big issues:trustees, the board, and the province
Toronto has four publicly funded school boards, split by language (English or French) and faith (public or Catholic). The English-language boards are the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB). The French-language boards are Conseil scolaire Viamonde and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir.
Before you read: a note on provincial supervision. The TDSB and TCDSB have been under provincial supervision since June 27, 2025. Viamonde and MonAvenir are not. While supervision is in place, provincially appointed supervisors exercise powers that would normally belong to elected trustees. Unless otherwise noted, this primer describes a trustee's ordinary powers, outside supervision. To read more: Ontario government.
Toronto's publicly funded schools are governed by elected school boards. While many decisions about education are made by the Province, school boards play an important role in local governance and oversight.
Here are four things to know: what a school board is, what trustees can and cannot do, how Toronto's four boards work, and why two of them are under provincial supervision.
Candidate answers
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Jennifer Di Francesco
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?My first priority would be ensuring every student receives the support they need to succeed and feel valued at school. As a mother of two children with diverse learning needs, I understand how difficult it can be for families to navigate the system and have their concerns heard. With over 10 years of TCDSB involvement through Parent Council, CPIC and SEAC, I know how to listen, ask tough questions and turn parent and student concerns into meaningful action and accountability.
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Stephanie Loor Ruiz
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?I would focus on student well‑being by ensuring schools have strong mental health resources, protecting and expanding specialized programs, and advocating for academic success that recognizes every child learns differently. My years in government, our community groups, and volunteering with students give me the experience to help me make this happen.
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Paul Salvatori
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?The most important thing I’d act on as School Board Trustee is ensuring every student has a safe and engaging educational environment where they can honour their potential and build meaningful social bonds — the foundation of a compassionate community. As an educator, I have experience creating environments where students, along with their families, feel heard, valued and supported.
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Anton Perera
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?The most important thing as a school board trustee would be to uphold and safeguard the values and teachings of Lord Jesus Christ and ensure religious dimension remain central to school life, curriculum and board policies. My parents and the teachers at the private Catholic school I attended have given me a strong foundation in the Catholic faith. Accountabilty and trustworthiness are of paramount importance to me as a trustee which I will uphold. My strengths in leadership, public speaking and negotiating will be an asset as a trustee.
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Markus de Domenico
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?The most important role for a Trustee is to be that person that picks up the phone or answers emails to assist parents with their concerns, move policies that enhance learning and to ensure the Board is being managed by our staff. I have been elected Vice Chair and Chair of the Board of Trustees along with Chair of Student Achievement, sat on the Labour Relations, the Audit and the Ukrainian Canadian Advisory Committees
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Sara Concordia
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?My first priority would be strengthening classroom learning, especially reading, math and science. In my opinion, books need to return to the classroom. Technology is useful, but it should support, not replace, handwriting, discussion and direct teaching. As a parent and construction management professional, I understand planning, budgeting, accountability and follow-through. I would bring that practical, common-sense approach to the board and focus on what truly helps students succeed.
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Susel Munoz Plasencia
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?My priority would be making sure that students’ needs—not politics, bureaucracy, or convenience—drive decisions at the school board. As a parent of four children and a longtime community advocate, I understand firsthand how school board decisions affect families, particularly families who are navigating special education and complex supports. I bring lived experience, community advocacy, and a willingness to ask difficult questions and hold decision-makers accountable.
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Frank D'Amico
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?My main central priority remains to give each student the best possible classroom experience given the resources we have. A safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment, where students make friends and memories that last a lifetime, My best quality is listening, I now have experience, I am able to build relationships with parents, educators, administrators, and community partners to help accomplish these goals.
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David Le
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?As a school board trustee, I will focus on policies that ensure reasonable classroom sizes because this issue cascades into other issues. Increasing class sizes has not led to hiring more support staff, yet funds are being cut and educators are being let go. Teachers are told to do more with less, leaving our children to carry the burden. As a policy analyst, I will help develop policies that ensure our children receive the top-tier education they deserve and advocate for adequate funding for our education system.
