Board of Education & Governance

The Sunshine Coast School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Alexis Proust as the Student Trustee for the 2024-2025 academic year. Alexis officially took the oath of office during the Regular Board Meeting held in Gibsons on September 11th, marking an exciting chapter in the district’s commitment to student engagement. Alexis is the twelfth student trustee in the district’s history, and this appointment reinforces our dedication to bringing the student voice to the forefront of Board discussions.

The role of Student Trustee is a vital one, providing insight and perspective on issues that directly impact students across the district. This appointment is guided by Regulation 1290, which highlights the significance of student participation in shaping the future of our schools.

Supporting Alexis in this role is the District Student Leadership Team (DSLT), a dynamic group composed of students from all four of the district’s secondary schools. The DSLT provides a platform for student voices to be heard and helps bridge the gap between schools spread across the region. With the assistance of educational leaders such as the Superintendent of Schools, the District Principal of Indigenous Learning, and school principals and vice-principals, the team meets regularly to discuss important topics affecting students.

The DSLT includes students from Grades 10 through 12, selected through an application and interview process. Each year, the team elects a Grade 12 student trustee, ensuring a fresh perspective and leadership for the upcoming school year.

The Sunshine Coast School District extends its congratulations to Alexis Proust and looks forward to the contributions that will be made in the upcoming year.

For more information on student leadership in our district, please visit our website or refer to Regulation 1290, Student Leadership.

Amanda Amaral was born and raised on the Sunshine Coast. She is a proud graduate of SD46’s Alternative School.

A social worker by profession with a Master’s Degree from the University of Calgary and a certificate in public administration from the University of Victoria. Amanda works for the Ministry of Children and Family Development and is an established contributor to our Sunshine Coast community by past and current roles on various community boards and organizations.

Amanda is focused on continuing the school district’s reputation of excellence in student achievement by supporting environmental sustainability and climate action, meaningful inclusion for staff, students and families that identify as 2SLGBTQ+, continuing to journey together towards Truth and Reconciliation with the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw and the shíshálh Nation and working to ensure equity in education through addressing socio-economic barriers to success.

Amanda was first elected to the board in 2018 and re-elected in 2022 for her second four year term. Amanda has served as Board Chair since November 2020, and was re-elected to the role in November 2023.

Trustee Leech has lived on the Sunshine Coast since 1980. She recently retired from the Roberts Creek Community School Society where for the past twenty years she was the Executive Director of the Society. For the past twelve years her work was focused on research, development and implementation of school based social and emotional programs.

As the Director of the Health Canada funded ‘Mind the Gap’ project she was responsible for all aspects of an initiative to deliver and evaluate social emotional interventions in the student, teacher and parent community of School District 46.

She is a certified Facilitator and had the privilege to act as Board Chair for many Sunshine Coast regional committees, initiatives and not for profit societies.

Since retiring from the Roberts Creek Community School Society, she has been working as an independent contractor; teaching eight-week, mindfulness based, stress reduction courses and conducting a province wide survey of student and teacher well-being. “We know that stress costs us all and has an impact on school and family life – surveys and research give us a greater understanding of the stresses inherent in the system? I feel that SD46 is well positioned to contribute to this provincial conversation”.

Trustee Leech is a supporter of the environmental literacy initiatives in our schools. And will be encouraging a regional approach to these initiatives.

She has two grandchildren who live in Gibsons; they will be in starting school soon and will joyfully keep her connected to the children and classroom teachers of School District 46.

Trustee Leech was first elected to the board in 2018 and re-elected in 2022 for her second four year term. Trustee Leech served as Vice-Chair from November 2018 to November 2020 and was re-elected to role of Vice-Chair in November 2022 and November 2023.

Sue moved to the Sunshine Coast when she was 14 and graduated from Elphinstone Secondary School. She left the coast for a while but returned in the early ‘80’s and raised her 3 children here. Sue took an active role in the early education of her children and was involved in the Jack and Jill Preschool where she spent 4 years as a class representative, vice-president and then president.

Sue studied to be a Special Education Teacher’s Assistant (SETA) at night school in School District #46. After which, Sue began work at the Sunshine Coast Association for Community Living where she continued her education while working in the areas of life skills development, supported employment services, and early management.

Sue graduated with Highest Honours in Child Psychology, with a specialty in brief solution focused therapy. Sue studied Addictions and Family Systems at Douglas College, with extensive training in dual and multiple disorders, and became the Executive Director at Sunshine Coast Breakaway Youth and Family Services, where she developed programs for the growing needs of local youth and their families.

