Erica McLean is a School Board Trustee for the municipality of Prince George. She worked as an educator for School District 57 from 2012-2022 before taking the leap into politics.
When running in the 2022 Prince George Municipal Election, McLean said that she would approach every conversation and vote as a trustee with three different lenses in mind, which have different needs but are all important: “vulnerable students, schools with fewer resources than others, and students in rural schools.”
One major point that stuck with me was when Erica presented her response to the SD57 Special Advisors report. She had said that the school district doesn’t have a racism problem – society has a racism problem which leads to socioeconomic issues in marginalized communities (like poverty) and that is what is being reflected in schools. The direct quote from an interview documented by the Prince George Citizen is as follows:
“I don’t think we have a systemic racism problem. I think we have a trauma and poverty problem.”
Erica Mclean
Something about having this perspective come from a human being right in front of me rather than reading an article about it helped me relate to it and imparted empathy.
I will continue forward in my journey feeling confident in the local school board because of people like Erica being voted in. A new perspective on Indigenous education has been added to my toolbox and I look forward to being able to work within it.
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SD 57 Special Advisors Report