RE-ELECT
Marisa Phillips
For Waterloo Catholic School Board Trustee
Rooted in Faith, Driven by Excellence
About Me
I was born and raised in Cambridge and I want to see the best for our children and our schools. Having parents who are first-generation immigrants from both Portugal and Brazil, I speak fluent English and Portuguese with a good understanding of Spanish and French. My husband and best friend of 14 years, immigrated to Cambridge from the UK, and it is in this community where we happily raise our two wonderful daughters. I was a past member of St. Patrick’s Parish and I am currently a member of St. Ambrose.
My career as a professional photographer began after college and it’s something that I love to do. In addition to my career, I had an active role on the PTA of our daughters’ school, and I volunteered for the Cambridge Humane Society and other various charities. I also run a business on the side that provides environmentally friendly products that help reduce waste, protect our environment, and offer families practical ways to save money during challenging economic times. Since 2022, I have had the honour of serving Cambridge and North Dumfries as a Catholic School Board Trustee. Representing our families, advocating for our students, and being a strong voice for our community has brought me an incredible sense of joy, purpose, and fulfilment. I believe God has called me to this work, and I am committed to answering that call by serving others with integrity, courage, and compassion.
In my life, family always comes first, and I cherish every moment spent with them. In my spare time, I also enjoy working out at the gym and I have a passion for crafts, singing and other sports.
The Catholic faith has always been a staple in my life growing up and it has brought me a deep understanding of hope, love and compassion. My late Portuguese grandmother was my main inspiration and she was a strong role model for my Catholic faith. I appreciate the gift of faith that all my family members and teachers gave to me that instilled the core values I hold dear in my life. Today, we pass on the goodness of our faith to our kids and teach them the same lessons that our faith taught to us.
Why I Am Running For School Trustee
Being a mother of two young girls, I believe every child deserves the very best education and opportunity to succeed in life. Serving as a School Board Trustee since 2022 has given me an inside perspective that few can claim. I know how decisions are made, I know where our Board is falling short, and I hear directly from the families who are affected by those decisions. I will not pretend that everything is working when there is clearly room for improvement. Our students deserve better, our families deserve to be heard, our teachers need to be valued and our Board must be held to a higher standard. I know we can do better and I will continue to represent our community with conviction, integrity, and unwavering commitment. I have recognized the increasing demands being placed on our teachers. Educators are being asked to manage an overwhelming volume of additional materials and initiatives, some of which fall outside the core curriculum and do not directly contribute to the skills and knowledge our children need to succeed in the future. We need to ensure teachers have the time, resources, and support to focus on what matters most: providing students with a strong, meaningful education that prepares them for life beyond the classroom. We need to bring our education back to basics so that every child has the tools they need to reach their full potential and be ready for the future. Parents should be respected and have the final say on matters related to the education of their own children. Teachers are vitally important and can influence what or how our children will be in the future, but parenting is a lifetime commitment. I want to continue working together with my fellow trustees to foster a new positive culture where we support and encourage the most beneficial educational environment for our children without unnecessary political and ideological distractions. My goal is to build toward a normal climate of dialogue and respect.
Growing up in the Catholic School System all my life, I can speak first hand about the goodness it has brought into my life that helped shape me into the person I am today. There are truly so many benefits to Catholic education for children. It is important to preserve our Catholic faith in our schools and continue teaching the lessons that we have all enjoyed in the past which brought us hope, love and compassion.
Emphasizing Catholic Education
We need to make sure that every tax dollar that is designated for our children actually goes towards them to ensure that they have all the tools they need to succeed. Teachers shouldn't have to spend their own money for the basic essential supplies they need to educate your children.
Following the money: making sure it's in the classroom
Transparency and communication promote parental engagement. It’s important to maintain open communication between parents and teachers. The WCDSB should always be open to your input because parents have the most important role raising their child.
Making sure WCDSB decisions are transparent and open to your input
Respecting parental values and truly listening to their concerns without passing judgement. Also, promoting discussion and respect amongst board members so that we can come up with better solutions.
Building toward a normal climate of dialogue and respect
Let’s get back to basics. We can do better by refocusing on the classroom and efficiency, teaching our children the basic skills that they need to become critical thinkers and decision makers. The goal is to prepare our children for their future by teaching them financial literacy, basic household financial skills and offering opportunities for them to achieve their full potential.
Keeping politics out of the classroom
Thank You For Your Help!
The easiest way to donate to my campaign is to send an e-transfer to marisaptrustee@gmail.com
Please note that the maximum contribution for an individual is $1200.
When donating please provide your name and mailing address in order to remain compliant with campaign rules.
Donate
Campaigns cost a lot of money to get your name and message out to the public. Any monetary contributions are so helpful and allow me to get signs and flyers printed. Donations really go a long way to giving me a fighting chance to be your voice.
Volunteer
The most valuable thing you can offer is your time. Volunteers are so essential in a campaign to help spread the word whether it be handing out flyers, sharing information on social media and much more. I appreciate any time that can be donated.
Request A Lawn Sign
Showing your support by placing a lawn sign on your yard or building is a great way to share my name to others. If you would like to have a lawn sign delivered and installed on your lawn please contact me via phone or email to have it arranged.
