At a time when we continue to see division and disinformation pointed at our education system we are in place now more than ever where we need to have collaborative, empathetic, and innovative leaders supporting our system through a lens of appreciative inquiry and solutions-based governance.
Over the past 4 years, in her first term as a school board trustee, Amanda has proven herself as an advocate of access to all levels of education, and has built strong working relationships with partner groups. She has carried herself as a champion of students in the Sooke School District, and has worked to ensure students, student outcomes, and building capacity as an organization were the guiding direction as she worked on the development of the current strategic plan (2026-2029). Understanding that this plan would be the foundation for providing direction to staff, setting priorities for budgeting and program review, as well as a valuable reference to an incoming board following the 2026 election, she is proud of the engagement work that helped shape this plan.
Education Advocacy
Throughout her first term, Amanda has worked tirelessly to build relationships throughout the district and across the province. She has worked closely with municipal partners working to renew formal Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with three of the municipalities within the district, while also building towards progress on developing new MoU's. Through these MoU's, Amanda has worked closely with the Mayors and senior administrative staff for the District of Sooke, City of Langford, and City of Colwood to promote the needs of students and schools. Building space for open communication, collaboration and consultation on projects (upcoming and ongoing), and joint advocacy for education and students have successfully brought forward improvements for students and communities. If supported for a second term, Amanda hopes to grow these relationships to include formal agreements with the Juan de Fuca electoral area (JdF) Regional Director, District of Metchosin, and District of Highlands.
Some examples highlighting the success of these relationships include the improvements for access and parking at John Muir Elementary, the Little River crossing, and the inclusion of a full remediation of the back field at Saseenos Elementary as part of the upcoming Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MoTT) work to be done along Highway 14 at Idlemore Road. Further examples of advocacy include new capital projects that the district have received in the past 4 years including two 8-classroom pre-fabricated additions at David Cameron Elementary and Ruth King Elementary (completed Fall 2025), a 2,000 seat secondary school located in North Langford (estimated opening Fall 2030), purchase of a middle school site located adjacent to the secondary school site, seismic replacement of Port Renfrew Elementary, and first stage approval for a seismic project at Sooke Elementary (subject to funding by Treasury Board approval).
Amanda has consistently worked to improve education and student outcomes for the residents of Sooke and Juan de Fuca, while raising the profile of the needs and successes that we have seen across the Sooke School District. In a second term, Amanda hopes to support the opening of a brand new Port Renfrew Elementary that meets the current and future needs of the community, see through the construction of the largest capital project in the District's history (North Langford Secondary), and work towards ensuring the upcoming Foundry West Shore will provide access to health and wellness supports for students and their families across the entirety of the Sooke School District from Langford to Port Renfrew.
In 2026, we need leaders who are courageous, curious, innovative, and also kind. Education needs systems-thinking individuals who can collaborate and identify areas of opportunity. While the public education system (like many other areas that rely on public funding) is – and has long been – chronically underfunded, we need governors who approach the issues with a growth mindset, rooted in student success, rather than a deficit mentality. Amanda Dowhy is that kind of leader – one who will show up every day with ÍY ŚW̱ḰÁLEȻEN - that good heart, good mind, and good feeling – that comes from working together to bring good to our students, our schools, and our communities.
