Heather Larson is running for school trustee with the Richmond Education Party in Steveston.
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Heather Larson is running for school trustee with the Richmond Education Party. She lists her home neighbourhood as Steveston and says she is a current school trustee.
Larson said she has also worked for 13 years as an educational assistant and in other roles within the Richmond School District. She said she is running because “strong, compassionate leadership” makes a difference in the lives of students, families and staff.
In her responses to candidate questions, Larson said schools should continue to prioritize foundational skills such as reading and math while also covering subjects including science, social studies, the arts, music and physical education. She said curriculum should focus more on trades training and that there is enough focus on social issues in the curriculum.
Larson said school districts should be allowed to set school tax rates and that students should be taught drug awareness in schools. She also said she wants elementary track meets to become more inclusive “without losing their competitive purpose,” adding that healthy competition should be “equitable, not simply equal.”
On other education topics, Larson said students should not have more outdoor education opportunities. She also said artificial intelligence should not be banned in schools and that cellphones should not be banned in Richmond schools.
Larson said teachers are not adequately paid, pointing to increased responsibilities and workload, including assessment requirements, preparing lessons and resources, communicating with families, and documenting student progress outside paid hours. She said more educational support workers are needed in schools.
Larson said she supports SOGI policies in Richmond schools. She also said her favourite hobby is riding her bike “all over Richmond everyday.”
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