BCSTA's Board of Directors
BCSTA’s Board of Directors support and advocate for effective public boards of education in B.C.
Carolyn
Broady
President
A mother of two, Carolyn is passionate about public education and believes that we need to ensure that every publicly educated student gets the support and individualized attention they need to reach their full potential and reach for their dreams.
Born and raised on the north shore of Vancouver, Carolyn has a degree in history from the University of British Columbia.
Carolyn became involved in public education through her work as a parent advisory council (PAC) volunteer and as president of her local district parent advisory council (DPAC). As a trustee she has served as board chair and as a BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) representative for SD45. Carolyn has also served as a BCSTA provincial councillor and on several BCSTA committees. She has been appointed to the B.C. Teachers Council by the Minister of Education and Child Care.
Carolyn’s priorities include Indigenous reconciliation, supporting inclusivity and improving student outcomes across B.C. Inspired by a former teacher and fellow trustee, Carolyn always asks: “Is this good for kids?” when making decisions.
Phone: 604-734-2721
E-mail: cbroady@bcsta.org
Tim
Bennett
Vice-President
Tim’s passion is driven by a desire to build a stronger community and public education system for his four children.
Phone: 604-734-2721
Cell: 250-649-8316
E-mail: tbennett@bcsta.org
John
Chenoweth
Director
Phone: 604-734-2721
E-mail: jchenoweth@bcsta.org
Jane
Fearing
Director
She has been a trustee for almost 11 years in Rocky Mountain (SD6), vice-chair and provincial council representative for seven years and served on the BCSTA’s Indigenous Education Committee for two years.
Jane believes in the genius of children and advocates for an education system that recognizes and supports every student and their unique interests and passions. She brings her broad background of music, teaching, performing, outdoor adventure and running a successful small business to the board.
She has lived and worked in many beautiful and remote communities in British Columbia and loves this province. Presently, she lives with her life partner, Chris, in the Columbia Valley, just outside of Golden, on the shared territories of the Ktunaxa and Secwépemc First Nations and the chosen home of the Columbia River Métis Nation. Together, they have five grown children.
Jane wishes to bring the wonders, distinct aspects and needs of rural communities to BCSTA’s board of directors.
“I’m honoured and excited to be part of this work.”
Phone: 604-734-2721
E-mail: jfearing@bcsta.org
Tracy
Loffler
Director
As a parent of a current high school student and a 2020 graduate, Tracy brings the perspective of parent and student insight. Tracy was a member of the Framework for Enhancing Student Learning Peer Review Team in 2021/2022.
Tracy brings a balanced, thoughtful approach and recognizes that collaborative working relationships are key to well-informed decision making and advocacy. Viewing all issues through the lens of improving student achievement and listening to student voice is at the heart of Tracy’s work in public education.
Phone: 604-734-2721
E-mail: tloffler@bcsta.org
Bob
Holmes
Director
Bob’s passion for education was rekindled when his daughter entered public school in 2004; the next 10+ years of PAC and DPAC involvement began as a way to be involved in his son & daughter’s school, but grew to a broader involvement in bettering our education system across the district and now the province.
Bob will bring a collaborative and consensus-building approach to the board and looks forward to engaging with trustees around the province as we all work together to improve the learning outcomes of all our very diverse learners.
Phone: 604-734-2721
E-mail: bholmes@bcsta.org
Stephanie
Higginson
Past-President
Stephanie Higginson is a trustee in SD68 (Nanaimo/Ladysmith). Stephanie is excited to bring her love for public education and advocacy to the BCSTA Board of Directors as past-president.
Stephanie is a former high school teacher and educational researcher with a master’s in educational studies focusing in social justice in education. Her areas of interest in education are vast and broad. They include, but are not limited to, governance structures that strengthen public education, equity in education, collaborative inquiry in teacher professional development and nature based education.
Stephanie and her family live outside of Nanaimo where they operate a small farm and maple syrup production business. Stephanie’s passion for public education is deeply personal as she is mom to two school aged children, one in elementary and one in secondary school in B.C.’s public schools.
Phone: 604-734-2721
Cell: 250-741-6939
E-mail: shigginson@bcsta.org
Suzanne
Hoffman
Chief Executive Officer
Her career started with Mission Public Schools before moving to the Langley School District, where she spent most of her career as a teacher, administrator, and superintendent. Suzanne was then seconded to the Ministry of Education as part of the curriculum outreach team. While working in the ministry, she also held the positions of chief educator and the superintendent of learning transformation. In January 2018, Suzanne became the first female superintendent at the Vancouver School Board. In 2021, Suzanne joined BCSTA, where she is excited and appreciative of the opportunity to take on the CEO role.
Suzanne is a wife, a mom to two grown children and a cairn terrier, and a passionate lifelong learner currently living on the unceded territory of the Katzie and Kwantlen Nations.
She is honoured and humbled to support BCSTA’s board of directors and boards of education across B.C.
Phone: 778-945-3299
E-mail: shoffman@bcsta.org