Image: Supplied by B. VanGarderen / Teacher Brian VanGarderen will seek a seat on the Chilliwack school board in this fall's municipal election.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

School board

Learning support teacher Brian VanGarderen announces run for Chilliwack school board

Aug 20, 2022 | 7:43 AM

CHILLIWACK — As a learning support teacher who works with students who are deaf and hard of hearing, Brian VanGarderen has a unique vantage point working inside a school classroom.

It’s a perspective he believes will position himself as a candidate in this fall’s Chilliwack School District Board of Education race.

VanGarderen began his teaching career in 2015 working with students with exceptionalities at the School for the Deaf in Edmonton, before moving back to Chilliwack in 2017 and securing a job as a learning support teacher in Abbotsford.

“Through each of these experiences, I have had the pleasure of working with multiple groups that are all involved in a child’s education,” VanGarderen said. “I believe that every group that is involved in the education system has an important role and perspective that needs to be heard and valued in our community.”

VanGarderen’s candidacy platform will address equity in education, inclusion for all students in Chilliwack School District, and communication with all parties involved in a child’s education. According to a statement from VanGarderen, equity in practical terms means students get access to the same opportunities without regard to their economic status or neighbourhood in which they live within the public education system.

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“There must be balanced approaches to providing what is needed for each community but also being able to serve the diverse needs of our population in Chilliwack,” VanGarderen wrote. “There will always be difficult discussions and debates around such a sensitive topic as education but if we cannot be respectful and communicate clearly it can feel like a never-ending battle. The role of a trustee is to set policy for school operations, create budgets and capital plans, and be involved with our leadership that meets the needs and aspirations of the community. If we cannot work through difficult decisions with all parties then are we providing the best education for our children?

As it pertains to inclusion, VanGarderen believes trustees need to be able to listen to different stakeholders with a vested interest in the student’s life and be able to set policies that support teachers, support staff, and parents with a confident assurance in each child’s education.

“Inclusion is a topic that can be difficult to achieve due to the diverse and complex needs of children in our community,” Van Garderen wrote in his press release. “The budget is given to each district by the government but if we have a board that is united and clear with our struggles and successes we can be a voice that helps create a stronger education system. Along with inclusion, I would like to be able to give teachers and support staff opportunities to strengthen their abilities to feel more confident in meeting the needs of their classrooms/schools. There are many incredible staff that work all across Chilliwack and we need to make sure that they do not burn out or leave because they do not feel supported, and that comes from the budgets and policies that are set by the trustees.”

VanGarderen says he can’t help but notice a deterioration in the public discourse surrounding the Chilliwack school board.

“For the past few years, I have been watching and listening to different meetings, social media posts, and newspaper articles about disagreements, degrading messages, and personal beliefs being attacked,” he said. “If we cannot become civil and able to have an open discussion around these tough decisions then the board cannot be trusted to lead school policies and directions. There should not be egos brought to these meetings that impact decisions towards student learning.”

He remains a solid believer in equitable, inclusive public education.

“Public education should be accessible to all students no matter what their background is and they should be able to access an inclusive education that is set by the provincial government and embodied by our board,” VanGarderen wrote. “I know many will have disagreements with things that I believe or value and that is good! I am always willing to learn and have these discussions to help strengthen our community.”

The fall municipal election will be held on Saturday, October 15. Advance voting happens Wednesday, October 5 and 12.