School trustees are elected representatives who provide governance and public accountability for the school board. They do not manage schools or set classroom instruction, but they do set the direction and priorities that shape student outcomes.

A trustee’s role is to:

• Set policy and strategic priorities for the board
• Approve and oversee how resources are used to support student learning
• Monitor system performance, including math achievement, literacy, attendance, and engagement
• Hold the board accountable for improving outcomes for all students
• Represent parents and the community in decisions about education priorities

In the current environment, trustees are increasingly expected to focus on clear outcomes, transparency, and accountability, ensuring the system stays focused on what matters most: students learning effectively in the classroom.

As of April 2026, there have been changes by the Ministry of Education to the role of Trustees (also discussed here).

Ontario school board trustees have a limited governance role, and recent changes by Paul Calandra have further narrowed their authority. Trustees cannot:

• Direct or supervise board staff, including principals or the Director of Education (CEO)
• Make day-to-day operational or administrative decisions
• Independently control budgets or spending outside approved processes
• Override provincial legislation, policies, or ministry directives
• Act unilaterally on behalf of the board without a formal vote

Recent provincial reforms have also increased oversight and intervention powers, meaning trustees can be bypassed or replaced by a provincially appointed supervisor if governance concerns arise. Their role is now more tightly focused on high-level policy, accountability, and representing community perspectives—not managing the school system.

Why We Still Need Trustees

Even as education governance evolves, local trustees remain important because they keep the system grounded in real classroom results and community expectations.

We still need trustees to:

• Keep attention on core academic achievement, especially math and literacy
• Ensure schools are supporting focus, discipline, and readiness to learn in a distracted environment
• Ask hard questions about what is working—and what is not—when student results decline
• Represent local parent concerns in a system that is becoming more centralized
• Push for policies that improve learning conditions, not just administrative processes

Strong trustees help ensure that system decisions stay connected to what is actually happening in classrooms, not just policy statements.

What’s In It for Parents?

For parents, a strong trustee provides a direct voice in ensuring schools are focused on student success and classroom effectiveness.

This means:

• Greater focus on improving math and literacy outcomes
• Stronger attention to student focus, behaviour, and classroom readiness
• More transparency about how decisions affect learning
• Accountability when results are not improving
• A consistent push for schools to reduce barriers to learning, including distractions that impact achievement

In practical terms, effective trusteeship helps ensure parents see a system that is more focused on learning, more accountable for results, and more responsive to what students actually need to succeed.

Why I Am the Right Trustee for This Role

I believe our school board needs a stronger, clearer focus on student achievement and classroom outcomes—especially in core skills like math and literacy.

As a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), I bring a strong background in financial oversight, accountability, and results-based decision-making. I understand how to read budgets, ask the right questions about spending, and ensure resources are being directed where they have the greatest impact on outcomes.

My approach is informed by research on how students learn today, where focus, behaviour, screen use, and classroom structure all directly affect academic success.

As trustee, my focus will be to:

• Keep the board centered on measurable student results, not process alone
• Apply strong financial oversight to ensure resources support classroom learning and student achievement
• Ask informed questions about why math and engagement outcomes are not improving as expected
• Support policies that strengthen focus, discipline, and learning readiness in classrooms
• Respect the role of teachers while ensuring they have conditions that support effective teaching and student success

Parents expect a system that is clear about its priorities: better learning outcomes, stronger accountability, and responsible use of resources.

That is the standard I will bring to this role.