As education leaders in their community and as advocates for the value of publicly funded education, effective school board Trustees are committed to ongoing professional development. Trustees must continually increase their knowledge of the education sector and good governance practices, and further develop their skills as ethical leaders, community advocates, inclusive policy makers, and strategic thinkers.
Trustee Professional Development Sessions 2025-2026
Artificial Intelligence
| Date: | October 28, 2025 |
| Format/Location: | in-person/ HCDSB Catholic Education Centre |
| Agenda: | – Understanding the “what” and “why” behind AI Integration in Education – Understanding the current position of the Catholic Church on AI – Understanding HCDSB Guidelines on AI |
| Trustees in attendance: | Marvin Duarte, Chair of the 91pro视频 and Milton Trustee, Wards 1&4 Janet O鈥橦earn-Czarnota, Vice-Chair of the 91pro视频 and Halton Hills Trustee聽 Helena Karabela, Oakville Trustees for Wards 5 & 6 Patrick Murphy, Milton Trustee for Wards 2 & 3 Chris Saunders, Oakville Trustee for Wards 4 & 7 Ropier Hanna, Student Trustee for Oakville Valini Parasram, Student Trustee for Burlington |
Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association (OCSTA) Regional Meeting
| Date: | September 24, 2025 |
| Format/Location: | in-person/ St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic Elementary School |
| Agenda: | – Catholic Identity and the Role of Catholic Trustees: Stewardship – Developing Resolutions for the OCSTA AGM – Bill 98 and Bill 33 |
| Trustees in attendance: | Marvin Duarte, Chair of the 91pro视频 and Milton Trustee, Wards 1&4 Janet O鈥橦earn-Czarnota, Halton Hills Trustee聽 Maia-Sofia Adeleye, Student Trustee for Milton/North Halton |
Trustee Professional Development Sessions 2024-2025
2025-2026 Budget Working Session
| Date: | June 10, 2025 |
| Format/Location: | in-person |
| Agenda: | This presentation provided Trustees with an overview of the 2025-2026 Education Funding Changes, as well as information about enrolment, core education funding model, core education revenue and responsive education programs. |
| Trustees in attendance: | Marvin Duarte, Chair of the 91pro视频 and Milton Trustee, Wards 1&4 Brenda Agnew, Burlington Trustee, Wards 4&5 Helena Karabela, Oakville Trustee, Wards 5&6 Robert Kennedy, Oakville Trustee, Wards 1, 2&3 Janet O鈥橦earn-Czarnota, Halton Hills Trustee Trish Powell, Burlington Trustee, Wards 3&6 Chris Saunders, Oakville Trustee, Wards 4 & 7 |
HCDSB Staffing Process
| Date: | April 8, 2025 |
| Format/Location: | in-person |
| Agenda: | This presentation provided Trustees with an overview of class size ratios and teacher staffing practices within the 91pro视频 (HCDSB), aligned with Ministry of Education guidelines. The session addressed key challenges including maintaining staffing consistency, anticipating needs, managing recruitment timelines, and leveraging technology to improve hiring efficiency. |
| Trustees in attendance: | Marvin Duarte, Chair of the 91pro视频 and Milton Trustee, Wards 1&4 Brenda Agnew, Burlington Trustee, Wards 4&5 Helena Karabela, Oakville Trustee, Wards 5&6 Robert Kennedy, Oakville Trustee, Wards 1, 2&3 Janet O鈥橦earn-Czarnota, Halton Hills Trustee Trish Powell, Burlington Trustee, Wards 3&6 Chris Saunders, Oakville Trustee, Wards 4 & 7 Lauren McGuire, Student Trustee Sophia Philbert, Student Trustee |
HCDSB Budgeting Process
| Date: | March 25, 2025 |
| Format/Location: | online |
| Agenda: | This session provided an overview of the budgeting process, highlighting key components, including: reporting cycles, the distinction between a balanced and a compliant budget, reserves and accumulated surplus. Staff also reviewed the new funding model for 2024-25, current and projected student enrolment, revenue sources and expenses, and the 2025-2026 budget challenges. |
| Trustees in attendance: | Marvin Duarte, Chair of the 91pro视频 and Milton Trustee, Wards 1&4 Emma Murphy, Vice-Chair of the 91pro视频 and Milton Trustee, Wards 2&3 Brenda Agnew, Burlington Trustee, Wards 4&5 Helena Karabela, Oakville Trustee, Wards 5&6 Robert Kennedy, Oakville Trustee, Wards 1, 2&3 Janet O鈥橦earn-Czarnota, Halton Hills Trustee Trish Powell, Burlington Trustee, Wards 3&6 Chris Saunders, Oakville Trustee, Wards 4 & 7 Lauren McGuire, Student Trustee Sophia Philbert, Student Trustee |
Foundations of Centering Black Experiences in Education
| Date: | January 20, 2025 |
| Format/Location: | in-person/ |
