BIOGRAPHY
My name is Linda Strader and I am the incumbent Separate School Trustee for the Bruce Grey Catholic District School Board. I have been involved in the Catholic school system for virtually all of my life; starting in kindergarten and continuing until I retired from my career as a teacher of 30 years with the BGCDSB. Once retired, I was elected as trustee in 2018 and continued my involvement with Catholic education. All of my eight children/step-children are graduates of the BGCDSB system, providing me with the insight of a parent into the Catholic school system.
As the incumbent trustee, it has been an honour and a privilege to promote and participate in the outstanding Catholic education system here in Bruce and Grey. I participated in the creation of the current strategic plan that focuses on Catholic faith and culture, mental health and well-being, student achievement and stewardship of our resources. I am looking forward to participating in the implementation of the Equity Action Plan to promote inclusion, equity and diversity in our Catholic school system.
I believe that with my combined experience as a teacher, parent and trustee, I am very qualified to continue in the role as trustee for Brockton Wards 34 and 36. I have a strong understanding of how a publicly funded Catholic school system operates; from budgets to curriculum. I recognize the successes and needs of staff, students and families. I am a dedicated supporter of the Catholic School system in Brockton, and Bruce-Grey.
IMPORTANT ISSUES
I believe that some of the most important issues facing the Bruce Grey Catholic District School Board now and in the near future are directly related to student achievement and well-being, especially given the disruptions to education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation of strategies to address the Right to Read Inquiry, the utilization of an effective equity and inclusion plan, along with the assurance of a strong Catholic faith are vitally important to myself, as a trustee, and the BGCDSB as a whole, moving forward.
The Right to Read Inquiry from the Ministry of Education states that “with evidence-based instruction, over 95 per cent of students can learn to read.” With this in mind, The Right to Read has been added as a component to the BGCDSB Equity Action Plan. Staff are being trained in using universal screening for literacy in all kindergarten to Grade 8 classrooms, so that student needs can be identified. Staff, particularly our primary teachers, will also receive training on using a structured literacy approach to reading and writing. I support our staff and administrators in delivering high quality literacy education to all of our students. At the same time, I will continue to request greater funding from the Ministry of Education to provide more PD opportunities for our staff and programs and materials for staff and students, as needed.
The BGCDS Board of Trustees recently approved an Equity Action Plan. This plan, developed in line with the Ministry of Education Action Plan, promotes equity, inclusion and diversity for students and staff within our Catholic school communities. As a trustee, I fully support this document and look forward to participating in the implementation of the Equity Action Plan in our schools.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, a strong Catholic faith must be supported in our schools. The unique Catholic culture of caring in our schools leads to students who do well academically and demonstrate a compassionate attitude. There is a notable difference in the atmosphere at Catholic schools. I believe that this is a direct result of the Catholic Graduate Expectations that address the importance of teaching and caring for the whole child, rather than solely the academics. In order to further enhance this Catholic culture, I would like to assist in the development of a stronger connection between home, church and school.
It is important to note that Trustees are mandated under the Education Act to “promote student achievement and well-being, deliver effective and appropriate educational programs, develop, maintain and monitor the effectiveness of Board policies, develop, communicate and annually review a multi-year plan and practice responsible stewardship of board resources.” Therefore, all of the aforementioned issues and concerns are important to me, as your incumbent trustee. All of these concerns need to be addressed by the board of Trustees in order for our students to receive the best Catholic education possible, especially given the disruptions to education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
