Name: Natasha Bob
First Nation name: Yacisas Qwomonii D'qwaii
Age: 36
Occupation/background: Cultural enhancement worker, permanency planning.
Why are you running for school trustee?
I am dedicated to emphasizing the importance of lifelong learning in and outside of our school system. Most importantly, we need to prepare our children and youth to lead and be active participants in our community.
What three priorities are important to you and how do you plan to tackle these issues, if elected?
I want to support and strengthen SD68 relations with the Aboriginal education community. My plan is to seek guidance and wisdom from education advocates and work with all aboriginal education stakeholders.
Advocating for capital and classroom funding and improved class size and composition is important to me. Where possible, I plan to emphasize the fiduciary duty of governments to support a strong public education system.
Ensuring that teachers have ready access to learning resource is also very important. Teachers need access to learning tools, and should not have to pay for this out of pocket. There should be resources available and I want to support plans and initiatives that support learning.
How do you plan to work toward a balanced school district budget?
I plan to monitor, oversee and ask questions when necessary. Strategic planning is a fundamental part of education governance.
What do you think it takes to be an education leader in Nanaimo-Ladysmith? Describe your leadership or co-working style.
I think an education leader needs to speak comfortably about anti-bullying, child and youth mental health issues. If these issues are ignored, it creates an poor environment for learning. In addition, an education leader needs to be aware of distractions in the classroom, whether they are technology-based addiction, trauma, poverty or issues of inequality. Last of all, an education leader needs to understand the vital role a school plays in the community and be involved in community engagement processes so that things like school closures or the sale of school district properties are decided through a fair and democratic process.
My leadership style is simple. I listen first, take into account all perspectives and think outside the box where possible.