Greetings, Everyone,
I am David Bellis and I am an educator. I worked for S D 79 for over 37 years, as a teacher and then as an administrator. I have worked with students from Grade 5 to 85 years old. I continue to do contract work for the Ministry of Education.
David Bellis
Independent for Cowichan Valley School Board
Public Safety & Policing
Reconciliation & Indigenous Nations
Schools & Public Education
Artificial Intelligence in Schools
Bring in the experts to guide Board policy; I am no expert and we need guidance!
Bullying & Bigotry
Zero tolerance for anything/anyone who makes others feel unsafe or unwelcome. The goal: every students can say, "In this place, with these people, I feel safe.
Indigenous Schooling
Continue incorporating Indigenous Ways of Knowing in our schools. All cultures can learn from each other.
Media Literacy & Critical Thinking
Make critical thinking a priority; checking sources is vital to an informed student (or adult)'
.
Neurodivergent Students & Support
Advocate for more assessment and intervention at the earliest possible stage; primary teachers
Advocate for early assessment and interventions for those who don't fit "the norm". Primary teachers need more support; students are slipping through the cracks.
Police in Schools
Advocate for a friendly and collegial presence that removes the us vs them stigma; they are here to protect.
Student Involvement & Engagement
Advocate for more student decision making and self-management through, among other things, an advisor system in older grades.
Biography
submitted by the candidate or their team
It is my hope that I can continue to support our students, teachers, and EA's, as well as all of our union staff, as a Trustee. During my career, I spent thousands of hours coaching teams at every level, and in every sport. That commitment reflects my belief that students need to be physically active; the reasons for that are well documented, but improved learning is one vital one. My other beliefs and goals will be outlined in the sections below.
My family has been in the Valley since 1963 and I feel lucky to call Cowichan my home. I went to school here, and spent my professional life in service to our students. I believe we have a good school system, that could become better. We need to pay attention to changes that are not just looming, but already in our schools. I believe I have the experience, relationships, and vision to be an effective Trustee
Promises
See all 9 promises
Bullying & Bigotry
Zero tolerance for anything/anyone who makes others feel unsafe or unwelcome. The goal: every students can say, "In this place, with these people, I feel safe.
Neurodivergent Students & Support
Advocate for more assessment and intervention at the earliest possible stage; primary teachers
Artificial Intelligence in Schools
Bring in the experts to guide Board policy; I am no expert and we need guidance!