Joanna was elected as an HDSB Trustee after 20 years of work experience in public health. Having received an Hons. B.Sc. from University of Waterloo and an M.Sc. in Epidemiology from Queen’s University, Joanna’s career as a public health Epidemiologist and Health Planner spanned positions at the provincial, regional and local levels. She was also an executive member of her professional association and served two terms as its president.
Joanna has lived in Oakville’s Ward 4 for 25 years and is a mom of a 2022 HDSB secondary school graduate and a step-mom of two young adults, also graduates of HDSB. She is passionate about her community and its neighbourhood schools. Prior to the pandemic, Joanna was an active volunteer with Halton Food for Thought and was instrumental in implementing and coordinating a daily breakfast program in one of her neighbourhood schools. She also served as a Campaign Cabinet member of the United Way of Hamilton and Halton, a volunteer with SafetyNet and remains an active volunteer in her neighbourhood schools.
Committee Membership – 2021/2022
- Member, Board Standing Committees
- Student Trustee Mentor
- Pandemic Committee
- Reimagine Forward Subcommittee
- Special Education Advisory Committee
- Central West Representative, OPSBA Education Program Work Team
- Alternate Director, Ontario Public School Board Association (OPSBA)
- Environmental Management Team
Committee Participation in previous years
- Vice-Chair, Special Education Advisory Committee (2019, 2020)
- Trustee Representative, Accessibility Committee (2019, 2020)
- School Naming and Renaming Subcommittee (2020)
- Chair, Program and Accommodation Committee (2015-2017)
- Vice-Chair, Policy, By-law and Governance Committee (2017)
- Vice Chair, Transportation (2017)
- Discipline Committee (2018)
- Member, Board Standing Committees
- Member, Fix the Finances Sub-Committee (2018)
- Trustee Representative, Equity and Inclusive Education Steering Committee (2016, 2018)
- Trustee Representative, Mental Health Steering Committee (2016-2018)
- Trustee Representative, Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) (2015, 2016, 2018)
- Trustee Representative, Program and Viability Committee (2015-2017)
- Trustee Representative, French Advisory Committee (2018)
- Trustee Representative, Special Education Review Committee (2017, 2018)
- HDSB Director and Associate Director hiring committees
- Several HDSB Superintendent of Education hiring committees