2022 Candidate profiles: English-Public School trustee
The Creemore Echo has included information about candidates running for English-Public School Board trustee for the Simcoe County District School Board representing Base Borden, and the Townships of Adjala-Tosorontio, Clearview, and Essa.
BRANDY RAFEEK
I have been a resident of Essa Township for almost 40 years. I have three children ages 21, 20 and 15. I have always been
an active volunteer in my children’s schools, as it is extremely important to me to have relationships with the other students in their schools, as well as the teachers, administration, and all staff members.
I have spent many years chairing school councils and key school board committees, organizing parent engagement events, various fundraisers, breakfast and snack programs, volunteering to read with children and helping out in classrooms. Throughout my volunteering I have seized every chance that I was given to attend conferences, engagement sessions, workshops, etc. These experiences led me to have been appointed as an interim School Board Trustee in 2018.
I have been the chair of the SCDSB’s Parent Involvement Committee for the past 6 years, and the chair, and vice chair, of the SCDSB’s Special Education Advisory Committee (where I am a representative for the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario) for the past four years. My time on these committees has given me a great understanding of how the governance of our school board works.
Children’s time in school, and the education that they receive, has a huge influence on who they will become. Through public education, we have incredible opportunities to make positive changes in peoples lives. We have great potential as to what we can do for families. When done properly, education can be the great equalizer, and can truly bridge the gap.
Since 2019 I have been a member of the Essa Township Parks & Recreation Committee and I am a citizen representative on the Simcoe County Committee of the Whole.
Over the years, I have worked diligently to build and maintain strong connections within our community. As school Trustee, I will work to be an effective and informed link between our community members and the school board, as I believe this is crucial to the success of our students and families.
brandyrafeek@gmail.com
DOUGLAS YEAMAN
I am 65 years old. I’m a jack-of-all-trades, master license of three, but at one time or another in my life I have done a lot of other jobs. I built my own house from scratch, framing, plumbing, electrical, drywalling, trimming, roofing, every bit of the house but I have my own machine shop equipment, drove heavy trucks and buses and I’m off to farm.
My experiences with my children with the school board: I had three children go to demonstration schools in Ontario. These are schools that are designed for children with special needs for learning. I have worked with the school board getting the computers to come home with them every night for their education. One of my children is now a vet tech college nurse and an accountant on the Dean’s List and at college level. I even had to talk to the Deans to make sure things were being done right for the students at college. The dean said that was the first parent that ever talked to a dean about problems at the College. All parents have this right.
I love working on new projects, which I am doing right now to do with electricity clean energy.
I like to see the schools becoming more equipped with shops for trades for students so students would have a better idea what goes on in life, and counsellors to understand more about job opportunities for students.
rosa20101010@yahoo.ca
