ABOUT ME

A teacher. A mom. A community voice. A lifelong learner.

I am a retired teacher, wife, mom and longtime Kamloops community member.

I spent 21 years teaching in SD73, from rural to urban schools. I began my SD73 career in January 2000.

I also taught 4 years at Thompson Rivers University, including college preparation and special education programs.

Teaching has always been about more than academics for me.

It is about seeing the whole student.

It is about understanding what gets in the way of learning—and finding ways to help.

MY EDUCATION

I hold a Bachelor of General Studies from Simon Fraser University.

I completed an Instructor Diploma through NAIT and my Professional Teaching Certificate through SFU’s satellite Indigenous program at Tk’emlúps.

I also completed Special Education courses through Thompson Rivers University.

BEFORE TEACHING

My first career was as a hairdresser.

I began at age 18 and worked in the profession until I was 25, when I began university.

Later, I owned and operated successful businesses in Kamloops and Merritt.

Those years taught me something I still carry today:

Listen to people. Build relationships. Solve problems. Show up.

MY COMMUNITY WORK

Retirement did not mean stepping away from my community.

I have served on and participated in many boards, committees and community initiatives, including:

1. BC Community Living Association Executive Committee
2. Kamloops-Thompson Teachers Association Executive Committee
3. Kamloops-Thompson Retired Teachers Association Executive Committee
4. BC Retired Teachers Association’s Communications Committee
5. Community Action Team: Kamloops
6. Foundry Kamloops: Family Advisory Committee
7. Mustard Seed Liaison Committee
8. HotNite in the City Executive Committee
9. Sagebrush Community Association: Catchment School Committee
10. Kamloops Family History Committee
11. Grade 12 Graduation Committees
12. KTTA Staff Representative at four SD73 schools

My community work has also brought me alongside families and individuals experiencing mental health challenges, substance use, homelessness, stigma and grief.

These experiences have changed how I listen.

MY FAMILY

I am married to Bart, a retired Registered Nurse who worked in Interior Health’s Mental Health and Substance Use services.

We have two sons.

Levi, 33, is a Registered Nurse at our local Royal Inland Hospital.

Our son Aaron died in 2021 at the age of 26.

Losing Aaron changed our family forever.

It also deepened my understanding of what families experience when they are trying to navigate mental health, substance use, stigma, grief and systems that can be difficult to understand.

I do not bring his story forward to have all the answers.

I bring what I have learned from it.

A PERSONAL LENS

I have lived with hearing loss since birth and have worn hearing aids since I was 24.

As a child, I learned to speak late and struggled in school.

I was self-conscious about wearing hearing aids and chose not to wear them when I was younger.

Eventually, I realized that if I wanted to succeed in college, I needed to hear.

That experience taught me about stigma from a very personal place.

It has also shaped how I support people with disabilities and hearing challenges.

I try to lead with compassion, curiosity and respect.

WHY I’M RUNNING

After retiring from teaching in 2021, I took time to grieve, learn, volunteer and continue serving my community.

Now I feel ready for another challenge.

I am running for SD73 School Trustee because I believe the people closest to students need to be heard.

Teachers, CEAs, students, families and school staff have important things to tell us about what is happening in our schools.

I want to shine a light on those experiences.

I will ask questions.

I will listen.

I will learn from experts and evidence.

And I will advocate for students and staff.

I do not have all the answers.

I am ready to learn.

And I am ready to work hard for the students, families and employees of SD73.

MY GUIDING THOUGHT

Listen. Learn. Shine a Light.