Please note that correspondence sent to individual trustees is not considered public record and may not be shared with the full Board.
If you wish to submit correspondence for the attention of the Board of Education as a whole, and to have it treated as public correspondence, please email trustees@sd62.bc.ca.
Amanda Dowhy is long time Sooke resident, avid community volunteer, and an Edward Milne Community School graduate. She has a background in Hospitality, Business Administration, and Accounting rounded out with nearly a decade as an engaged parent volunteer at the school PAC, District PAC, and Provincial PAC levels. She was elected during her first campaign to serve on the Sooke School District Board in 2022.
Amanda lives in the Saseenos area of Sooke on a small farm with her husband, two children, and a variety of pets and livestock. She has actively been involved in the community for more than 20 years with a number of organizations including Sooke Sea Cadets, Sooke Harbourside Lions, Sooke Rotary, Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce, and more. She is incredibly grateful to her family, friends, and colleagues who have supported and encouraged her to serve on the Board of Education for SD62.
Cendra Beaton is a parent of two children who attended schools in the Sooke School District and has been involved in public education for many years. She is fluent in English and French and has experience in parent advocacy, educational governance, and community involvement.
Before joining the Board of Education, Cendra served as President of the Sooke Parents' Education Advisory Council (SPEAC) and the Canadian Parents for French (CPF) Sooke Chapter. She has also been involved in other advocacy and governance roles at both the local and provincial levels.
As a trustee, Cendra has participated in advocacy efforts across the region and province, introduced Board motions, and served on a regional Trustee Motion Building Committee. Her work has included policy discussions and advocating for the needs of students, families, and public education.
As part of a military family, Cendra also understands the importance of community connections and the challenges families can face. She believes in open communication, working collaboratively, and making informed decisions that keep students and their well-being at the centre of the Board's work.
Coming soon.
Laurie Szadkowski was raised in Sooke and has family ties to local schools that go back several generations. She attended Saseenos Elementary and Edward Milne Secondary, as did her children, and her grandchildren now attend local schools. Her family's history in the area includes generations who attended schools in Sooke and Shirley.
Laurie earned a Bachelor of Education and began her teaching career in the Sooke School District. She later completed a master's degree in leadership and administration and went on to serve as a vice-principal and principal in the Milne's Landing Zone. After retiring, she continued working in education by supervising teacher candidates through Vancouver Island University.
Laurie has volunteered with Sooke Minor Hockey, Girl Guides, and Parent Advisory Councils. She is also vice-president of the Sooke Region Historical Society, where she has worked on school programs, youth involvement, and funding initiatives. Her community involvement has taken her throughout the region, including East Sooke, Otter Point, Shirley, Jordan River, and Port Renfrew.
Laurie's experience in education and school leadership, along with her lifelong ties to Sooke and the surrounding communities, informs her work as a trustee.
Mike Manhas has lived in Metchosin for more than a decade and has longstanding ties to the West Shore community. He is a father of three and has worked as an educator in the Sooke School District.
Mike holds a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History and Political Science. He has taught at both the elementary and middle school levels and has worked in social work, community development, and nonprofit leadership.
Mike is the founder of ReWired Recovery Foundation and SoberFest Victoria, two initiatives that focus on bringing people together, connecting individuals and families with support, and raising funds for those in need. His work has included supporting people and families through community-based programs and services.
As a trustee, Mike draws on his experience as a teacher, parent, and community volunteer, as well as his work with individuals and families across the region.
Tom Davis is a graduate of Belmont Secondary School and a parent of two children attending schools in the Sooke School District. He lives in Langford with his family and has been involved in public education for more than a decade.
Tom has held several Parent Advisory Council (PAC) executive positions and served three terms as President of the Sooke Parents' Education Advisory Council (SPEAC). In these roles, he has worked with parents, teachers, support staff, and district leadership on issues affecting students and schools. He has also been involved at the provincial level as a member of the BC School Facilities Committee.
Tom works in the plumbing and mechanical construction industry and has experience in occupational health and safety, training, transportation, and regional operations management. He has also served as president of a residential strata council for 16 years.
His background in parent advocacy, operations, and community leadership provides a range of experience that he brings to his work on the Board of Education.
Trudy is from the Wolf Clan in Northern BC of the Gitxsan Nation. Her traditional name is Lugaganowais, meaning a frog that is always giving. She is a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Trudy spent her career as a Licensed Practical Nurse in the province until her retirement in 2016. During her tenure as an LPN, Trudy held several union executive positions including Chair of the HEU First Nation Standing Committee and as a member of the CUPE National Aboriginal Council.
In 2011, Trudy became a Role Model for our Na'tsa'maht Indigenous Education Department sharing knowledge and teachings about traditional medicine, food and dress. She was encouraged by many teachers in the district to consider writing a book. In 2017, Trudy completed "Trudy's Rock Story," and in 2019, it was published for younger audiences as "Trudy's Healing Stone."
Trudy is an active member of her community, serving in many capacities as she advocates for a strong, healthy community where families will grow and flourish.