Parent Involvement Committee

Purpose

The purpose of the Committee is to support, encourage and enhance parent engagement at the Board level in order to improve student achievement and well being. Reg. 330/10 Sec. 27(1)

The Committee achieves this by:

• providing information and advice on parent engagement to Lakehead District School Board;
• communicating with and supporting Lakehead District School Board School Councils and associated network meetings;
• undertaking activities to help parents support their children’s learning at home and at school through system level initiatives;
• providing parent representation to other Lakehead District School Board committees; and
• supporting positive relationships at school and Board level to enhance student success.

Members of the Parent Involvement Committee

November 15, 2025 to November 14, 2026

Robin Cawlishaw	Parent Member
Ellen Chambers	Trustee Representative
Dawn-Marie Francis	Parent Member
Terry Godick	Alternate Parent Member
Tara Ingram	Special Education Advisory Committee Representative
Christine Jones	Recording Secretary
Brittany Kennedy	Alternate Parent Member
Kristi Lees	Principal Representative
Lorraine Mashongoane	Parent Member
Carla Mulholland	Alternate Parent Member
Sherri-Lynne Pharand	Director of Education
Connor Pratt	Alternate Teacher Representative
Laura Prodanyk	Community Representative
Michelle Riemer	School Council Representative
George Saarinen	Alternate Trustee Representative
Fred Van Elburg	Teacher Representative

The Parent Involvement Committee meetings are held from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm in the Board Room at the Jim McCuaig Education Centre on the following dates for the 2024-2025 school year.

• Monday, November 18, 2024
• Monday, March 3, 2025
• Monday, May 12, 2025
• Monday, October 6, 2025
• 2025-2026 to be confirmed

For more information, please contact Christine Jones via e-mail at christine_jones@lakeheadschools.ca.

Available Positions

Lakehead District School Board continues to seek applications from interested public school supporters to serve in the following positions on its Parent Involvement Committee:

• 3 – Alternate Parent Members;
• 3 – School council representatives;
• 4 – School council alternate representatives;
• 1 – Community Representatives;

The positions are effective from November 15, 2025 to November 14, 2026. The Parent Involvement Committee meets a minimum of four times per year.

Links to the By-Laws and application forms are provided below.

Applications should be addressed to:

Sherri-Lynne Pharand, Director of Education
Lakehead District School Board
2135 Sills Street
Thunder Bay, ON P7E 5T2

For additional information, please contact Christine Jones, Executive Assistant, at 625-5131 or via email at christine_jones@lakeheadschools.ca.