Joe Allin

Background

In November 2011, Joe Allin was elected to a second term as school trustee representing the Townships of Uxbridge & Brock on the Durham District School Board (DDSB).. He was re-elected to continue building upon the accomplishments of his first four years in office - supporting young children and their families, promoting increased use of technology in teaching and learning, and reviewing student accommodation in view of shifting and declining enrolments.

In December 2011, he was elected Chair of the DDSB.

Joe is a lifetime resident of Brock Township with a keen interest in the public school system. After a 35 year career, as a teacher, principal and superintendent, he retired from the position of Associate Director of Education with the York Region District School Board. He has studied extensively at the University of Toronto - Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and holds degrees at the masters and doctoral levels. His doctoral research examined the value of computer technology as an instructional tool. The trustee position affords him an opportunity to serve the Durham community.

Joe is committed to the notion of equity of opportunity in the belief that all children are capable and deserve the best education possible regardless of their needs or abilities.

Joe emphasizes the importance of open communication and accessibility. He believes that parents must have a voice. He welcomes conversations with parents regarding school or education related issues. While as trustee, he has no voice in day-to-day operational decisions, he is able to assist folks in their efforts to interface with the educational bureaucracy. In addition, parental views strongly influence his position at the Board table in discussions regarding policy matters.

Durham School Transportation Service

Encouraged as an efficiency measure by the Ontario Ministry of Education, in December 2005, the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board formed a consortium to provide transportation services for all eligible students in the Durham Region.. This consortium now operates as Durham Student Transportation Services (DSTS) and is responsible for the safe transportation of more then 28,000 Durham students every day. ... more

Early Childhood Education

The Minister of Education has announced plans to introduce full day programs for 4 & 5 year old children. Given current economic pressure, this program will not be fully implemented in all schools until 2015. Full day kindergarten programs will be in place in all Brock schools next year (2012/13)and in all Uxbridge schools by the following year.(2013/14).Given its desire to support young children, the DDSB will continue efforts to enhance partnerships with early childhood services and related programs (see: Vol.1, Issue 4 - The Trustee Report). ... more

Learning with Technology

The use of technology tools that are already familiar to students may help retain students in school and prepare them for further education, careers and citizenship in ways that traditional practices are failing to do. In an effort to spark further dialogue about the instructional use of computers, the Ontario Public School Board Association has produced a discussion paper citing some of the exciting and innovative ways in which technology is being used in today’s schools. I was privileged to have contributed to this paper entitled, “What If? Technology in the 21^st Century Classroom”. The paper explores the notion that teacher knowledge more than infrastructure may be the greatest impediment to the effective use of computers in the classroom.

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