Julie Austin 

I believe lifelong learning should be more than a cliché. It is about curiosity, confidence, well-being, and having the opportunity to keep learning throughout our lives. When we give children the tools and encouragement to follow their curiosity, we help them become thoughtful, independent thinkers who can make a difference in their communities. After 15 years as a trustee, I’ve learned that trustees don’t need to have all the answers or all the ideas. Our job is to listen, ask questions, connect people, and create the conditions for good ideas to grow. We can support educators, students, and families while helping create an environment where meaningful learning can happen. Strong Public Education I believe deeply in public education. Our schools belong to all of us. They are a commitment to every child, regardless of background, circumstance, or learning style. Every student deserves to feel that they belong, that they are accepted, and that there are opportunities for them to succeed. That means supporting diverse approaches to learning, providing appropriate resources, and making sure students and educators have the support they need. A strong school district also needs a clear sense of direction. A strategic plan, shaped through meaningful consultation with our learning community, should guide our priorities, budgets, policies, and decisions. It should be more than a document on a shelf. It should help us stay focused on what matters. Advocacy Matters Funding will always be a significant challenge, and I believe trustees have a responsibility to advocate for fair and adequate funding for public education. We need to ensure resources are directed where they can make the greatest difference for students and the people who support them. We also need to protect our schools as places where students can learn, question, explore different perspectives, and develop their own ideas. Independent thought and respectful dialogue matter. Our schools should be welcoming and inclusive without becoming defined by the political battles happening outside their doors. Advocacy is another important part of the trustee role. I’ve seen how a single voice can sometimes be overlooked. But when trustees, school districts, communities, municipalities, and provincial organizations speak together, we can create momentum for change. I believe we should be willing to speak up, build relationships, and keep asking for what our students and public schools need. Looking Ahead I would like to see Qualicum School District become a leader in addressing greenhouse gas emissions. We have an opportunity to set ambitious goals, make thoughtful choices, and show our students what leadership looks like in practice. I also want to create more space for the great ideas already emerging within our schools. I hear educators with innovative ideas, but too often they don’t have the time or resources to take those ideas any further. I would like to see an incubator for educational ideas, a place where educators and others can find mentorship, collaboration, grant-writing assistance, and support to develop promising projects. Good ideas shouldn’t disappear simply because there isn’t enough time to bring them forward. There is so much creativity, knowledge, and commitment within our district. I believe trustees can help bring those people together, remove barriers, and create opportunities for good ideas to flourish. After 15 years as a trustee, I remain curious, engaged, and committed to public education. I believe in listening, asking thoughtful questions, working collaboratively, and being willing to speak up when it matters. Most importantly, I believe our decisions should always come back to one question: How will this help our students?