Nicola for TDSB Trustee

NICOLA FOR TDSB

Toronto schools

Every Child is a Priority. No Child Gets Left Behind

About Me

Meet Nicola Simpson

Nicola Simpson was born in May Pen, a small Jamaican town, to a poor family. Her father was a civil contractor and her mother who ran a small family grocer.
Unlike her sisters, who were blessed with the most enviable charm and grace, Nicola endured discrimination and harassment due to her apparent sexual orientation. She eventually fled to Canada as a refugee where she endured abuse from her husband – and jail time – because of marital reluctance.
Nicola continues to defy the odds, from her humble beginning as a refugee to pursuing a diploma at the Humber College, an undergrad at Ontario Tech University, a masters degree at Toronto Metropolitan University and a place in one of Canada’s most prestigious law schools, the University of Ottawa, Common Law Section.
Nicola earned her Juris Doctor in May 2021 – completing her final year at Osgoode Hall Law School. She successfully wrote the Ontario Bar exams, secured a placement at the Barbra Schilfer Commemorative Clinic, called to the Ontario Bar in June 2022 and currently pursuing her LL.M in Dispute Resolution at the University of Missouri. Nicola is also the Founder and Managing Director of the Roxy and Lascelles Simpson Foundation, a not-for-profit in honor of her deceased parents, dedicated to community building.

TDSB TRUSTEE ELECTIONS

October 24, 2022

My Vision

Every Child Is A Priority.
No Child Gets Left Behind

Toronto is a world class city, and the Toronto District School Board needs an education system and curriculum that are reflective of the diversity, multiculturalism, and prestige the City has enjoyed for the past few decades. We have and need to continue harvesting the economic, social, and cultural potential of the future, our children. This can only be achieved by focusing on a renewed infusion of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

To create viable and sustainable growth, we must not only attract top talent, but we must also invest in harnessing top talent. We have the resources, we have the human capital, we have the capacity, we have the desire. What’s not so forthcoming is the will of our leaders to make giant leaps in investment, policy making, and other essential tools needed to make Toronto’s education system the envy of the world.

I plan to improve the flow of communication between Board Trustees, parents, teachers, and other parties. The goal is to encourage the active engagement of parents in their children’s education and well-being, as well as to facilitate meaningful and sincere consultation on matters that may adversely impact our students.
Recent research indicates approximately 55% of Canadian children have fallen victim to cyberbullying. Cyberbullying can potentially impair a child’s mental health, physical safety, their emotional and social well-being. It is our responsibility to ensure our children’s safety and protection. Whether it is from name calling, sexting, physical assault, harassment, and other harms. This is why I would personally seek to create policies and systems to ensure both victims and perpetrators of cyberbullying in our City’s schools are given the appropriate attention and focus to stem this phenomenon.
Full access to a world class education should not be determined based on geographic location. Every student, in all schools, in every community must be given equal opportunity to learn. Consequently, increased education funding should be made available for the operation and maintenance of schools in poorer communities to bring these schools and student up to par with their more affluent counterparts. Additionally, we need to develop and re-enforce measures to ensure that students and schools are not disproportionately affected by the current and future economic uncertainties.
The TDSB needs to have more equitable funding to promote the inclusion of minority students, students with disabilities, special needs and others who have been historically excluded or left behind. More focus needs to be directed to the mental health of our students and it is therefore imperative that more funding becomes available to facilitate targeted research and support regarding the effects of the pandemic, especially on those children born over the last two years and about to enter the school system. This includes attention to the reported psychological, emotional, and neurological fallouts resulting from the lockdowns, limits on face-to-face learning and interactions, the extended screen time, the long-term effects of the virus on those children who contracted COVID-19 and those children who might have been exposed or overly exposed to various forms of violence and other issues during the lockdowns.
The TDSB needs to have more equitable funding to promote the inclusion of minority students, students with disabilities, special needs and others who have been historically excluded or left behind. More focus needs to be directed to the mental health of our students and it is therefore imperative that more funding becomes available to facilitate targeted research and support regarding the effects of the pandemic, especially on those children born over the last two years and about to enter the school system. This includes attention to the reported psychological, emotional, and neurological fallouts resulting from the lockdowns, limits on face-to-face learning and interactions, the extended screen time, the long-term effects of the virus on those children who contracted COVID-19 and those children who might have been exposed or overly exposed to various forms of violence and other issues during the lockdowns.

Nicola In The News

Nicola For TDSB trustee

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

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