For the past 12 years Linda Van Alphen has been a school trustee for School District 67. She has once again put her name forward to run in the upcoming election.
“This is the job I love to do. I don’t want to do anything else. It’s the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done,” she said.
Van Alphen believes Summerland is a unique community and deserves more.
“The revitalization of the gymnasium has been on the books since I came. We have a weight training room that is deplorable,” she said. “We need to also connect to technology. We’ve got absolutely amazing teachers that are working in that frustrating bubble where they can’t connect. We are working on it.”
The rewards for her years of service have been some of the new programs that have been put in place, one of which has been bringing in french immersion.
Working in partnerships with others is “huge” for Van Alphen. She attributes her success to the different groups of people she has partnered with.
Because of the negotiated deal and contract that is now in place for the teachers, Van Alphen sees the next five years as an opportunity for everyone to work together and do some amazing things for Summerland.
“We just have to be strong and be excited. That’s what trustees are supposed to be about,” explained Van Alphen. “We can be effective if we are a strong Summerland team.”