Nancy Johnston for School Trustee District 43 Port Moody - 2022 Municipal Elections

Judith Castillo (TCCTV) interviews Nancy Johnston, first-time Candidate for Port Moody School Trustee (School District 43). Nancy relates how, when broke and in her mid-twenties she worked night-shift at Flavelle Cedar Mill in Port Moody. She enjoyed watching the sun come up and this is when she fell in love with Port Moody. This is also where Nancy learned to speak up for herself and others, which is what she would be doing as a School Trustee. Nancy left her job at the mill and enrolled in Occupational Health and Safety at BCIT. She remained interested in advocating for people in the mill. Her BCIT training led her to work for two separate School Districts for 30 years as a Health and Safety Manager. She learned how School Districts work from the inside. Policies, procedures, the Schools Act, the Labour Code, and collective agreements all are part of a properly functioning School Board. Nancy feels these experiences make her a good fit for the role. Nancy also has experience as a Mom, as her son went through the school system. Nancy acknowledges that she is speaking from the unceded territories of Kwikwetlem First Nation. Her biggest concerns is that a broad range of educational opportunities remain available. She is concerned that funds for less traditional programs evaporate when budgets get tight (e.g. music, arts, drama, visual arts, sports, tech ed etc.). Academics are important, but children need as many opportunities as possible to thrive. Research supports flexibility in scheduling (e.g., adolescents learn math better at certain times based on mental and physical development). Nancy would encourage looking at different scheduling models. She will support the children and would be available to attend events and meetings and to hear concerns. She will make sure issues are heard. Nancy firmly supports the SOGI 123 curriculum to ensure that children across grades are comfortable with this subject as delivered and mandated by the Provincial Government. She has received a lot of correspondence with respect to Sanctuary School Policy which ensures that all students, regardless of immigration status have a right to an education. Nancy believes Coquitlam is doing a good job, but that a policy would ensure that all children have access to education