Carmen Seguin
Carmen Seguin is running for School Board Trustee in Zone 5 for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.
Carmen Seguin (she/her) is running for Sudbury Catholic District School Board Trustee in Zone 5 (Wards 9/10, Killarney and French River). A Laurentian University psychology graduate, she spent 32 years in developmental disability services, partnering with school boards and securing provincial funding to help youth move from school into community life. She also ran a seasonal business that created summer jobs for local youth for five years. Since retiring, she has served as president of a local housing nonprofit, leading a five-year strategic plan with residents and stakeholders and sitting on the committee negotiating a ten-year service agreement with the City of Greater Sudbury.
Why are you running for this position?
I became concerned about budget shortfalls that are costing our schools good teachers and cutting classroom support for kids. After a career working alongside school boards and families, I believed my experience could help, so I decided to step up.
What do you love most about your community?
The people across Zone 5 show up for one another, whether that's families rallying around a school, volunteers keeping local organizations running, or someone offering a hand when a family needs support. Being part of that kind of community, and seeing how much it gives back, is a big part of why I want to serve it.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing public education in your community right now?
The biggest challenge facing Catholic education in our community right now is funding that hasn't kept up with what students and families need. Local schools are losing good teachers and classroom supports, and some families, particularly those with children who have special needs, are seeing their kids bussed from home because their local school can't staff the help they require. Schools are being asked to do more with less, and it's the students who feel it first.
I believe our board needs to make these gaps visible, ask for clear numbers on what's missing, and advocate firmly to the province instead of quietly absorbing the shortfall.
If elected, what is one thing you would like to accomplish during your term?
If elected, I'd like families in Zone 5 see where classroom support is falling short, and assist in the work to close those gaps. In practice, that means asking the board for clear, public numbers on educational assistant and special education staffing, and pressing the province for the funding to match. My goal is for students who need support to be able to get it at their local school, rather than being sent far from home to find it.
What does good school board governance look like to you?
Good school board governance starts with clear roles. Trustees set direction, approve the budget and policies, and hold the board accountable, while the Director of Education and staff run day-to-day operations. When trustees stay in that lane, decisions are more consistent and more focused on students.
It also means transparency and listening. Families and staff should be able to see how decisions are made and what they mean for classrooms, and trustees should explain their votes. Good governance also means collaborating respectfully with teachers, support staff, parents and administrators, and asking tough questions when something isn't working.
If you received a $1 million grant to invest in your local schools any way you wanted, what would you do with it?
I'd put it directly into classroom support for students with special needs, starting with the schools where families tell us local supports aren't available. That could fund additional educational assistant time. This funding could also be used as a small pilot showing the positive impacts of students staying in their home communities when the help is there.
How do you approach working with people who disagree with you?
I start by listening. I try to understand where the disagreement is coming from. I ask questions, look for common ground, and stay respectful even when we end up seeing a decision differently.
In my career I have had to bring different groups together. What I've learned is that you can disagree on a decision and still keep a good working relationship, as long as people feel heard and know the reasoning behind it. When a decision is made, I explain my position openly, and I stay willing to revisit it if new information comes forward.
What does having more women in local leadership change?
Many of the issues that matter most to families, like childcare, classroom support, safe schools and care for children with special needs, are ones women have often carried personally and professionally. More women in local leadership changes who is in the room when decisions get made, and that changes which questions get asked. When more of us are at the table, those issues are less likely to be treated as afterthoughts.
What do you think students need most from their school board right now?
Students need a board that makes sure they are supported and safe. That means enough teachers and educational assistants, help for students with special needs close to home, and schools where they feel safe, included and able to learn. They also need advocates at the board table who keep their needs at the center of budget and policy decisions, especially when money is tight.
What is something about you that you would like voters to know that they might not learn from your campaign platform?
Something voters might not learn from my platform is that I'm a small-business person at heart. I once built a seasonal business from scratch that gave local youth their first summer jobs, and these days I enjoy baking and making homemade jelly for neighbours. I care about young people learning what work and responsibility feel like.
I'm also someone who shows up for the unglamorous work. As a volunteer, I've spent years sitting through meetings that keep a community organization running well. I think that patience, and self directed learning is what good governance really takes.
Where can people find you?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Zone-5-Trustee/61594131374776
