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Home >> Event Calendar >> 2010 Fall Conference >> FallConf2010 >> Fall Speakers
Parents as Partners: A Community of Leaders and Learners
Speaker Information
Honourable George Abbott
Minister of Education and Minister responsible for Early Learning and Literacy
 George Abbott was re-elected as MLA for Shuswap on May 12, 2009. George Abbott was appointed Minister of Education on October 25, 2010. He has previously served as Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Minister of Health, Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services and Minister of Sustainable Resource Management.
Minister Abbott has also been deputy house leader for the Official Opposition and was critic for municipal affairs and forests. He was deputy chair of the Select Standing Committees on Forests, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, and was a member of the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs. Additionally, he sat on the Official Opposition Caucus Committee on Crime.
First elected as MLA in 1996 to represent the riding of Shuswap, Minister Abbott was re-elected in 2001 and again in 2005. Before his election to the Legislative Assembly, he was the chair of the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District, and a political science instructor at Okanagan University College. He also owned the oldest and largest berry farm in the Interior.
Minister Abbott received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia and his Master of Arts in political science from the University of Victoria.
| Catherine Abraham and |
Joyce Gram |
Catherine Abraham and Joyce Gram have been involved in parent education in British Columbia for over twenty-five years. Cathy has written extensively for parents in the areas of special education, parent support and policy development. Joyce has written for parents in all areas through newsletters and websites. Both have held numerous executive and advocate positions on school and district parent advisory councils and have worked at the provincial level.
Kathy Bartolone
Kathy Bartolone is a mother of two and Teacher with twelve years experience. She was born, raised and educated in B.C. with a combination of degrees from Langara College, Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia. Currently, Kathy is a Teacher-Librarian in the Surrey School District with previous experience in the classroom as well as on a Learning Support Team at the Elementary School level.
Kathy has a passion to educate young minds through experience and literature. In the past few years, she has started a focus on teaching proper Internet use and safety to children. She believes that the Internet is a vast resource and children, as well as adults, need to know how to filter their way through it to find it’s most useful and reliable information. Just this year, for the BCTF, Kathy has volunteered to co-produce and will also co-present the workshop, ‘Internet Awareness For Parents’, at local Parent Advisory Committee meetings in the province. “Today’s world is saturated with the multi-media, the Internet being only one part, and we as parents along with our children need to be aware of it’s usefulness as well as it’s potential dangers.”
Terry Berting
Having three children, Terry has been an active volunteer in his school communities for many years in many capacities. After attending a BCCPAC Conference 5 years ago Terry’s commitment and enthusiasm for parent involvement through PAC was solidified and he took on a role as a parent leader in his school community. He has held many positions both on DPAC and PAC Executive and is currently Vice – Chair at Burnaby Mountain Secondary and also sits on the BCCPAC Standing Resolution Committee on Curriculum. In 2008 Terry completed BCCPAC's Supporting Parent Leadership Seminar Series (SPLSS) becoming a Parent Information Resource Coordinator (PIRC) for SD 41. Terry believes in the power and potential of parents through PACs, DPACs and BCCPAC and enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience to assist new PAC parents navigate and understand the role of PAC and build capacity for parent participation.
Anita Chapman
Anita Chapman is a former Science and English teacher working as an Assistant Director in the Professional and Social Issues Division at the BC Teachers’ Federation where she has responsibility for education, curriculum, and assessment. She previously worked as a consultant on the 1993 Provincial Communications Assessment, and on the development of the BC Performance Standards for Reading, Writing, Numeracy, and Social Responsibility. For the past five years, she has volunteered as the facilitator for the development of the Coast Metro regional standards for performance tasks in Science.
Deborah Dragon
Deborah Dragon is passionate about working with parents and educators across the province.
She currently works as a Program Manager for Family Literacy at 2010 Legacies Now, facilitating workshops on play and parent involvement in family literacy programs and coordinating province-wide training. As a parent, Deborah values the power of parent involvement and has been active in her local PAC and DPAC. She is the parent of two young children who love to learn.
