I grew up in a large farming family in rural Ontario. My family was highly engaged in school and community, fostering my own love of learning and service. My family set high expectations for work and study, which motivated me to pursue a M.Sc. and then Ph.D. in biomedical research at McGill University. I settled in Toronto and have called East York home since 2000. I am the parent of three children, one attending a TDSB school and two now in university. I am an active community volunteer in addition to being a Trustee since 2018.
I first became involved in public education when my oldest child entered school. As I learned more about the education system I shifted from local school involvement to board-wide advisory roles with the TDSB Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC). In 2018 I was elected Trustee for TDSB Ward 16, Beaches - East York (BEY), which afforded me the opportunity to use my research and policy background to work collaboratively with TDSB staff and the Board on improving access to TDSB programming, to focus resources on positive experiences and outcomes for all students, and enhancing best practices for education. It has been my pleasure to work with local school staff and communities, as well as other elected officials, to support TDSB schools.
We know that children succeed in education when families and communities are engaged and welcomed in their local schools. As Trustee my goal has been to foster community engagement while providing sound governance for education programs, so that our children have the best chance to succeed. I am committed to keeping local residents informed about school board events and resources, listening to feedback on policies and programs, and advocating to the Provincial government for the necessary resources for education.
Serving as a public school Trustee and education advocate in the TDSB for the past 8 years has been both challenging and rewarding. We've made great strides in improving programming, building new education programs, promoting inclusive school communities, updating policies to improve operations, adopting innovative solutions to building and maintaining schools, ensuring students can access technology, science kits & library resources, increasing access to outdoor education, prioritizing mental health resources, increasing city and community partnerships, and prioritizing inclusive learning environments. But there is still more work to do.
My focus is to ensure our education system
continues to improve and is inclusive of all student identities and needs,
serve student needs in a manner that is transparent and accountable,
makes decisions based on research, data, and best practices
communicates effectively with school communities and fosters collaborative relationships.
TDSB Committee memberships and roles:
TDSB Committees - Governance & Policy (chair); Finance & Budget; Audit Committee; Board Self Improvement Committee
Inner City Advisory Committee (4 years)
Urban Indigenous Advisory Committee (2 years)
2SLGBTQ+ Advisory Committee (2 years)
Special Education Advisory Committee (8 years)
Ontario Public School Boards Association (OPSBA) 2nd Vice President (2024 - 2026)
Applegrove Community Complex Board of Management
Learn more about the role of Trustees in Ontario: https://elections.ontarioschooltrustees.org/
Learn more about Toronto Municipal Elections and register to vote: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/elections/voter-information/myvote/
Contact:
For questions regarding the municipal election please contact michelle@aarts.ca
For questions or concerns regarding your school or the TDSB please contact your school office staff directly (Find my School) or contact your school's Superintendent (contact listed on your schools landing page) or call the TDSB central offices at Tel: 416-395-8787