Jessica Montgomery
Jessica Montgomery is running for School Board Trustee for Area 1 (Wards 1 and 2) of the Rainbow District School Board.
Jessica Montgomery (she/her/elle) holds a Bachelor of Science from Laurentian University and is an occupational health and safety specialist, labour leader, and injured workers' advocate in Greater Sudbury. With more than a decade of experience advocating for workers and their families, she has focused on workplace health and safety, fairness, equity, and inclusion. Jessica has also volunteered with youth sports and initiatives addressing period poverty. As a mother who has navigated the school system to advocate for her son's needs, she brings both professional and personal experience to her candidacy for Rainbow District School Board Trustee in Area 1 (Wards 1 and 2).
Why are you running for this position?
My name is Jessica Montgomery, and I am an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist with over a decade of experience advocating for injured workers, and their families.
Throughout my career, I have supported individuals navigating complex systems after workplace injuries, occupational disease diagnoses, and always advocating to ensure they are treated with fairness, dignity, and compassion.
Above all, however, my most important role is being a mother
Navigating the school system with my son has meant long waitlists, fighting for supports, accommodations, and wondering if I have done enough. I know how hard families have to push just to be heard.
I’m running because it shouldn’t be this hard.
Every child deserves a safe, inclusive classroom with the supports they need to succeed. I will be a strong voice for students, families, educators, and my community
What do you love most about your community?
I love living in Lively and the Greater City of Sudbury because of the strong sense of community, the people who show up for one another, and the small town feel that makes Lively so special. Sudbury, and Lively specifically, is a place where neighbours become friends, our community spirit runs deep, and people come together to make a difference. I love that we can enjoy the beauty of Northern Ontario while raising our families in a community that values connection, resilience, and looking out for one another. This is home, and I am proud to be part of a community with so much heart.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing your school board right now?
I believe one of the biggest challenges facing public education in our community is ensuring that every student has the resources, support, and opportunities they need to succeed, while navigating the growing pressures facing Ontario’s publicly funded education system. School boards are dealing with funding constraints, staffing shortages, overcrowded classrooms, safety issues, and increasing demands for special education services and mental health supports. These challenges affect not only students, but also educators, support staff, and families.
Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and included at school. We need to ensure that students with diverse learning needs receive the accommodations and supports they require, and that educators have the resources in order to provide them. As a parent, I understand that children do not all learn the same way, and that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work for every student.
I also believe school boards must be transparent, accountable, and focused on making the best possible use of the resources available to them. While many of the challenges facing education stem from decisions made at the provincial level, trustees have an important responsibility to advocate for students, families, and education workers, listen to their communities, and ensure local decisions put students first. Our children are our future, and investing in their education means investing in the future of our entire community.
If elected, what is one thing you would like to accomplish during your term?
I want to ensure that residents in Wards 1 and 2 know who their school board trustee is and feel confident reaching out when they need support. Too often, people don’t know who their trustee is or what role they play in public education. I want to change that by being visible, accessible, and present in the community.
What is one thing you would like to see your school board do differently?
I would like to see the school board take a more proactive approach to community engagement, transparency, and communication with families. Parents and caregivers should feel that their voices are heard, their concerns are taken seriously, and they are part of the conversation when decisions affect their children’s education.
What does good school board governance look like to you?
I believe that a good school board governance means putting students first, making decisions transparently, and ensuring accountability to the communities we serve. It means trustees understand their role, work collaboratively with the board, ask difficult questions when necessary, and make informed decisions based on the needs of students, families, and education workers. Good governance also requires meaningful community engagement, responsible use of public funding, and a commitment to equity and inclusion so every student has the opportunity to succeed. While trustees must work within provincial legislation and funding decisions, they also have a responsibility to advocate for the resources our schools need. Above all, good governance means listening to the people we represent, being visible, accessible and accountable, and remembering that behind every decision are real students, families, and educators whose lives are affected by it.
How do you approach working with people who disagree with you?
My approach to working with difficult people is to lead with respect, listen to understand their perspective, and focus on finding common ground. Throughout my career, I have learned that not everyone will agree, but that does not mean we cannot work together toward a shared goal. I believe in addressing disagreements directly and professionally, respectfully, and keeping communication open, and focusing on solutions rather than personalities. I am comfortable having difficult conversations, asking tough questions, and standing firm on my principles while remaining open to other people perspectives.
What does having more women in local leadership change?
Having more women in local leadership means having more voices, experiences, and perspectives represented in the decisions that shape our communities. It helps ensure that issues affecting families, children, caregivers, and equity deserving groups are part of the conversation. As a labour leader and community advocate, I have seen the importance of representation and what happens when people who have historically been underrepresented have a seat at the table. Women bring diverse experiences and leadership styles, and there is no single way to lead. What matters is creating spaces where everyone has the opportunity to contribute, be heard, and help shape decisions. When women are represented in leadership, we also show the next generation of young girls that their voices matter and that they belong in every room where decisions are made. Creating space and building new tables for women and girls is something I’m deeply passionate about.
Where can people find you?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61589196702245
Learn about the other women running in the 2026 Ontario Municipal Election.
