Nancy Nagy is running for a spot on the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School Board.
She has lived for more than 10 years in Maple Ridge, and while her children are grown up, she does have nieces in the school system, and their experiences helped motivate her to get involved.
Nagy believes students need to put down their iPads and smart phones, and learn the way that their parents’ generation did.
“We need to get back to basics – reading, writing and ‘rithmatic, and learning how to communicate with each other,” she said.
She was a student with special needs when she was in school, and support for special needs students is an issue that is close to her heart. She would work to ensure that teachers has assistants and all the supports they need to ensure special needs students thrive. These students should not be limited by the same system that is supposed to be helping them fulfill their potential, she said.
“Children need to be encouraged to seek their dreams at school.”
Nagy was successful in school, and went on to be trained as a legal secretary.
Bullying is another key issue for her.
“I’ve seen what it can do to people,” she said. “The fear and anxiety – they don’t want to go to school.”
She said the emphasis in recent years has been on bullying through social media, which is a problem, but Nagy said in-person bullying is still very much an issue.
“Trustees can listen to parents, students and teachers, and bring their concerns to the table,” she said. “Be a voice for these people.”
She is also a strong advocate for the arts, and is opposed to cutting back arts and music programs when budgets get tight.
“We need to look at where the money is being spent – we’re taking away a lot of programs for the kids, and the kids need these programs to develop.”
Nagy has been involved with Girl Guides, volunteered with the SPCA, and with her little Italian Greyhound visited elderly residents through the Pets and Friends program.
She works at the Friends in Need Food Bank as the volunteer coordinator. She finds it satisfying work.