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Karen Emerson
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?TDSB schools are in a crisis from decades of underfunding. As a long time advocate for Public Education I believe that students require a safe, inclusive public education, regardless of postal code, identity, ability, family income. As a Trustee I will fight for: fully funded education; funding to address the school infrastructure crisis; safe and Inclusive schools; to strengthen special education; smaller class sizes; the restoration of the democratically elected Trustee powers.
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Md Sazibul Islam
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?My most important priority would be creating safe, healthy and inclusive schools where every student can succeed. I would advocate for improved student nutrition, mental-health services, bullying prevention, classroom support and indoor air quality. My community leadership, professional experience in accounting and financial analysis, and ability to listen and work with diverse communities would help me examine budgets carefully, build cooperation and advocate effectively to the Board and provincial government.
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Glenn Kremp
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?Building and supporting parent and student councils. As co-chair of a parent council I know how important we are to the school and the students. A strong school community helps the students get what they need for a strong education. The voices of parents, teachers and students help shape a better, positive environment. I would host more town halls to give everyone the chance to express their communities educational needs and take the information back to the board.
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Ravicha Ravinthiran
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?I believe that investing in the public education system is the foundation of a strong community. Growing up in TDSB schools shaped who I am, and I want every student to have the support and opportunities they need to succeed. My priority would be making sure decisions at the TDSB reflect what students, families and educators are actually experiencing. My background in finance and technology, along with years of working with youth in Scarborough, has taught me to listen, navigate complex systems and turn ideas into practical action.
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Curtis Jack
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?Protecting frontline classroom resources and special education by reducing administrative overhead and pushing Queen's Park to modernize outdated funding models. Backed by extensive experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets, I will audit TDSB expenditures to keep funding directed toward teachers and educational assistants. Combed with a proven record of aligning complex stakeholder teams, I bring the governance skills needed to work with fellow trustees. As a local parent, my focus is practical student outcomes, not bureaucracy.
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Abdul Azeem Mohammed
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?My most important priority would be making sure every student is heard, supported and given a fair chance to succeed. As a PIAC representative and school-council member, I’ve sat with parents who brought forward genuine concerns, only to leave meetings wondering, “Who will actually act on this?” I’ve felt that frustration myself. It taught me that listening is only the first step, accountability and follow-through matter. As Trustee, I will turn parents’ voices into measurable action and keep families informed every step of the way.
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Aria Garcia
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?The most important thing I'd act on as a Public School Board Trustee is to check the status of each schools in TDSB such as: a) ownership title of each building b) construction cost of each building c) check the business registration with CRA &income taxes returns filed d) trustee office. I have more than 20 years working experience in banking, telecom & retail. My strengths consists of completion of Law degrees in Paralegal and Law Clerk and diploma in Computerized Accounting & Office Administration and Taxation degree as Tax Accountant.
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Ketan Purohit
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?Make education a pathway to future opportunity and employment - ensuring every child gain the knowledge, practical skills, character, and confidence needed for successful employment in a new challenging world. With 30+ years of IT consulting, engineering degree, community involvement, and work with youth, I posses the expertise and skill to listen, solve problems, manage resources responsibly, and work in a Team. I would use these strengths and methods to turn concerns into concrete improvements for students, parents, schools and community.
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Vimuththan Nantheeswarar
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?Drawing on my experience in equity-focused governance, systems thinking, and community engagement, I will serve to strengthen school-based micro-community hubs where students, families, educators, and community partners can lead, connect, and thrive together. A key priority is addressing the two-month summer gap, when many students lose access to vital supports and families struggle to find affordable childcare. Schools should remain connected to their communities year-round through programming, partnerships and youth stewardship opportunities.
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Timothy Ellis
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?While I have a comprehensive policy platform, the most important action I'll take as Trustee is being present and accessible in the community - answering questions, addressing concerns, and organizing for positive change. With years of experience in board governance, a passion for community service, and a proven record of bringing people together to get big things done, I don't need to learn on the job; I'm ready to get to work for Etobicoke families on day one. We deserve a voice - as Trustee, I'll ensure we have one that can't be ignored.
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Ivan Voitsytskyi
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?The most important thing is to be available to parents in Etobicoke and help them get answers from the board. I live in this community, so I understand local school concerns. I am not a politician. My strength is that I will listen, speak plainly, and follow up. A trustee should make the system easier for families, not more confusing.
