Incumbent Betty Bekkering is seeking re-election as a trustee on School District No. 57’s Board of Education.
Bekkering served as an elected representative from 2011-14 and was re-elected as a trustee again in 2018.
“I am just completing my seventh year on the SD57 school board. The last two have been very challenging,” said Bekkering. “But we are moving forward with some very progressive strategies and I would like to see these plans come to fruition!”
Now retired, Bekkering was the co-operative education coordinator at CNC for 15 years and says she is a strong advocate for work experiences along with academics.
“I was at CNC when the dual credit CTC program was initiated. Hands-on training along with academics works!”
Bekkering says she thinks one of the main issues facing SD57 is the retention and recruitment of qualified teachers.
“I really like our relationship with the UNBC Education Program to encourage graduates of the program to stay in Prince George. I would like to work with the new city council and mayor to enhance their promotion of our city to possible recruits.”
Bekkering noted that she believes in putting students first approach.
“I am the best person for the position of Trustee because I have experience, passion for education being the solution to so many of the worlds’ problems and I believe in putting students first in all decisions!”
As a parent, Bekkering was a member of a school district committee in the 1980s that sparked the transition to parent advisory councils (PACs) from the old parent-teacher associations (PTAs).
She was also the district-parent representative for Vancouver Centre, home to 24 schools, and sat on a race relations policy committee for the Vancouver school board.
Bekkering also co-founded the active local air-quality advocacy organization People's Action Committee for Healthy Air (PACHA).
On Oct. 15 voters will have to elect five trustees to represent Prince George on the board of education.
