About Heather Hall
Heather Hall is an experienced educator and education leader with the knowledge to ensure Ward & 7 schools thrive.
With a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and almost 20 years of experience in Calgary’s classrooms, Heather Hall is the ideal candidate to address Calgary’s class size crisis.
Heather is committed to address the toughest issues facing our schools from adequate education funding to ensuring safe welcoming school environments for every student. Her experience in the classroom and her wealth of knowledge about educational principles make her uniquely qualified to address the challenges facing our schools.
Heather’s qualification include:
- Nearly two decades of experience in Calgary’s classrooms
- Multiple degrees in education
- Mentoring new teachers
- Published children’s author
Heather doesn’t just talk the talk, she makes it happen. Her experience advocating for policies that support student success has meant collaborating with the parents, teachers, and school leaders she’ll be working with as a trustee. Her experience navigating school board initiatives and helping others to do the same will be invaluable on the board.
In Heather’s words:
If you want to learn more about heather and see where she stands on critical issues facing Calgary public schools today, check out her responses to our Candidate Questionnaire:
My first priority for change is to create smaller class sizes. Changes 1 and 2 draw attention to ways we can do this. Change number 3 is about safety in schools. We have a responsibility to make sure all students feel safe coming to school.
1. Increase the amount of funding that is reaching schools: The CBE needs our provincial government to increase funding to the level of the Canadian average. I seek to advocate on behalf of the students for this funding.
2. Create more learning spaces in the CBE: The city of Calgary is growing. Creating space for students is a priority and it needs to happen in a timely manner. It could look like building new facilities, renovating existing facilities, or working with community members to seek alternative possibilities.
3. Creating safe schools for everyone: ALL students should feel safe, welcomed and supported in our public education system. Safe learning environments focus on well-being and belonging over divisive strategies. Through advocacy and relationship-building we will better support our school communities.
On ensuring public education funding:
As an educator I understand that ongoing communication with stakeholders ensures that the priorities of our communities are clearly understood. Then it is the work of trustees to collaborate and create policies and budgets that reflect those priorities.
Calgary is a growing city and it is projected to continue growing. The work of trustees is to find the funding to support students, including advocacy to the provincial government. As an advocate for students, families, and educators, I will represent CBE students with my voice and experience in front line education.
On class sizes and resourcing:
Ongoing discussion with stakeholders and advocacy to the provincial government are a few of the ways to support students. Focusing on reducing class sizes will improve conditions for students. Student learning needs and mental health are less visible when class sizes are large. Students urgently need learning spaces and we need our provincial government to increase funding to the level of the Canadian average. Advocating on behalf of students for this funding will help to make these needs a priority.
On whether there is a role for privately delivered services in public education:
Families have a choice to place their children in private schools. But that means it should be privately funded, not through public funds. I believe that public education is crucial. Our students in public schools deserve a top level education and deserve to have it funded with that in mind.
As a public school trustee my mission would be public education. Our students and teachers need more funding to handle overcrowded classrooms, continuous growth in school boards and diverse needs. As a trustee I will advocate on behalf of students to the provincial government to bring public school funding in Alberta to the level of the Canadian average.