BIOGRAPHY

Suzanne Jolicoeur has been a teacher for over 25 years. She has taught in Northern Quebec and in rural Manitoba (Southport, Seine River and the Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine). Her teaching assignments have been varied from K to grade 8 teaching (in a split or single setting), school principal and resource teacher. She has worked at the Bureau de l’Éducation Française developing the math curriculum.
Locally, she has served on the AEFM executive from 1996 until 2006 when she was elected president of EFM. She has served as secretary, chair of the Equality in Education committee and as a member of the liaison committee.
At the provincial level, Suzanne was a member of the Equality in Education, she is currently a member of the Case management committee of the Disability Benefits Plan of the MTS, and  president of the EFM in her 4th   and last term. 
She also has volunteered her summers offering professional development seminars to teachers in Haïti, Guinée (Conakry) and Burkina Faso.
Suzanne lives in Saint-Pierre-Jolys with  Luc, who is also a teacher. They enjoy camping, travelling, Tai Chi and spending time with family and friends.
Suzanne Jolicoeur est enseignante depuis plus de 25 ans. Elle a enseigné dans le nord du Québec et dans divers écoles rurales au Manitoba (Southport, Seine River et la Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine). Ses tâches en enseignement étaient variées : enseignante de la maternelle à la 8ème année incluant des classes combinées, directrice et orthopédagogue.  Elle a siégé sur le comité de mathématiques du Bureau de l’éducation en français dont la responsabilité était de  développer le programme d’étude.
Localement, elle a servi à l’exécutif de l’AEFM de 1996 jusqu’à 2006 où elle a été élue à la présidence des EFM. Elle a occupé les postes de secrétaire, présidente du comité de l’égalité en Éducation et membre du comité de Liaison.
Au niveau provincial, Suzanne a été présidente du Comité d’égalité en Éducation, elle est présentement  un membre du Comité des Études de cas du Régime d’assurance d’invalidité à long terme et elle est  la présidente des EFM. Cette année, elle termine son 4eme mandat.
Elle a aussi été bénévole durant ses étés offrant de la formation aux enseignantes et enseignants  en Haïti,  en Guinée (Conakry) et au  Burkina Faso.
Elle demeure à Saint-Pierre-Jolys avec Luc qui est aussi enseignant. Ils aiment le camping, voyager, le Tai Chi et  passer du temps avec sa  famille et  ses amis/es.

I am pleased to let my name stand for Provincial Executive because I love new challenges, am proud of being a teacher, and I have something of value to contribute to the public school teachers of Manitoba.
 Many of our students are facing linguistic, social, or cultural issues. All of these factors, presented within the context of legislation requiring that we provide appropriate education in the enabling environment for every student, are challenges.
What does this mean for the teachers? It means that there are even more varied demands on teachers. In the absence of adequate supports and clear policy from the Department, what can we do to support and assist our members?
Our strategy needs to be two- pronged. We need to continue to offer professional development. We need mentoring programs to share our expertise. We also need to increase the intensity of our political lobbying in order to address some of the underlying reasons for teachers’ expanding workload. We need to do these things in an atmosphere of transparency, accountability to the members, and principled leadership.
My approach has always been consultative and respectful. I am committed to doing my best to improve the working lives of teachers and the educational experience of the students of Manitoba.
I look forward to hearing your concerns and views. Please take the opportunity both before and at the Annual General Meeting to talk to me.
Together, we will see a bright future!  Visionnons notre avenir ensemble!