| Agenda: | This module addressed context regarding the global and Canadian history of anti-Black racism, data regarding the student experience at HCDSB, biases and how they impact the education sector, and a segment on critical self-reflection where participants received tools for learning and growth. |
| Trustees in attendance: | Janet O鈥橦earn-Czarnota, Halton Hills Trustee Chris Saunders, Oakville Trustee, Wards 4 & 7 Robert Kennedy, Oakville Trustee, Wards 1, 2 & 3 Helena Karabela, Oakville Trustee, Wards 5 & 6 Emma Murphy, Vice-Chair of the 91pro视频 and Milton Trustee, Wards 2 & 3 Marvin Duarte, Chair of the 91pro视频 and Milton Trustee, Wards 1 & 4 Lauren McGuire, Student Trustee Sophia Philbert, Student Trustee |
Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA) Annual Seminar
| Date: | January 16-18, 2025 |
| Format/Location: | in-person/Toronto |
| Agenda: | View Program |
| Trustees in attendance: | Janet O鈥橦earn-Czarnota, Halton Hills Trustee Chris Saunders, Oakville Trustee, Wards 4 & 7 Helena Karabela, Oakville Trustee, Wards 5 & 6 Marvin Duarte, Chair of the 91pro视频 and Milton Trustee, Wards 1 & 4 |
Trustee Professional Development Sessions 2023-2024
Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA) AGM and Conference
| Date: | May 2-4, 2024 |
| Format/Location: | In-person/Niagara Falls |
| Agenda | |
| Trustees in attendance: | Marvin Duarte, Chair of the 91pro视频 and Milton Trustee, Wards 1 & 4 Brenda Agnew, Vice Chair of the 91pro视频 and Burlington Trustee, Wards 4 & 5 Janet O鈥橦earn-Czarnota, Halton Hills Trustee |
Governance
| Date: | November 28, 2023 |
| Format/Location: | In person/Virtual option |
| Agenda: | Led by Bruce Rodrigues, this session reviewed the duties, responsibilities and role of Trustees and explored the path to good governance. |
| Trustees in attendance: | Marvin Duarte, Chair of the 91pro视频 and Milton Trustee, Wards 1 & 4 Helena Karabela, Oakville Trustee, Wards 5 & 6 Emma Murphy, Milton Trustee, Wards 2 & 3 Janet O’Hearn-Czarnota, Halton Hills Trustee Diya Deepu, Student Trustee for Burlington |
Spiritual Insight of the Lord鈥檚 Prayer
| Date: | November 8, 2023 |
| Format/Location: | In person |
| Agenda: | Led by Dr. Josephine Lombardi, this session helped build understanding around petitions of the Lord鈥檚 Prayer as a way to prepare and wait during challenging seasons. |
| Trustees in attendance: | Marvin Duarte, Chair of the 91pro视频 and Milton Trustee, Wards 1 & 4 Helena Karabela, Oakville Trustee, Wards 5 & 6 Chris Saunders, Oakville Trustee, Wards 4 & 7 |
Media Training for Trustees
| Date: | Tuesday, October 24, 2023 |
| Format/Location: | In-person/HCDSB Catholic Education Centre, Burlington |
| Agenda: | – Strategic advice, protocols and tactics for effective media relations. – Tips and guidelines to optimize media interviews. – On-camera mock interviews, review and analysis |
| Trustees in attendance: | Marvin Duarte, Chair of the 91pro视频 and Milton Trustee, Wards 1 & 4 Brenda Agnew, Vice-Chair of the 91pro视频 and Burlington Trustee, Wards 4 & 5 Helena Karabela, Oakville Trustee, Wards 5 & 6 Kirsten Kelly, Burlington Trustee, Wards 1 & 2 Robert Kennedy, Oakville Trustee, Wards 1, 2 & 3 Emma Murphy, Milton Trustee, Wards 2 & 3 Janet O’Hearn-Czarnota, Halton Hills Trustee Trish Powell, Burlington Trustee, Wards 3 & 6 Chris Saunders, Oakville Trustee, Wards 4 & 7 Diya Deepu, Student Trustee for Burlington |
Supporting Spaces for Equity Deserving Communities
| Date: | Tuesday, September 26, 2023 |
| Format/Location: | In-person/HCDSB Catholic Education Centre, Burlington |
| Agenda: | – Confronting the myth of reverse discrimination/racism. – Understanding how exclusivity can be inclusive. – Navigating conversations in support of programs that support equity deserving students and staff. |
| Trustees in attendance: | Marvin Duarte, Chair of the 91pro视频 and Milton Trustee, Wards 1 & 4 Brenda Agnew, Vice Chair of the 91pro视频 and Burlington Trustee, Wards 4 & 5 Janet O鈥橦earn-Czarnota, Halton Hills Trustee Trish Powell, Burlington Trustee, Wards 3 & 6 Chris Saunders, Oakville Trustee, Wards 4 & 7 Lauren McGuire, Student Trustee for Oakville |
Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association (OCSTA) Regional Meeting
| Date: | Monday, September 18, 2023 |
| Format/Location: | In-person/LIUNA Station, Hamilton |
| Agenda: | – An Introduction to the New Trustee Module: Dignity of the Human Person, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Shepherd Leadership – Catholic Identity – Adult Faith Formation – Pastoral Care |
| Trustees in attendance: | Marvin Duarte, Chair of the 91pro视频 and Milton Trustee, Wards 1 & 4 Lauren McGuire, Student Trustee for Oakville |