Jenn Kiziak

Bio

I'd like to introduce myself as I share my candidacy for School Trustee in Ward 4 of River East Transcona School Division. I am an early years teacher, entering my 17th year of teaching and a parent to 2 wonderful kids that are currently attending schools within the ward. I am a passionate believer in education and I believe that our children and our community deserve the best education possible. I am authentic and as real as they come. I promise that I will always work with integrity and honesty, remembering that the role is to connect our communities, families and the River East Transcona School Division. I won't be afraid to voice your concerns and participate in difficult conversations, when needed. I promise to advocate for all of the students and staff, ensuring everyone is set up for success.

I live in Ward 4 and am deeply connected and invested, as a long time resident and parent. I grew up here, attending Bird's Hill School, Robert Andrew's School and finally, River East Collegiate. My first jobs were here, working at Coffee with Charlotte, Sobey's and as a nanny for a local chiropractor who used to be in the community. I have sat on the board of a local, non-profit group, volunteered and coached within the community. I attended school meetings when some of our local schools became dual track for both English and French programming, asking questions and advocating for students. When I say this community is important to me, I truly mean it.

I wouldn't be able to take on this endeavour of running for trustee, without the incredible support of my family. My kids are my constant reminder of why I believe so deeply in education and do the work that I do. I have been so lucky to have been able to attend field trips and special events for my kids and have witnessed first hand the commitment that their teachers have to providing amazing experiences for them. I am grateful for the incredible educators my kids have had along the way, and I see this work as a huge way that I can help support them as they educate the future.

Intent

Today's schools are different. The truth is, our kids are facing an entirely different world than what we remember from our school days. The digital world has a significant impact on how our kids move through the world, including while at school. Stats Canada shows us that our young people are struggling with mental health, bullying, screen time and other factors. But Stats Canada also shows us that for many kids, that positive school environments and caring teachers help provide protection, which significantly help improve life satisfaction and help mitigate negative mental health symptoms.

Many decisions are made at a school board level that have lasting impacts on students, staff and school communities, which can have consequences that aren't anticipated because sometimes we don't know what we don't know. This is why I believe that my experience as a teacher would be beneficial as I'm familiar with the daily ins and outs of schools. For years, I've had other parents approach me with questions regarding how specific things work such as accessing resources, policies, funding and many other issues, because they are seeking my understanding that comes from being in Manitoba schools. Local residents have shared their concerns with me, ranging from safety, class size, teacher retention, behavioural challenges, technology, academic outcomes, programming, access to resources, as well as funding. I am committed to advocating for the success of all students and staff.

My experience as a teacher gives me a unique perspective when it comes to making decisions about schools and students. My hope is to bring a new "insider" perspective to the table and amplify the voices of residents, all while striving to strengthen our schools. 

My focus for our division will be to:

• ensure the safety for all students and staff, alike

• advocate for proper funding to ensure all of our learners and their diverse needs are met

• ensure equitable and accessible education, using evidence based practices

• foster inclusive environments where individuals are respected, while encouraging active and engaged learners by presenting high quality learning opportunities, including language and vocational programs

I hope to earn your vote and work hard to ensure that River East Transcona School Division education is synonymous with stellar education. Be sure to vote so that your voice can be heard and help shape the future.