading limited resources too thinly. Let’s get clear on who are students are, what they need to succeed, and ensure that resources are focused on practices that we know will meet their needs. A succinct District Plan needs to clearly link student performance standards, assessment information, priorities and resource allocation. This plan must be both future-focused plus provide practical guidance for year-to-year operations.

2. Sharing

Critical to meeting the challenges that our district faces is the sharing of proven practices, resource and expertise between schools, across the municipalities, and with other districts. We can benefit from better optimizing the talent, facilities and resources that already exist, or partnering with others to address future needs. I want to be sure we are doing everything we can to foster information sharing between educators, students, parents, and community members, so that there is continuous learning, improvements and efficiencies.

3. Integration

To make best use of resources, deliver more integrated services to children and families, and minimize our impact to the environment, we need to explore more integrated facility use and coordinated service delivery. I am excited about the Neighbourhood of Learning initiatives where school districts across B.C. are consulting with community partners and organizations to find unique and innovative ways to design schools with community use in mind and create places where people have better access to educational and community services.

4. Celebrate Excellence

As a District with high standards of excellence for our students and staff, I want to ensure we clearly communicate these as well as celebrate those who achieve them. We need to recognize student leadership, community service, innovation, sportsmanship, environmental stewardship, academic performance, caring contribution, and exceptional teaching. Recognizing success is good for everyone as it helps reinforce excellence plus inspire others.

Why Vote?

The Board of Education is responsible for making major policy decisions governing all aspects of education with the School District, as mandated in the School Act. The primary functions of the Board of Education are:

• To set local policy for the effective and efficient operation of schools
• To approve local courses and textbooks
• To hire and assign teachers, supervisory personnel and administrative officers
• To establish teachers' conditions of work
• To manage School District property
• To preare and approve operating and capital budgets
  

The NVSD Board of Education is comprised of elected community members with varying interests, expertise and backgrounds. My professional background and community interests will strengthen this team to ensure good process, sound decisions, and successful implementation.

Where to Vote

Voting will take place Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at:

Balmoral Jr. Secondary School - 3365 Mahon Avenue

Blueridge Elementary School - 2650 Bronte Drive

Capilano Elementary School - 1230 West 20th Street

Cleveland Elementary School - 1255 Eldon Road

Lynn Valley RecCentre - 3590 Mountain Highway

Lynnmour Elementary School - 800 Forsman Avenues

Parkgate Community Centre - 3625 Banff Court
 

Advance Polls: 
Wednesday, September 9 & Monday, September 14 at the District Municipal Hall – 355 West Queens Road