Marie Murphy-Foran is running for School Board Trustee for the Algoma District School Board in Elliot Lake.
Marie (she/her) was first elected and began her journey as a trustee in 2018. Her background and experience in community leadership and engagement lend themselves to an understanding of the importance of advocacy and governance. The past four years have provided her with a better understanding of the framework in education at the local, district and provincial levels.
Why are you running for this position?
My passion for education results from seeing the complexities and challenges of the education system as a mother, spouse, coach, professor, and trustee. My two children graduated from Elliot Lake Secondary School, and through their high school career and beyond, I was an active member of the athletic community, having coached basketball for ten years. I continued to expand my love of Elliot Lake Secondary School by teaching the Duel Credit Tourism and Hospitality as a professor at Sault College.
I firmly believe that our future is dependent on all students gaining the necessary skills, knowledge, attitudes and values to succeed in a global market. Algoma District School Board has a student success framework based on student-centred learning, achievement, engagement and wellness. A philosophy we keep in the forefront is, “Education is not just about delivering diplomas. It’s about delivering better lives…better futures”.
What innovative projects would enhance life in your municipality?
The community of Elliot Lake would benefit from a broader understanding of inter-generational programs. There is a remarkable resource of retirees that have moved to our community with expertise, skills and abilities that could complement school programs.
Over time, we have unfortunately segregated retirees from other populations in the community. The opportunity would see a garden program at each school, partnering with the horticultural society or community seniors.
If you received a $1 million grant to use for your municipality any way you wanted, what would you do with it?
If I received a million dollars, I would use it to kick start a Community Foundation whose purpose would be to work with schools, not for profits to identify and fund community-based programs. This foundation would be based on shared costs and sweat equity of participants.
What do you think are the greatest challenges your municipality faces?
Forward-thinking.
Other than the official ways of communicating (minutes, municipal notes), how else will you reach out to your constituents to involve them in the decision making process?
I attend functions such as graduations and coop luncheons with students and businesses. I attend school meetings and scholarship banquets and represent the board on the Parent Involvement committee.
The past two years have allowed Educators opportunities to build relationships with parents and families, and Boards have been reminded of the vital role of parents, families and community in our schools.
The Parent Involvement Committee and school councils can and should provide an opportunity for engaging parents, families and the community at the board and school levels. My energies will be focused on working with the parents, families, schools and board representatives to ensure we have a framework for conversation, learning and support that allows all of us to make decisions regarding equity, inclusion and student-centred education. The Parent Involvement Committee is the conduit for parents, families and the community to support the board initiatives and become knowledgeable about programs, policies and directions or challenges facing the board. Algoma District School Board can now host virtual meetings, bringing outlying areas for seminars, symposiums or presentations into a virtual meeting space.
As to school councils, the more we share what is happening board-wide will open the lens to our program opportunities in the outlying districts. When we talk about programming in technology, robotics, coding, outdoor education and other special programs such as high skills majors in healthcare, tourism/hospitality, construction trades etc, it would be beneficial to make the community aware. Our board offers numerous co-op options to meet some of their workforce needs. The school council is a conduit for establishing a sense of belonging for all students and parents. It can also be the conduit for tough discussions about equity, inclusion, diversity, achievement and well-being.
What is your favourite thing to do in your municipality?
The outdoors for summer fishing and ice-fishing.
Why do you think it’s important for women to be represented in civic leadership, including on committees, boards and municipal councils?
Until we no longer have policies that discriminate against women or any diverse group, we need to have women and diverse groups as fair representatives in a community,
What does a ‘feminist city’ mean to you?
A feminist city means a community that recognizes principles of equality but takes it one step further to equity. My favourite saying is, “Yes, we give everybody a pair of shoes, fair and equal, but equity ensures the shoes fit.”
In a community, we have so many diverse needs. One size does not fit all.
Please identify the most critical policy, project, or initiative in your platform that addresses systemic barriers faced by women in your municipality, and describe why:
My goal is to enhance involvement in the Parent Involvement committee and the School Councils as a conduit for local citizens to participate in a positive role, learn in a leadership role, run meetings and share information etc., all leading to a positive impact for students in the schools.
The school councils should welcome any diverse group as an avenue for participation, learning and giving feedback.
The school council could give a great experience for someone wanting to be a trustee in the future.
Where can people find you?
Facebook
Email
http://ontarioschootrustees.org