Sue taught many workshops, seminars and took part in ongoing classroom education sessions in School District #46. She was an addictions counsellor and educator with the alternative education program for many years. Sue was a founding member and the coordinator of Restorative Justice when it came to the Sunshine Coast in the late ‘90’s and was instrumental in introducing the program at local schools. Sue was the secretary for Community Policing for several years. Gaining a Bachelors Degree in Ministerial and Holistic Counselling at the University of Sedona, she obtained her Master’s as an IMM Metaphysician in 2006. Sue is currently an Officiant and Life Passages Celebrant on the Sunshine Coast.

Sue is an international author on Amazon, as well as a Goodreads author. Sue has 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren residing on the Sunshine Coast, with 3 attending local schools. Sue has been involved in many community projects over the years and always offers her services to the people of the Sunshine Coast.

Sue was first elected to the board in 2018 and re-elected in 2022 for her second four year term.

Tracey McClelland, a lifelong resident of the Sunshine Coast and mother of four, has dedicated over 17 years to fostering community engagement in education. A graduate of Madeira Park and Pender Harbour Elementary Schools, she has been a proactive figure in addressing local issues such as student transportation and access to information. Her commitment extends through various roles, including board member positions at Serendipity Childcare, Madeira Park PAC, and Pender Harbour PAC, as well as involvement with the District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC).

With a strong background in bookkeeping and administration spanning two decades, McClelland brings a comprehensive understanding of budget management and legislative compliance. This expertise is a crucial asset in her role as a trustee, where she focuses on budget planning, policy setting, and ensuring fiscal responsibility. Her approach to board work emphasizes the importance of collaboration, open-mindedness, and effective communication, qualities she believes are essential for successful governance.

McClelland is passionate about enhancing communication between the district, educators, and families. Her blend of hands-on community involvement and administrative expertise positions her as a valuable asset to the school board.

Maria Hampvent is an Internationally Certified Somatic Leadership & Emotional Intelligence Coach, formerly an Associate Executive Financial Advisor. She facilitates leadership and corporate training in Organizational Culture Change, Emotional Intelligence and Self Growth. She graduated with a Masters in 2018 with joint Foci: Values-Based Leadership and Sustainable Community Development. Prior to serving on SD46 (as BCSTA, BCPSEA and Vice Chair) she served our community as Vice Chair of SCREDO, volunteering with Syiyaya Reconciliation Movement & Restorative Justice. Maria enjoys coaching her four kids in multiple sports and she is most often found on the sidelines on weekends cheering for Sunshine Coast Youth.

Maria was first elected to the board in 2018 and re-elected in 2022 for her second four year term. Maria served as Vice-Chair to the board from November 4, 2020 to November 8, 2022. 

Pammila Ruth has lived on the Sunshine Coast since 1991 with her husband of 34+ years and raised their two boys, now grown and gone, in our public school system. She ran as a trustee in 2014 to ensure that all students were represented in our system. Inclusion and Equity are two of our district’s values that she holds near and dear to her heart. She took on the role of Vice-Chair of the Board in the last year of the 2014-2018 term and was voted in as Chair of the Board for the first two years of the 2018-2022 term. She is currently the BCPSEA (bargaining) Trustee Representative, as well as holding the role of Professional Learning Committee (provincial) Trustee Pro-D for the last 5 years. Student Voice is of the utmost importance to Trustee Ruth. Over the previous two terms, she has had the pleasure of working with nine Student Trustees and has watched them grow as leaders. “Effective governance in an organization focused on students requires that we listen to what those students have to say.”

Pammila was first elected to the board in 2014 and re-elected in 2022 for her third consecutive four-year term. 

Ann Skelcher has lived, worked and played on the Sunshine Coast since 1981, when she came to work as a special education and classroom teacher at Gibsons Elementary. She later moved into the role of District Coordinator of Gifted and Enrichment Programs and then for the remainder of her 30-year career served as principal of Langdale, Roberts Creek, Kinnikinnick, and Halfmoon Bay Elementary Schools and as vice-principal of Chatelech Secondary School. Ann holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Simon Fraser University and for the past five years, applied her leadership experience and knowledge in her work as an educational consultant supporting districts throughout North America. Ann served on the boards of Sunshine Coast Community Services and Educo Outdoor Adventure School. She currently also serves on the board of the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts and is the BCSTA Provincial Council Trustee Representative. Ann and her partner raised their two children on the Sunshine Coast both of whom attended Roberts Creek Elementary and Chatelech Secondary. She is a proud grandma of five, three of whom are involved in post-secondary studies and one in high school. The youngest will soon be attending the school district’s Early Years programs.

Ann is honoured to have been elected to the board and excited to begin her first term in November 2022.