On October 20 Elect
Susan Johnson
as Trustee For
Edmonton Catholic Schools
In Ward 76
Committed to Families
Fiscally Responsible
Firmly grounded in Faith
My name is Susan Johnson.
I am passionate about creating a school environment that serves our students, honours the voices of parents, and supports the work of our teachers and dedicated school staff members. I attended Catholic schools from kindergarten through Grade 12. I'm a faith-filled Catholic attending St. Thomas More Parish in Ward 76 and have served many years in the Archdiocese of Edmonton as a music ministry member. These experiences have reinforced my commitment to supporting and strengthening our Catholic school community.
My family knows education well - Two of my children are teachers and my husband has been a teacher, an award-winning principal in multiple schools, a district-level leader, and a leader provincially in education.
As your trustee, I will work for you to ensure that our schools work from a foundation of open communication with parents, have a strong focus on academics, and do so in an environment that is grounded in the timeless values of our Faith.
I want to contribute to building a strong faith-filled future for our children therefore these are not just my priorities; they are my promises. I commit them to you, to our schools, and to our children.
Student Success is the foundation and the goal…
Our kids deserve a foundation that will fully equip them with the creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking skills that position them for leadership in a rapidly-changing world. They deserve the opportunity to live and grow in a school where the environment of the school supports the culture you are building at home - where students grow in genuine affection for what is good, true, and beautiful in a faith-filled environment. With seven children who have attended our district's Catholic schools I support an approach to education firmly prioritizing strong academics, a disciplined environment, and a well-rounded education. School and district policies should highlight assignments that are meaningfully connected to the curriculum, and clearly delineated standards for behaviour that contribute to a productive, focused and loving learning environment. As your trustee I will work to ensure that students have the greatest opportunity to develop solid skills in reading, writing and mathematics while practices that don't serve that goal are avoided.
Clarity and Transparency…
Parents: Parents are crucial partners in the learning of their children and should be very aware of what their children are learning. Our schools should be environments where that clarity is cultivated in an ongoing way and a relationship of trust is the norm ensuring parents clearly understand classroom content and its consistent connection to the approved Alberta curriculum for Catholic schools. Our classrooms should be places where knowledge and growth flourish and not be echo chambers for the cultural winds of the day. Parents must be confident that educational priorities in the Catholic school closely align with their values. This is what we expect when we entrust our kids to the school system. I truly believe that working together we can build a school environment where all parents feel that their voice matters in their child’s education.
Teachers: Our teachers are also crucial partners in the learning of our children. Teachers should have the autonomy to build a classroom family that works and to do what they do best - teach. I want to work with our parents to protect our classrooms from ideological pressure and provide our teachers with the support they need to teach our children in an environment that cultivates the growth of virtue, a love for and understanding of knowledge, while developing the skills, and critical thought to go out and make a difference in the world. Our schools should be genuine communities of learners with our teachers building classrooms solidly focused on learning, free from agendas outside of the curriculum, and committed to best practices that work.
Trustees: My commitment is to help create a school environment where parental input is encouraged and amplified. To do this, I will encourage and provide opportunities for regular communication and multiple open forums for feedback with the parents of Ward 76. Parents should know that they are true partners in their school communities. Decision making by the Edmonton Catholic School Board should be transparent and in-camera discussions should be the exception, not routine. Together with you, we can create a school environment where parents feel that they have a voice in their child's school life and that their child's future involves a potential beyond which we might even ask for or imagine.
A Truly Catholic Experience
Parents should not have to feel that they must try to undo what our kids pick up at school, but that their Edmonton Catholic School is helping them to reinforce their values and helping them to understand the importance of knowing how to think rather than just regurgitating facts. A singular focus on faith and reason must be evident from the first days that children enroll in an Edmonton Catholic School. Publicly funded Catholic education is a treasure worth defending, but that treasure must also be built intentionally and at every level. Faith makes it Catholic and Faith gives it purpose and meaning. I believe that my role as trustee is to work with you, the parents of our students to preserve the treasure of Catholic education in the publicly funded system. Passing secular ideologies will come and go - we stand on a foundation that has been built over centuries: the teachings of our Faith. The pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty in an environment where sacrifice, charity, and love are at the heart of the learning experience are at the heart of our Catholic schools. As your trustee, I will work tirelessly to focus on preserving these values in our schools, affording our students with these timeless values that do not bend to the passing values of the day.
Faith in Our Future
Faith in Our Future
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Faith in Our Future Faith in Our Future *
You have the opportunity to elect a faithful Catholic this fall - a seasoned parent of 7 children who all have attended Edmonton Catholic Schools.
You have that person in
Susan Johnson
I’d be honoured to have you vote for me this fall so that I can represent you on the Edmonton Catholic School Board for the next four years.
Connect with
Susan Johnson
For Edmonton Catholic Trustee
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