I was born and raised in St. James, in the same Ward in which I am now running for election as a School Trustee. My parents, Norm and Isabelle Lawson, built our family home on Sackville Street. My father, Norm, worked at Air Canada and also served as a School Trustee for the St. James School Division. Norm and Isabelle were active in the St. James Horticultural Society and Deer Lodge Community Club. Along with my three brothers, Jeff, Steven, and Earl, I was involved in many community activities, and we have remained strongly connected to our community.
When it was time to purchase my first home, I chose to stay in our community, and bought my first home on Truro Street in the Deer Lodge area. When my husband, Barry Liscum, and I started a family, we moved to Hind Avenue in Silver Heights. Our two sons, Devon, age 18, and Jeremy, age 14, have both attended schools in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division. Devon just graduated, and Jeremy is currently in Grade 10. As a student, I attended Linwood School, Deer Lodge Junior High, and St. James Collegiate.I received my Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba, as well as my Post-Baccalaureate Certficate in Special Education. I also received my Masters Degree from U of M, and most recently earned my PhD in Educational Administration, with a research focus on education and poverty. Professionally, I have been a teacher, consultant, vice principal, and principal, with experience working in urban Winnipeg, as well as rural and northern Manitoba. Currently, I teach in the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Education, teaching courses for Early and Middle Years teachers and teacher candidates. As well, I am a professional writer, with an extensive collection of educational books, entitled The Hands On Series, published and implemented in schools across Canada. My publisher, Portage and Main Press, is a local company that specializes in Canadian content and professional books for teachers. I have always been actively involved in the St. James community. When my children attended daycare, I was a Board Member at Discovery Children's Centre. I also served on the Provincial Daycare Advisory Committee, representing parents from across Manitoba. I have also been involved in supporting a variety of community recreation programs such as baseball, football, and dance. Within the school system, I have been committed to being an active participant in my children's education, and to supporting the education of all students in our community. I have served on parent councils, arts councils, and divisional assessment committees, and I have volunteered in classrooms, for special events, and on school-based trips. I chose to put my name forward as a candidate for School Trustee as a direct result of my lifelong commitment to education and to my community. |