Judy Zulu

I am a parent to three children and two are in public elementary and middle schools. As an adult immigrant, I attended continuing education classes, and then studied Practical Nursing at Camosun College. Having worked in healthcare for over seven years with people of various ages, cultures, and in communities; I have a lot of respect for everyone and their rights to make informed choices. I believe that advocating for change to make a positive difference for everyone equally is vital. I also served as a peer educator and facilitator in schools and communities on matters related to drug and substance abuse; the role of science and technology in health, the environment and sustainable development through affiliations with various organizations.

I am running because like all parents, I deeply care about providing the best possible learning environment for our children; the kind that supports them holistically. I believe that decisions made by the school board have an impact on students, families and the community. I stand to advocate for safe and respectful environments that reflect everyone’s values, choices, faith, needs and identities equally. I am a firm believer that great communication and collaboration with families, students, teachers, schools and the school board will support our children reach their full potential academically and in many other areas.

To foster change in the school environment, I believe that parental involvement, creating safe environments for children to prevent bullying, and hiring more supports for teachers are important. Music is part of a well rounded education and funding must be available for schools. I also believe that the multicultural character of Victoria should be reflected in its school board, education system and the materials available and taught in schools should mirror this. I believe everyone's culture; religion, values, needs, choices and faith should be recognized, acknowledged and respected.

Every voice in the community must be listened to because every voice matters. The truth is we are not a collection of separate communities; we are one community with very strong and diverse strengths.

Questionnaire Responses - click questions to open

1. How would you define the role of trustee? What is your personal connection to public education in SD 61? What is your motivation for wanting to be elected as an SD61 trustee?

In my understanding, a trustee has a responsibility to listen to the community; needs of the students, families, all stakeholders and rights holders and bring all their issues to the board table and advocate for changes that reflect those they serve equally. A trustee also has to be open minded to learn from others and work respectfully, honestly and collaboratively with other board members, stakeholders and partners to serve the community better. Always remembering that the goal is to support children reach their individual highest potential and make available all resources and tools required to ensure this.

I am a parent to children in public schools in the district. And as an immigrant, I had the opportunity to be part of the school district education as I attended continuing education classes before studying Practical Nursing at Camosun College. Working in various settings in healthcare has given me an opportunity to work and relate with many different people with respect, accountability and responsibility. I understand the importance of building relationships of trust and respect. In my experiences, I know firsthand how advocacy, good communication and collaboration with colleagues and all other stakeholders contribute to attaining set goals.

I deeply care about the welfare of my children and providing the best possible education and learning environment for them and their peers; a kind that supports all students to reach academically and holistically with enhanced support and needed resources. I stand to advocate for zero tolerance to any forms of bullying and discrimination; timely support for neurodiverse kids and kids with disabilities; more funding for Educational Assistants; more Counselors in schools; funding for mental health supports; recognition of parental involvement and rights; enhanced safety, inclusive and respectful environments that reflect the diverse and multicultural community we live in, so that everyone’s values, needs, identities and faith are recognized and respected equally.

Every voice in the community should be listened to because every voice matters.

2. SD61 has education agreements in place with the Four Houses. As a trustee, how will you ensure that barriers are removed so that Indigenous students have equitable access to education? How can we ensure that we are being culturally responsive to Indigenous students and their families?

As a trustee, I will seek understanding of the agreements to ensure proper access to all aspects of education for indigenous students. I will listen, learn and dialogue with the Indigenous Education Department and families to listen to their concerns and support good resolutions at the School District level and in the classroom. I also believe having representation of rights holders on the board is an important way of ensuring all discussions and planning represents everyone equally and therefore help create best ways to overcome barriers and gaps that exist so all students are well supported.

3. How would you address exclusion on the basis of disability, race, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity and other protected classes under the BC Human Rights Code in our schools and at the board table? How will you address barriers to accessibility in the school district? Do you believe that health and sexual education should be a part of students’ education in SD61? Why or why not?

As a visible minority myself, I have zero tolerance for any form of discrimination for any reason. I believe that everyone and their rights must be recognized and respected. Disability, race, culture, gender identity and others in protected classes under the BC Human Rights code at the board table should not be denied opportunities, voices, representation or face barriers to healthy and respectful dialogue and involvement. I believe being approachable, honest, open minded, respectful, having willingness to listen and learn from others are among qualities that eradicate barriers in communication and allow for healthy discussion.

Living in a city so diverse, it is important for children to learn about the different types of families that exist and the unique identities, cultures and beliefs of those around them as this also encourages inclusiveness and respect for others.

