Steve Russell Trustee

I am currently one of two Trustees for the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board for the Peterborough area. I’m looking for your vote.

I’d like to be Trustee for a third term.

I’m going to use this space to share some of my relevant experiences both before and during my first two terms as Trustee. That’s all part of my honest attempt to convince you to vote for me as one of your Trustee choices on the ballot in Peterborough for the English Public School Board.

So here goes.

Experience in Education Sector

Retired Secondary School teacher:

• 16 years in Peel District, 14 years in KPRDSB
• TVOntario Teacher of the Year (1997), Department Head, Program Leader of Integrated Arts Program at PCVS and TAS.
• President of the Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators (CODE)
• Additional Qualifications Instructor (York University, Trent University)
• Faculty of Education Instructor (Trent University)
• Author of a book on Assessment and Evaluation
• Instructional Leadership Consultant: Arts and Literacy (KPR)
• Provincial curriculum writer and implementation resource developer and presenter
• Presenter of PAIN TO PRIDE, EQUIP and STAR, teacher workshops for OSSTF

My background is not in any business, trade or service outside of education. Education has been my whole career, and Trustee is a logical extension for all that learning. I have learned a lot and broadened my understanding of our complex education system. Knowing education, from many perspectives, is a good thing for a Trustee.

Beyond the “inside perspective” that helps me in this role, there are also relationships of trust built over years of association. These matter greatly in the interpersonal realm that is education. Knowing people and having relationships across the system speeds my work as Trustee. In my first term I have added many new relationships with parents and new Senior Administrators. I hope to build on those relationships.

Trustee Experience

• Responded promptly to parent calls and emails to help them navigate Board processes
• Elected by fellow Trustees as Chair of the Program Review Committee (3 years)
• Participant, Parent Involvement Committee and Regional School Council meetings
• Member, Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee
• Budget Committee, Alternative Learning Program Committee, Expulsion Committee, Resource Committee, Chairpersons’ Committee
• Kaawaate East City Public School Naming Committee
• Participated in hiring our new Director and all of the new Senior Administrative team
• Helped to develop the Board’s Strategic Plan and Board Action Plan

We have one of the best education systems in the world. Pick your own measures, you’ll see that it’s true. Let’s protect it. Let’s build it up the best way we can. I’m willing to continue dedicating myself to that.

What do I stand for in Education?

Learning gaps need to be identified and closed. We do that by using effective assessment tools and applying remediation strategies that are research based. That means we need to support teachers in a challenging process.

Technology has supported us through the pandemic and we need to retain the good learning that has come as a result of our need to adapt. But we must never allow technology to replace the human element in education. It’s a tool, not a teacher.

I want every student to feel welcome, to be happy and engaged in their own learning and to maximize their potential. We have a system that can teach acceptance and understanding for all backgrounds and pathways. We can meet all students where they are and serve their individual needs through Special Education programs that are good for all students and essential for those students with particular needs.

Schools help prepare students for life, not just a job! We must ensure that we support students as they follow their own pathway to work, college, university or the trades including those related to the arts. We need to maintain the variety of programming choices that keep students engaged all the way to graduation.

We need rich foundational learning in literacy, numeracy and living together in peace and stewardship of our planet. Basic life skills like personal financial management need to be covered, but within a framework of critical thinking and self-management.

We need to value the arts in education. We need all children to have both hard and soft skills they need to be prepared for work and life.

Our work toward reconciliation begins with education for all students. The past cannot be undone, but the future is ours together. This important work must continue.

I hope you’ll help me do what I love. Our education system builds the foundation for a civil society and we need the collaboration of management, federations, unions and the community at large to build a better future for us all. I believe in Public Education.

Thanks for reading – and you know what they say, “If you can read this, thank a teacher”.

Short Campaign Videos

About pathways for all students – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML5qFoI6aUA

About using technology purposefully – https://youtu.be/TfDPIM8bbEc

About closing learning gaps – https://youtube.com/shorts/K2k51ZeHa58?feature=share

About listening to parents – https://youtube.com/shorts/TdeaNEFuj-w?feature=share

About post-pandemic needs in schools – https://youtu.be/d_T_NYnQ9kA

About supporting program variety – https://youtu.be/voK-6P-vTqs

About environmental stewardship in all subject areas – https://youtu.be/m_09AGai6as

Electric School Buses

Check out this interesting article about ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES. This is something I hope KPR can get involved with in the near future. https://www.myparrysoundnow.com/67265/news/school-bus-operator-hammondbus-starting-transition-to-electric/