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Election 2014: Lorraine Baldwin seeks Board of Education seat

School District 35: Baldwin, Lorraine - trustee candidate (Township of Langley): 'Angry mom' wants to do something about Willoughby schools
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Lorraine Baldwin is seeking a Langley Township seat on the Langley Board of Education.

Willoughby parent Lorraine Baldwin has announced her candidacy for trustee for the Langley Board of Education. She is seeking one of the five Township seats on the board.

“Google ‘Lorraine Baldwin’ and ‘Langley’ and you’ll discover my track record of advocacy for Langley’s children,” she said. “As a parent and a person concerned about those who have been marginalized, I cannot stand back and let this story unfold the way it is. The board has done some great work in the last couple of years, and I think I can use my expertise and my voice to help drive those changes further.”

She has lived in Willoughby for nine years with her husband Kevin, an instructor at BCIT, and her daughters Jessica (age 11) and Lauren (age 9). Their family has experienced firsthand the challenges the school district is facing as a result of overcrowding and unsustainable practices in the community. She is determined to ensure that the drive for development throughout the rest of Langley does not override the educational needs of the children who live there.

“Some people call me an ‘angry mom’,” she said. “They’re right. I am angry. I’m angry that many children are in overcrowded schools. I’m angry that teachers and parents are subsidizing our school system because the government is failing to meet its obligations. I’m angry that resources for children in need are being cut and that their voices are not being heard. I want to do everything I can to help and that’s why I’m running for trustee.”

She promises to engage with the community to foster an educational ecosystem through a commitment to collaboration, transparency, and trust. She will also leverage her professional skills and expertise to advocate for Langley’s children.

With more than 25 years of experience in the communications industry, she has held various roles in strategic integrated communications for a wide range of public, private and non-profit organizations. Currently, she is a win strategist with IBM, a position she has held for over seven years.

She was a member of the PAC Executive at RC Garnett Demonstration Elementary School for six years, serving three years as president, and is currently president of the PAC for the new Yorkson Creek Middle School. She has chaired IBM’s Employee Charitable Fund campaign for two years, was the Chairperson for the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards for three years, and taught communications skills to disadvantaged youth in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. For three years, she provided volunteer public relations counsel for Abreast in a Boat, a dragon boat team of breast cancer survivors, and was subsequently nominated for an Ethics in Action Award.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of British Columbia. She has completed many professional development courses, and is currently pursuing Lean Six Sigma education.

To engage with her, you can find her on Twitter at @LorraineJLola or email her at lorrainebaldwin2014@gmail.com. You can also communicate with her via Facebook at www.facebook.com/LorraineJBaldwin.