Responsive

Jenny knows classrooms.

Issue: Safe & Caring Spaces

• In the 2023-2024 AEA Survey (CBE, 2024), "the percentage of teachers, parents and students who agree that their learning environments are welcoming, caring, respectful and safe" had declined significantly (p. 117).

• This past spring, only 60% of Alberta teachers reported that they work in a safe environment (CTF/FCE, 2025 Spring).

• Parents are concerned about increased physical and online aggression in schools, along with traffic and parking safety around their schools (City of Calgary, 2024 August 28; King, 2024 June 11).

Stance: Let's be logical.

We intuitively know, and research supports, that classrooms and schools should be safe and welcoming spaces. As such, being responsive means looking at current classroom conditions and seeking solutions to problems which cannot be denied.

Action: When elected,

Jenny will collaborate with educational partners, alongside fellow trustees, to ensure children are safe at school 

Our students deserve better.

Education

Jenny knows instruction.

Issue: Curriculum & Assessment

• In the 2023-2024 AEA Survey (CBE, 2024), "the percentage of teachers, parents and students who agree that students are engaged in their learning at school" had declined significantly among parents and students (p. 117).

• Alberta teachers questioned the age appropriateness of the new curriculum, and pointed out the systemic failure to provide the necessary resources, training and planning for a successful rollout. Workload pressures and systemic challenges have left teachers feeling overwhelmed and unsupported (ATA, 2025).

• This past winter, three in four teachers were concerned that literacy and numeracy screeners mandated by the government were developmentally inappropriate, harming elementary students, and of low value for student learning (ATA, 2025).

Stance: Let's be meaningful.

Every student must be socially, behaviourally, and cognitively engaged in their own authentic learning experiences. These are derived from modern, well-resourced curricula that make students eager to work with, and critically consider, concepts that reflect their world.  Added to that, students need time to dig into that material before they dive into any assessment, versus serving a provincial data or reporting mandate.

Action: When elected,

Jenny will advocate, alongside fellow trustees, to ensure schools have the resources that support students, giving them the opportunity to achieve their potential.

Our district needs to do better.

All

Jenny knows learning.

Issue: Student Complexity

• In the 2023-2024 AEA Survey (CBE, 2024), "the percentage of teacher, parent and student agreement that programs for children at risk are easy to access and timely" was a  red box of concern for all (p. 117).  

• Earlier this year, 90% of Alberta teachers reported that the diversity of student needs has increased, and yet supports had decreased (ATA, 2025).

• That said, a myriad of system level approaches, specialized programming, and professional supports and training have shown some promise in addressing absenteeism, learning, classroom, behaviour, and communication complexities (CBE, 2024).

Stance: Let's be accessible.

Every child, regardless of abilities, deserves a safe, inclusive, and quality education that is publicly funded, with ample teachers and support staff who are caring and qualified to identify their learning needs. As such, school board trustees are accountable for how they make public education accessible for all students  We can no longer afford nor be expected to do more with less.

Action: When elected,

Jenny will lobby the government, alongside fellow trustees, for more funding for teachers and educational staff. 

Our trustees need to do better.

Learners

Jenny knows schools.

Issue: Class Size

• CBE continues to experience growth in student enrollment and ad-hoc learning spaces due to classroom overflow (Ferguson, 2023 September 15; Ferguson, 2024 July 8). Likewise around the province, "Teachers are feeling the strain...and students are paying the price" (Gill, 2024 February 20, para. 1). This remains a concern because it was just over five years ago that the provincial government stopped funding to reduce class sizes, claiming it wasn't making a difference (Bennett, 2019 October 18). 

• This past winter, 69% of Alberta teachers reported class size increases last year. In fact, many are saying that "40 is the new 30" (ATA, 2025). CBE's information on average class size is still not readily available (Ferguson, 2023 May 13).

• Parents are concerned about how both school overcrowding and the lack of schools in their neighborhoods negatively impact their children (CBE, 2025 March 28; Coulter, 2024 October 30). 

Stance: Let's be accountable.

Learners should be able to attend school in their communities, where classes aren't in staff rooms or learning commons or on stages, and where they know they'll get one-on-one time with their teachers every day. Likewise, kids shouldn't have to be bussed out of their communities because their schools are overcrowded. Reducing class sizes isn't just about hiring more teachers. 

Action: When elected,

Jenny will plan, alongside fellow trustees, to find and implement solutions to the perpetual lack of space  until more schools are finally built.

Our government needs to do better.