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Andrew Massey
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?The province has used Bill 33 & Bill 101 to sideline trustees, but it's still a public office! I will use the office to hold decision-makers accountable and call for real change. At the board level, this means advocating for equity and calling out bad policy. In the community, this means rallying and organizing opposition! I'm a technical writer. I translate complex details into clear, plain-language documentation. I want to do this for Ward 5 families via weekly web updates, regular office hours, monthly townhalls, and quarterly reports.
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Andrene Gregory
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?Accountability for students' achievement and well-being. Accountability, not as punishment but as a duty to care. Knowing whether the system is working, where it is failing and why, bec every student deserves a fair, quality education. I was trained to listen, ask difficult questions, identify gaps and bring people to a resolution. I don't just see problems and complain about them. I listen, research, investigate, communicate, and challenge the status quo—that is what raising the standard is about—finding improvements & making recommendations.
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Elina Feyginberg
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?My priority would be the safety and well being of each student where each student can have access to a learning environment that is free from discrimination, bullying and harassment. I bring over 12 years of experience as a public safety officer, as well as over 12 years experience in government policy.
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Adam Golding
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?I'm here to keep the balance between public and private models, as a lefty who teaches in both models, amid an attempted corporate takeover of schools by Doug Ford, who's fired half of trustees, more than halved their pay, and installed literal CEOs to overrule the people's elected representatives. This must be stopped and I have signed Trustee Rizzo's pledge to work with The Catholic Board to resist these two parallel takeovers of public education. Work with small businesses and KEEP PUBLIC SCHOOLS PUBLIC -- the people must be in charge.
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Tasha Kheiriddin
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?My priority is to refocus the TDSB on its core mission: excellent education in safe, supportive schools. As a parent, journalist, policy analyst and School Council Chair, I have a deep knowledge of the issues, can ask tough questions, and build support for change. Years of education advocacy have also taught me the importance of listening to the community. Finally, I want the Board and the province to reform spending policies to allow schools to buy supplies at the lowest price, from any vendor, and redirect savings to the classroom.
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Axel Arvizu
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?My top priority would be improving student achievement while ensuring schools are safe, supportive and accountable. As a parent and business owner, I bring practical experience in problem-solving, managing resources and listening to different perspectives. I would use those strengths to focus on measurable outcomes, responsible spending and making sure decisions at the Board translate into meaningful improvements for students, families and educators.
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Gladstone Cherrington
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?I’ll revisit legislations set out by the Province of Ontario to hold the Ford Government accountable for funding. Being a Queens Park Policy Specialists I had the opportunity to work along side former MPP Gerard Kennedy, the Critic and Minister of Education. In a Legislative Policy Specialist capacity, I attended the Ministry of Education Estimate proceedings which gave me the inside framework of the Public School Spending strategies. This gave me the insight on how much, and where funds are being allotted for education by the Province.
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Shaffni Nalir
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?I was in the TDSB from JK to Grade 12. I know the system as someone who actually went through it. My priority is making sure students and families have a voice, especially while the TDSB is under provincial supervision. I would: Be available and present in Ward 7. Listen to students, parents and staff. Question decisions that don't make sense. Push for transparency. Speak up for our schools. I have years of experience working with youth, families and community organizations.
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Imran Khan
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?First Thing is We need Strong Negotiators ! Negotiate for Teachers, Students and EA's and even for cleaning staff ! Look I want clean schools, Small Classes, Better Compensation for Teachers and EA's. Look who we are dealing with : Learners who are our future our connection to world , Teachers who spend endless hours prepping and then delivering, Teaching Assistants who are next Teachers, Staff at School without whom we can not function - Let us ensure i) Fair Compensation ii) Fair Delivery of Education and iii) Care for Everyone !
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Ibrahim Hatia
What's the most important thing you'd act on as a school board trustee, and what experience or strengths would help you make it happen?As a youth advocate, my priority is a future where every child in Don Valley East and West has the support to dream big and succeed. I know our schools from the inside because I recently came through them myself. Through my student union and the Canadian Federation of Students, I have spent years fighting for students and parents to be heard. I will bring that experience to pressing TDSB and the province for fair resources and schools ready for our future. Your child's future will guide every stand I take and your voice will help shape my work.