Tricia Clayton

Hello! My name is Tricia Clayton. I am running for School Trustee because I believe my many years of experience in early childhood education, my leadership within our school community, and my commitment to children and families make me a strong voice for our students.

For the past 25 years, I have worked as an Early Childhood Educator, specializing in infant and toddler education. For the past 8 years I have been operating my own Early Learning Centre, giving me firsthand experience supporting young children, families, and educators every day. This work has given me a deep understanding of how important the early years are and how strong foundations can shape a child’s confidence, well-being, and success throughout their education.

My husband grew up in Port Alberni, and our family has proudly called the Alberni Valley home for the past four years. Since moving here, I have made it a priority to become actively involved in our local education community.

I currently serve as Chair of our School PAC and as a member of the District-PAC. Through these roles I have built strong connections with families, educators, and our school communities while listening to concerns, advocating for students, and working toward meaningful solutions.

I am passionate about creating strong connections across every stage of a child’s education. I believe we need to look beyond individual grades and schools and focus on the entire educational journey — from early learning and the elementary years through to high school. By strengthening these connections and creating a consistent thread of support, we can help ensure that students and families are better prepared for each transition and have the opportunity to thrive.

I am ready to bring my experience, leadership, and community perspective to the table. I understand the importance of listening, collaborating, accountability, and putting students at the centre of every decision. I will be a strong advocate for children, families, and educators, and I will work to ensure that the voices of our community are heard.

Our children deserve trustees who understand their needs, value education, and are willing to work hard to make a difference. I have a genuine passion for helping children succeed and I would be honoured to serve the Alberni Valley as your School Trustee.