Gin Yee

Halifax Regional Municipality: appointed for a two-year term.

He 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.

Ashley Gallant

Hants County: appointed for a two-year term.

She 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 a School Advisory Council member for Maple Ridge Elementary.

Margaret (Joan) MacDonnell

Pictou County: appointed for a one-year term.

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

Shamus MacDonald

Inverness County: appointed for a two-year term.

He 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.

Stephen Parsons

Cape Breton County: appointed for a one-year term.

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

Maura Ryan

Kings County: appointed for a one-year term.

She 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 has also 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: appointed for a one-year term.

She 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.

Suzy Hansen

Halifax Regional Municipality: appointed for a two-year term.

She 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: appointed for a two-year term.

He 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: appointed for a two-year term and who will also serve as the Chair.

He 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: appointed for a two-year term.

She 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.

Hendricka (Hetty) van Gurp

Lunenburg County: appointed for a two-year term.

She 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.