Patti Ellis
Patti Ellis has been a teacher in the Surrey School District for twenty-nine years. She has been involved in Early Childhood Education, Parent Participation Preschool and P.A.C. with her own two sons at Sunshine Hills Elementary and Seaquam Secondary in Delta, B.C. She is a supportive of sports and has been a fundraiser coordinator, coach, and mom for football, hockey and baseball. She is a parent that is involved.
She has taught overseas. Her passion for teaching and children is very strong. She has taught overseas in Wales, U.K. and taught both primary and intermediate grades. She is entering a new phase with her sons as they have graduated and now attending post secondary institutions.
She knows that parents are partners in the education of their children. She loves doing B.C.T.F. presentations and feels privileged to share with parents. She is rich with experiences which she is able to share at her workshops. She worked to develop this new workshop about internet awareness for parents and is excited to be presenting at this conference.
Andrea Forbes
 Andrea Hajdo Forbes has been active in PAC's and DPAC's in Richmond for many years. As Andrea navigated her two children through public education in Richmond, she became a strong partner of her local system. Andrea has learned that by gaining collaboration from administrators and educators, persistent involvement as a parent can be very successful in achieving desired results in specific areas. Andrea has a degree in business and is a registered Architect, running a busy practice specializing in restaurants, renovations, additions and small-scale residential developments.
Kerri Isham
 Kerri Isham is a knowledgeable, experienced and passionate educator, coach and facilitator dedicated to excellence and committed to the empowerment of young people. She is a skilled presenter, excellent communicator and is currently working towards her Sexual Health Educator Certification with Options for Sexual Health. Her primary goal is to make exploring sexual health fun and meaningful, and to alleviate the shame and embarrassment sometimes associated with this extremely important topic.
Kerri graduated from Ottawa University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Physical Education and in 1995 completed her Bachelor of Education. She has taught in School District 69 for 13 years, including eight years as a sexual health educator at the middle school level. She expanded her role by becoming the District Health and Fitness Resource Teacher, which created the opportunity for her to teach sexual health to grades four and five. Currently, she runs her own company called Power Up Workshops specializing in sexual health education, bullying prevention and the impact media has on young girls.
Harold Krische
 Harold Krische is currently a Manager with the British Columbia Principals’ and Vice Principals’ Association. Harold has worked in all levels of education from K > Post Secondary and most recently as a high school principal. He is also the proud parent of two kids who have provided significant learning experiences and feedback around “transitions” within the BC Education system.
 Wendy was introduced to Dr. Rushworth Kidder and the Institute for Global Ethics in 2001. From that serendipitous beginning, during her nine years as executive director of the BC School Superintendents Association, Wendy guided the association through a series of Ethical Fitness® Seminars (EFS) bringing Dr. Kidder back to BC to also work on Moral Courage. Ethical decision-making is now a strong focus within many districts and schools.
In addition to being a trained facilitator for EFS, Wendy is now delighted to be involved with Building School Culture™ and presenting Ethics and Parenting workshops.
Wendy is a graduate of the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Master of Business Administration. She has held leadership positions in the not-for-profit sector and has extensive community experience, including city councilor in Abbotsford, director of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD), and vice chair of the University College of the Fraser Valley.
John Noonan
 John Noonan, PRP, CGA is a Professional Registered Parliamentarian, the President of the Parliamentarians Association of British Columbia and an Internationally Accredited Speaker. He is a former International president of Toastmasters. In 1999 John was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Parliamentarians where he served four years, two as its National Treasurer, Chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee, and as a member of the Executive committee. Today, John practices as a communication consultant offering services as a registered parliamentarian, presentation skills trainer, and coach to association, government and corporate clients.
