Retired teacher, UBC graduate to run for Chilliwack school board this fall

“It would be an honour to serve our students, parents, guardians and community to promote policies and healthy educational goals so all students can learn and succeed to the best of their capacity,” Jones said in a press release.

Jones graduated from University of British Columbia with a major in Special Education and a minor in German; she has two baccalaureates from Simon Fraser University, one in Special Education specializing in Inclusive Learning Environments and the second in Teaching and Learning in a Technology Environment (T-LITE).

For 17 years, Jones was a union staff representative for the Chilliwack Teachers Association. She spent over two years as a member of the Chilliwack Teachers Association executive as a health and safety representative and an AGM delegate to the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation conventions.

As a retired teacher, Jones says, “I support the hard-working teachers in Chilliwack through ongoing professional development to learn the best instructional strategies to provide an excellent education for all students, including special needs and gifted students.”

Jones plans to support and promote policies that emphasize evidence-based learning in reading, writing, spelling and math skills, particularly in the early years which are the foundation for a successful education for students.

“For example, brain research and imaging shows that cursive writing prepares the child’s brain for reading and enhances their writing fluency and composition,” Jones said. “There are many other benefits as well.”

Jones says she supports educational transparency and communication in an environment free of excessive partisan, polarizing controversy.

“Our children’s learning environment must be calm and without controversy,” Jones wrote. “This allows our students to focus their minds on learning and expands their capacity to learn skills necessary to successfully reach their academic goals. School should be about teaching and preparing our children well academically, socially and emotionally for their future. Parents must be made aware of and included in all school decisions regarding their child’s person and education. Parents need to be kept informed of all clubs, classroom work, interviews conducted and/or counselling their child is participating in and receiving. There should be no secretive decisions made by the student or teacher/counsellors. Students are still minors in their parents’ care.”

Jones ran for Chilliwack school board in 2018 and came in eighth out of 17 candidates. Jared Mumford, who is not running again for Chilliwack school board, edged out Jones for the seventh and final school board seat by approximately 33 votes, 7,044 to 7,011.

by Mike Vanden Bosch

Retired teacher, UBC graduate to run for Chilliwack school board this fall

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