Harvard Media News reached out to each candidate running for office to ask a set of questions about the office for which they are running. The following is our Q&A with Fort McMurray Catholic School Trustee Candidate, Cathie Langmead. All responses are from the candidate or their agent and are unedited by Harvard Media News.
Harvard: What do you see as the key issues facing students and teachers today?
- Complex classrooms (diverse learners, behavioural issues, complex medical needs, language barriers) requiring more EA and specialized supports.
- Large class sizes resulting in less individualized instruction opportunities.
- Reduction in per student funding and increased operating costs (insurance, transportation, utilities), resulting in the inability to obtain sufficient resources (personnel, materials).
- Downloading of a variety of services on education that belong to other ministries without sufficient funding and supports being provided (eg: mental health, medical, language, etc.).
- Student dependency on social media, resulting in a variety of social and behavioural issues that need to be managed in schools and classrooms.
- New curriculum pushed through with insufficient consultation of educators, coupled with a lack of grade appropriate resources and bridging material.
- Difficulty attracting and retaining teachers and specialists in a northern community.
- Not enough qualified substitute teachers to allow for sufficient prep time and sick time.
Harvard: How familiar are you with the Alberta Education Act and the limitations placed on trustees?
Having served two terms as a trustee for Fort McMurray Catholic Schools, and as Board Chair for 6 years, I am very familiar with the Alberta Education Act, its Regulations, and the limitations placed on trustees.
Harvard: What support will you offer the Superintendent in implementing the board’s strategic direction?
I will continue to support the Superintendent’s implementation of FMCSD’s strategic direction by ensuring that the Superintendent remains accountable to the Strategic Plan. The initiatives of focussing on mental health and wellness, educational excellence, and stakeholder engagement; all interweaved through Catholic faith enrichment and the TRC Calls to Action, is supported by the Board’s role in reviewing and adopting policies, setting and adopting budgets, championing publicly funded Catholic education and fostering collaboration and understanding between our schools, parishes and community.
Harvard: Do you have children in the system, and how have their experiences influenced your perspective?
Our children graduated from Fort McMurray Catholic Schools in 2021 and 2024; attending Catholic schools here from EEP to Grade 12. From EEP at St. Martha’s to middle French Immersion at École St. Paul to Holy Trinity, Immaculate Heart of Mary and Father Mercredi for their junior and high school years, their experiences were overall very positive. There were typical education and social issues, wins and losses, as well as the need for some additional supports at times. Through our children’s experiences and my desire to support the schools through volunteering, I witnessed firsthand the issues and challenges that teachers, EAs, and administrators face every day. I have seen the love and dedication they have for their students, the hours and hours of work they put in to support each child, the mistakes made and corrected, and the collaboration needed with families to ensure a child’s success. Growing up in a family of educators, with a strong belief in the importance of publicly funded faith based education and service to the community, coupled with our family’s experiences, are what ultimately lead me to trusteeship.
Comments