Rhonda Paul is the mother of six and has been happily married for 23 years. Three of her children have graduated and the other three are still in high school. She has served on PAC's, DPAC's, and School District Committees for over a decade, and is actively involved in her schools and community through playing sport, youth mentorship programs, coaching, officiating and instructing. Incorporating the teaching of Asset Development for youth into everything I do is one of her goals.
Her Honour, Mrs. Gwendolyn Point
 Her Honour, Mrs. Gwendolyn Point, is an Instructor at the School of Social Work and Human Services at the University of the Fraser Valley. Her Honour has a Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia, a Post Baccalaureate Diploma from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Education from the University of Portland. She is currently working on a Doctorate in Education at Simon Fraser University.
In 2007 Her Honour received the “Ambassador Award” from Aboriginal Tourism British Columbia. In 2006, the Chilliwack School District Aboriginal Program established two bursaries in Her Honour’s name that are awarded to aboriginal students for community service and involvement in aboriginal language and culture. Her Honour also received the “Recognition for Work in First Nation Language and Culture” from the Seattle Art Museum’s Day of Honouring Celebration in 2005 and the “Betty Urquhart Community Service Award” from the University College of the Fraser Valley in 2003.
Chris Remple is the mother of three daughters, two of which have graduated and one is still in high school. She and her husband run their own business. She has served on many committees at all levels in the school system for over 14 years. Her favourite committees are ones that directly impact our youth.
Michelle Srdanovic, M.A., Family Counsellor
 Michelle Srdanovic is a Family Counsellor and has a Master of Arts Degree in Counselling Psychology. She has ten years experience working with both children and adults dealing with a family history of abuse, neglect, relationship violence and mental health issues. Currently, she divides her time between working as a Family Counsellor with Family Services of Greater Vancouver and teaching Human Behaviour at BCIT.
Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond
 Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond is B.C.’s first representative for Children and Youth. The Representative doesn’t work for government. Rather, she is an Independent Officer of the Legislature who supports children, youth and families who need help in dealing with the child welfare system, provides oversight to the Ministry of Children and Family Development and advocates for improvements to the child welfare system.
Ms Turpel-Lafond is a judge on leave from the Saskatchewan Provincial Court.
She worked as a criminal law judge in youth and adult courts, with an emphasis on developing partnerships to better serve the needs of young people in the justice system, particularly sexually exploited children and youth, and children and youth with disabilities, such as those who suffer from fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
She holds a doctorate of law from Harvard Law School and a master's degree in international law from Cambridge University.
In 2007, the Indigenous Bar Association awarded her the distinction of ‘Indigenous Peoples’ Counsel’. As well, Time Magazine has twice bestowed honours upon Ms Turpel-Lafond, naming her one of the ‘100 Global Leaders of Tomorrow’ in 1994, and one of the ‘Top 20 Canadian Leaders for the 21st Century’ in 1999.
A member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, she is active in her First Nations community.
Mike Winsemann
 “Mike Winsemann is the Transfer & Technology Manager for the BC Council on Admissions & Transfer (BCCAT). He is responsible for the management of EducationPlanner.ca and the BCTransferGuide.ca, two resources dedicated to helping students access post-secondary in BC. He is a frequent presenter on technology and post-secondary education. Mike has been with BCCAT since 2004 and is currently pursuing a Masters of Arts in Leadership at Royal Roads University.”
Bernadette Woit
 Bernadette’s ‘emergency management’ interest began (and continues) with schools emergency preparedness and planning. Focusing on school plans, including student release, education & training, drills, and basic supplies. She co-authored “Emergency Management for North Shore Schools” manual (1999/2000) with Ross Peterson. Her schools role is somewhat unique, as Bernadette liaises with the North Shore Emergency Management Office (NSEMO) and the two North Shore (North & West Vancouver) school districts (SD44 & 45) and several private schools. She is also on the North Shore Emergency Management Team (EMT) and Emergency Social Services (ESS).
Bernadette is the current President of the Emergency Social Services Association of BC (ESSA).
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