“Education should be an amazing experience for each and every child.”

Teresa is honoured to represent her community on issues of education and school governance. She became a trustee with the intention of making a difference for all children and making sure every future counts – and she is eager to continue that work for all Seven Oaks community members.

A long-time resident of West Kildonan,Teresa’s roots go back to a small village in Poland. She moved to Canada when she was 16 and later earned degrees in both Chemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Winnipeg. After years working in pharmaceutical and food laboratories, Teresa decided to change careers and work more directly with people, particularly those who themselves were new to Canada.

She became an Immigration Officer with the federal government and helped numerous families make the transition to new homes in a new country. These experiences provided Teresa with a particular appreciation for the cultural diversity, philosophy of inclusion and high standards of education that are part of the fabric of Seven Oaks School Division.

Since her first day as a Trustee, Teresa has been active in the Division and currently serves as a Chair of the Negotiations committee and member of the Policy, Educational Leave, Accident Review, Board-Staff Advisory and Board-Student Liaison committees. She is also the former Chair of the Policy committee. Through the Manitoba School Boards Association (MSBA) she has also participated in the Manitoba Addiction Awareness Committee and MUST Fund Committee.

She is a strong advocate of public education because she firmly believes that education can and should provide every child with an equal opportunity to fulfill their potential regardless of personal circumstances.

In her spare time, Teresa spends time with her daughter, step daughter and three step-grandchildren and enjoys stained glass craftsmanship, gardening and exploring the outdoors. She is also kept busy as a University of Winnipeg International Student Program homestay parent. Through the program, Teresa hosts students from around the globe as they pursue their educations at the U of W and its Collegiate – an joyous responsibility she undertook as a way to help out learners from the global community.

Teresa wants the community to know who she is, what her values are and what she stands for… because on the Board, she represents the best interests of the entire community.