And this like others is where my opinions alone do not matter. That is why the board comes together with diverse thoughts and views must engage parents/guardians especially as they are best to determine what they want their children exposed to. Then have respectful discussions for approaches that identify best ways to support students as they learn about themselves and others in the community without losing what is important to them as well in terms of values, culture, identity and beliefs among others. This also helps reduce conflicting/confusing information for students and supports the idea to have a united voice from the student’s home and school thereby achieving the goal to have respectful, inclusive and culturally sensitive environments in the school and community at large.

4. What does community and stakeholders/rights holders engagement look like to you? What steps will you take to ensure that the community as well as stakeholders/right holders’ perspectives are considered by the board when they are tasked with making critical decisions about the budget, student programming and staffing?

We get actionable feedback when the community is involved, engaged and aware of what is going on.

Recognizing all stakeholders/right holders’ in the community, listening to the needs; knowing what has been planned and implemented to address this and hearing from them the success and failures of what has been implemented then allow for discussion to find new approaches and action for ways forward. We need criticism to balance out decisions and consider many angles. In critical or complicated issues, we would need experts; some for and others against any proposal so we get well informed input.

Having stakeholders/right holders’ representation and involvement at the board level also ensures that plans and goals created reflect everyone in the community equally.

5. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the school board? How do you plan to address these challenges?

Trust, transparency and collaboration among board members.

Budget allocation: e.g funds to ensure teachers have supports they need; cuts in EA’s, custodian jobs; lack of timely specialized supports for neurodiverse kids; specialized support to address children’s mental health; consideration of arts education as an essential; lack of diverse and multicultural representation in the board to reflect our community; not promoting parental involvements and consent enough.

I believe it is not up to me alone but in collective agreement and collaboration with all board members and stakeholders/right holders to listen without bias and discuss respectfully in a transparent manner. Not putting my own agendas but allowing for all board members issues to be discussed in a transparent and respectful manner benefiting. Then identify and work on ways to achieve the various concerns agreeable by all stakeholders’ reflecting needs of everyone in the community equally and in line with the school board goals.

6. This district has faced a deficit for the past two years that has resulted in critical staff and programming cuts.As a trustee, how do you plan on addressing looming deficits? What would you do differently than our current board? How do you think that trustees can best advocate to the province for more funding for education?

Listening to and working collaboratively with all stakeholders as with everything; to collectively prioritize what is essential and non essential while keeping in mind the goals of the school board and stakeholders is vital. Advocating for more funding with stakeholders inputs to meet these needs is crucial and all the funding sought must be appropriately channeled to the benefit of the district stakeholders’ unique needs and in line with the school board goals.

7. Over the past two years, trustees have struggled to balance the SD61 budget and funding the arts has become a contentious issue among trustees. What is your philosophy about funding arts education for students? Do you believe that this is an “extra” for students or should arts be part of the core curriculum? Should arts education be reduced in elementary and middle schools in the district? How should arts education be funded in SD61?

I believe that arts education is part of a well rounded education and helps students with collaborative skills, self confidence, social awareness, sense of identity and discipline among others. Therefore, arts education is not an extra and thus it should be integrated as a part of the core curriculum for all K-12 students. Arts education enhances the experience of studying in school, reduces idol times that give rise to distractive behaviours and also helps prepare students for life after school. With this said, any efforts to keep arts as part of the education like advocating for more funding from the govt at provincial or federal level; collaborating with organisations or partnerships to provide funding and grants for music are worth being sought after and maintained to keep this art education as part of the curriculum.

8. Over the past few years, parents and community members have observed conflict among board members, between board members and SD61 staff, and between board members and stakeholders/rights holders. What skills would you employ to bring a more collaborative tone to the school board? How would you handle differences of opinion among fellow trustees?

To promote unity, respect, honesty, collaboration, accountability, and transparency among others, we have to exhibit it ourselves first. I believe that a positive outcome does not always mean agreeing with my opinion/perspective but by being open minded; willing to listen and learn from all stakeholders without bias; respectful dialogue and collaboration and implementing what is best and agreed upon by the board and all those involved for the benefit of all children whom are our central priority. I believe that being approachable, having honest and respectful discussions to seek understanding of other’s inputs in healthy conversation and allowing for everyone to express their concerns freely to identify any gaps, barriers/misunderstandings and resolve them in a transparent and respectful manner is imperative.

Disclaimer

As an organization representing all parents in the district, we do not endorse any candidates. This website was put together by VCPAC to showcase information provided by each candidate. All questionnaire answers are posted as received, without any editing. We encourage voters to contact the candidates with any questions they may have.