Member Biographies

Twelve members were appointed to the 15-member Provincial Advisory Council on Education on September 28, 2018. The additional three seats are designated for representatives of the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial, the Council on Mi’kmaq Education, and the Council on African-Canadian Education.

On September 26, 2019, 4 members were reappointed, and 2 new members were appointed to the Provincial Advisory Council on Education.

The appointees and the representatives from each member organization are:

Gin Yee, Halifax Regional Municipality

Appointment: September 28, 2018 (2 year term)

Gin has served as a member, Chair and Vice-chair of the former Halifax Regional School Board and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Nova Scotia School Boards Association. He has completed Policy Governance training and is a member of the International Policy Governance Association. He was also a member of the Provincial Advisory Council on Education Transition Team.

Suzy Hansen, Halifax Regional Municipality

Appointment: September 28, 2018 (2 year term)

Suzy is a community facilitator with Phoenix Youth and is an active member of the Mulgrave Park community. She has experience serving on several community and school-based committees and boards that provide services to youth. She served on the former Halifax Regional School Board and is an African Nova Scotian parent of several children in the school system.

Archy Beals, Halifax Regional Municipality

Appointment: September 28, 2018 (2 year term)

Archy has advocated for changes for African Nova Scotian students for many years. He served as the elected African Nova Scotian representative on the former Halifax Regional School Board from 2016 to 2018, and previously served on the Council on African Canadian Education. He currently works at the Nova Scotia Community College as a Student Services Advisor and is responsible for African Canadian Supports.

Michael Drew, Yarmouth County

Appointment: September 28, 2018 (2 year term)

Michael is a retired teacher with 30 years of experience, nine of which were in special education. He has also served as the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme coordinator in his high school, and later as Chair of the former Tri-County Regional School Board.

Lynn Levatte, Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Appointment: September 28, 2018 (2 year term)

Lynn has a Doctorate in Education with a focus on inclusive education and Down Syndrome. She is the parent of children currently enrolled in the public education system. She is also the President and Education Coordinator for the Cape Breton Down Syndrome Society.

Hendrika van Gurp, Lunenburg County

Appointment: September 28, 2018 (2 year term)

Hendricka is a former teacher and principal with more than 45 years of experience. She founded Peaceful Schools International, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting schools that have a declared commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all students.

She has served as a member of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. She has received a number of awards, including the Canadian Teachers’ Federation Special Recognition Award, the Baha’i Commendation for promoting racial harmony, the YMCA Peace Medal, and the Human Rights Award from the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.

Margaret (Joan) MacDonnell, Pictou County

Initial Appointment: September 28, 2018 (1 year term)
Reappointment: September 26, 2019 (2 year term)

Joan is a psychologist with experience working with students, parents, teachers and administrators in the areas of gifted education, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and emotional/behavioural issues. She has provided training for teachers and psychologists in these areas.

Stephen Parsons, Cape Breton County

Initial Appointment: September 28, 2018 (1 year term)
Reappointment: September 26, 2019 (2 year term)

Stephen was the former chair of the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board. He has more than 10 years’ experience teaching in the community of Eskasoni First Nation and is currently the General Manager of Eskasoni Corporate Division. He is a member of the Board of Governors of Cape Breton University and a volunteer with Big Brother/Big Sisters.

Maura Ryan, Kings County

Initial Appointment: September 28, 2018 (1 year term)
Reappointment: September 26, 2019 (2 year term)

Maura has been actively involved in the public education system as a parent. She served on the School Advisory Councils of her children’s schools, volunteered with the Breakfast Program, and hosted students involved in exchange programs.

She served as a coach and manager with the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation and worked as Acadia’s Director of Admissions and High School Liaison.

Nastasya Kennedy, Kings County

Initial Appointment: September 28, 2018 (1 year term)
Reappointment: September 26, 2019 (2 year term)

Natasya is the Director of Education and a Councillor with Annapolis Valley First Nation. She serves on the Council for Mi’kmaq Education and was the Mi’kmaq representative to the former Annapolis Valley Regional School Board. She has also worked as a teacher, is a mother, and is an advocate for the autism community in Nova Scotia.

Ashley Gallant, Hants County

Initial Appointment: September 26, 2019 (2 year term)

Ashley is Manager of Communications and Community Impact for the Credit Union Atlantic. She has an Advanced Diploma in Public Relations and more than ten years of communications experience, including eight years in corporate communications at the Halifax International Airport Authority.

She is School Advisory Council member for Maple Ridge Elementary. She is proposed to be appointed for a two-year term.

Shamus MacDonald, Inverness County

Initial Appointment: September 26, 2019 (2 year term)

Shamus holds a PhD in Folklore and is a Sessional Instructor at St. Francis Xavier University in the Department of Celtic Studies. He has the ability to speak, read and write Scottish Gaelic and French.

He also has extensive experience organizing and conducting oral history fieldwork in Nova Scotia, Scotland, Newfoundland, and Nunavut, and is affiliated with the Folklore Association of Canada.

Organizations with a designated seat on the Provincial Advisory Council for Education are:

Conseil scolaire acadien provincial, represented by Marcel Cottreau

Council on Mi’kmaq Education, represented by Darren Googoo

Council on African-Canadian Education, represented by Jocelyn Dorrington