Jo-ann's PROVEN TRACK RECORD

As one way of both informing and listening to the community, as trustee of Ward 9 (2010 -2018) Jo-Ann organized, and if elected, would introduce to Ward 4, an annual ward-wide Leadership meeting with the local School Superintendents, CSPC Chairs, principals and pastors,

The agenda is created with invitees and focused on only 3 different priority topics each year to ensure that we have the necessary resources / inputs available at the meeting, and to support meaningful discussion and shared learning.

(Scroll down for Jo-Ann's actions).

Jo-Ann believes we should make our board a place of innovation & community of faith by advocating for policies & programs that:

• support & develop student mental physical & spiritual well being
• support the learning needs of all students & development of staff
• advance Catholic Social Justice principles, including the dignity of each person (student, staff, and community members)
• encourage students to live faith-filled lives, including contributing to the Common Good. 
• enable our board to be environmentally sustainable and help us 'Care for our Common Home' (Pope Francis)
• enable collaborative & responsive school / board learning & working environments.

The role of trustee exists in large part to bring local needs to Board decision-making, to call out when board policy, budgets and programs don't meet those needs, and to propose effective solutions. 

This requires hearing from as many different local voices as possible,. This is done many ways - Jo-Ann has done it by regularly attending parent council meetings and organizing community meetings - seeking community input before important Board votes, through an informative trustee website, substantive school newsletters which include policy and budget updates, community surveys., and responding to constituents emails and phone calls.

See 'Community Support' page for why community members are supporting Jo-Ann 

Having good working relationships with other local representatives is important as their support or approval may be needed for areas of local change.. 

As trustee for Ward 9, Jo-Ann's work in this area supported efforts such as new schools - St Raymond, St Michael's Choir School and Bishop Macdonell (photo above) - and a new park and outdoor green learning space at Monsignor Fraser Annex, 

Jo-Ann has also served as Vice Chair of the City of Toronto-School Board Committee which brought together city councillors and trustee representatives from all 4 local school boards. 

The stated Vision for the TCDSB is that "at Toronto Catholic we transform the world through witness, faith, innovation and action." 

The entire TCDSB community of staff, students and community members help make this Vision a reality; but, it only works if our students - who are at the centre of our Mission - are also at the centre of our decision-making.

As Ward 9 trustee Jo-Ann supported LGBTQ2S students, expanded the student voice in combating bullying and increasing school safety, advocated for Special Education, literacy (Fifth Block) and student support funding, and advocated to reduce the voting age for trustee elections to 16.