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
School safety must be a priority. During my term as Trustee, I have witnessed firsthand the growing concerns surrounding violence and safety in our schools. Teachers and staff should never feel that they have to put their own safety at risk simply to do their jobs. Reports of educators requiring protective equipment, including Kevlar, are deeply concerning and should never be normalized.
Most heartbreaking are the conversations I have had with parents whose children have experienced violence at school and whose families feel that their concerns have not been adequately addressed. Every child deserves to feel safe, respected and protected while learning.
I will continue advocating to our provincial government for stronger school safety measures, meaningful accountability when violence occurs, and greater support for teachers and school staff.
Our teachers deserve to feel safe. And every family deserves confidence that their children are learning in a safe environment.
Putting student and staff safety first
Parents of children with disabilities already carry the tremendous responsibility of worrying about their children’s well-being and future. When the resources and supports their children desperately need are unavailable, those worries become even greater. Without appropriate support, students risk falling behind academically, experiencing declining mental health, and losing the confidence and opportunities they need to complete their education and build independent, fulfilling lives.
As a mother, I understand the deep, ongoing concern parents carry about their children’s futures. Every parent wants to know that their child will be prepared for life, have the opportunity to reach their full potential, and develop the skills to thrive independently.
A checkbox should never determine a child’s future. No student should be denied essential support simply because they do not meet every administrative criterion. Our responsibility is to recognize each child’s individual needs and ensure they have a meaningful opportunity to succeed.
I will continue to prioritize student achievement and advocate for children who need additional support. With responsible financial stewardship, thoughtful resource allocation, and a commitment to putting students first, we must do better.
Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, every family deserves to be heard, and no child should be left behind because the system failed to meet their needs.
Ensuring students with special needs have the supports they deserve
Music, visual art, and creative programs are essential to student development and mental health. They build focus, confidence, problem-solving skills, and provide healthy outlets for stress and emotion that support the whole child in mind, body, and spirit.
Over the past four years, I have watched administration steadily cut funding for the arts. I have seen opportunities shrink and programs weakened. That is unacceptable.
I will always stand firmly with parents. Together, we will protect these programs from further cuts and fight to strengthen them so every child in our Catholic schools has the chance to create, perform, and thrive.
Protecting and strengthening the Arts in our Catholic Schools
Advocated for and received additional funding for staffing to benefit kids with disabilities
Championed the protection and expansion of French Immersion Programs for our students
Fought to protect and strengthen our Catholic faith and identity in our schools
Successfully restored livestreaming for increased transparency to benefit parents and staff
Took a strong stand for parents, students and staff by fighting to ensure their safety concerns about the proposed roundabout at St. Benedicts High School could not be ignored
Successfully restored the ability for community members and media to record their own videos, audio and photos at meetings
Put people before politics - standing up for families and staff whose safety concerns demanded to be heard without fear of exposure or retaliation
Thank You For Your Help!
The easiest way to donate to my campaign is to send an e-transfer to marisaptrustee@gmail.com
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