BIOGRAPHY
Donna started teaching when she was a teenager. She taught skating to four and five year olds, some of whom went on to become very skilled and a few became Brandon Wheat Kings. Her next teaching role was as a Tutorial Assistant to her Logic Philosophy professor. Donna held that position for seven years, learning much from being mentored by that professor.
Donna’s next role in education was her five year stint in the Brandon School Division as an Educational Assistant when she worked with the Deaf. It was while Donna was working at Crocus Plains that she realized that teaching was her calling because she was inspired by her principal. He was a leader that made Donna feel valued and ready to take on this challenge.
Since earning her education degree from the Brandon University, Donna has been teaching in Thompson for eight years; beginning her career teaching grade eight and is now the Literacy with ICT Support teacher mentoring her colleagues and their students working to improve their technology skills.
In her personal life, Donna enjoys spending time with her friends. They curl together, vacation together, and within the last year she and her friend Liisa have completed two half marathons [the Manitoba Marathon and the Hypothermic Half Marathon]. In the summer Donna and Jeff [a grade three teacher] enjoy camping, golfing, and spending time with their families in Brandon and Falcon Lake.
ELECTION STATEMENT
I wish to serve on Provincial Executive for I believe in public school education and I believe in my colleagues who teach the children of Manitoba.
As teachers, you and I are faced with many challenges daily: multi-age, multi grade classrooms, growing numbers of special needs students, increased demands on our time. I believe we need to provide resources and supports that address these challenges so that we have strong, productive, healthy teachers in our classrooms. A productive, healthy collective strengthens our Society.
I believe in the value of communication. My goal is teachers talking to teachers, engaged in open, honest dialogue that promotes problem solving. By talking to each other we make connections, engage our members and promote understanding.
Members want a Society that is transparent. Members deserve a Society that is transparent. Executive are elected to serve the 13,000 teachers in this province. Therefore, membership has a right to know why and how decisions are made. I pledge to be accountable to the membership by creating a culture of open dialogue where all members feel valued. Transparency can only strengthen member engagement.
I believe that teachers deserve Provincial Executive members who represent their interests and are effective advocates. Provincial Executive’s primary focus must always be the needs of the members. Drawing upon my wealth of leadership experiences, I shall always provide strong leadership at the Provincial Executive table.
Together we can make a difference. I thank you for your support.
