Meet our Trustees
Robert Hunking - Chair of the Board (2024)
Southwest Huron (Exeter PS, Bluewater Coast ES, Huron Centennial PS, Stephen Central PS, South Huron District HS)
519-440-8839; [email protected]
As I begin my fourth term as a Trustee for AMDSB, things will be different. I will be representing Southwest Huron, the Municipalities of Bluewater and South Huron, instead of Central/East Huron. I look forward to representing and working for these new school communities: Bluewater Coast, Huron Centennial, Stephen Central, Exeter Elementary and South District. It is the students, staff and community that make a school and we have great schools.
My involvement in education has been as a parent, ARC Member, School Council Member & Chair, PIC Member and now again as Trustee. I am a life-long resident of Huron County, having lived all my life on the family farm in Central Huron (Hullett) until moving to Bayfield. Home is with my three daughters. I attended Hullett Central PS and Central Huron SS, and my daughters followed in my footsteps. I hold a Diploma in Horticulture from the Niagara Parks Commission School of Horticulture.
My path to this role as trustee was sparked by a quote by Benjamin Franklin that has always stuck with me: “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
Education is a challenging and a complex system. Some say it is stagnant, others say it is constantly changing. As a Trustee through the AMDSB, I hope that we will continue to provide excellent education to Huron and Perth Counties. "Involve you and you learn."
Nancy Rothwell - Vice Chair of the Board (2024)
North Perth (North Perth Westfield ES; Listowel Eastdale PS; Elma Township PS; and Listowel District SS)
519-502-7250; [email protected]
I am pleased to continue to be a Trustee, now in my third term (2014 – current). I strive to advocate for a strong public education system within Huron and Perth counties and the province. I want to ensure we are raising great future global citizens with a curiosity to continue to learn every day, alongside social and emotional well being. Our Board’s strategic plan with three pillars: I am prepared; I am engaged; and I am well, helps to strengthen the path for our students, staff, and our community.
My husband and I live in the Elma Ward of North Perth and are blessed with 4 children, now all young adults. I was raised in Elma Township on a dairy farm and attended Elma Township Public School and Listowel District Secondary School. My education continued into a Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Nutrition) at the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Health Promotion at the University of Western Ontario.
As a parent and community member, I have had opportunities to be active in the school community through different venues of volunteering, fundraising, attending School Council meetings, coaching, chaperoning, and hosting International students from Germany, Brazil and Spain. I encourage parents and guardians to be active within their school community.
Sheila Armstrong-Marshall
St Marys, Perth South, West Perth (Downie Central PS, Little Falls PS, South Perth Centennial PS, Upper Thames ES, Mitchell District HS and St. Marys DCVI)
I am Sheila Marshall and I am a resident of Perth South. I am a past member of the Stratford Agricultural Society and a volunteer at the Perth County Museum.
I was a teacher for 30 years with the Thames Valley School Board. The past six years I have been a member of the Ontario Plowmen's Association, serving as President for two years.
I look forward to serving the residents of Perth South, West Perth and St. Marys with any concerns that you may have.
Michael Bannerman
Stratford (Anne Hathaway PS, Avon PS, Bedford PS, Hamlet PS, Romeo PS, Shakespeare PS, Stratford Intermediate School, Stratford District SS)
519-703-0885; [email protected]
“Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire” - W. Yates.
I have lived in Stratford with my wife Christy and four children for over 25 years. During that time I have worked for 20 years in the mental health field as a Psycho-Social Rehabilitation Specialist and before that for 5 years running various life skill and support programs (Food Bank, Budget Counselling, Employment Support Services) with a local non-profit agency for economically challenged individuals and families.
I am passionate about public education and the difference it can make in the lives of individuals, families and communities.
I am honoured to be a public school board trustee and to represent the community of Stratford at the board table.
My hope in life is to be an eternal student - always trying new experiences, always asking questions and always learning.
David Briant
Perth East (Central Perth ES, North Easthope PS, Sprucedale PS, Milverton PS, Mornington Central PS)
519-291-7310; [email protected]
I am not married and have no children or pets. I was born and raised in Ontario and spent 13 years living in Calgary before recently moving back to Ontario.
I worked in computer IT and business administration for the past 40 years, working on contracts with such organizations as Toronto General and Princess Margaret Hospitals, Compaq in Ottawa, RIM in Waterloo, and the Federal Justice Department in Ottawa.
I managed businesses and departments in Southern Ontario and Calgary and developed successful marketing campaigns to improve sales and community recognition. I also taught computer classes and wrote articles for Kitchener Waterloo area publications.
With the IT crash of 2000, most contractors in the computer field were without a job. In my situation, I changed professions and became a school bus driver. I drove buses in Ottawa, Cornwall, Guelph, and Erin. In 2008 I was offered a job driving for Calgary Transit. I retired after 10 years of service in 2018 and then moved back to the Listowel area in early 2022.
Now that I’m at the official retirement age, I want to do it as a wise man (my dad) once said: “Spend your early life learning, gaining knowledge and experiences so that later in life you can share them with others”.
When I realized the municipal elections were coming, I decided to run for the Avon Maitland District School Board Trustee representing Perth East. Now I can share my years of experience and knowledge in computers, business, and transportation with those living in Huron-Perth counties. This is my first time as a school board trustee. It’s going to be a great adventure. Thank you.
Joseph Cohen
Northwest Huron (Goderich PS, Brookside PS, Goderich District Collegiate Institute)
Bio coming soon….
Deborah Logue
Central/East Huron (Clinton PS, Hullett Central PS, Seaforth PS, North Woods ES and Central Huron SS)
519-525-7292; [email protected]
I have devoted my entire career to being an advocate for youth and families. I am a graduate of the Child & Youth Worker program from Algonquin college and worked a large portion of my career in the Ottawa area. I have worked at Women's shelters, Youth detention facilities (both open and secure custody) as well as a residential crisis program.
I returned to Huron County in 2014 and started working at Lutherwood Youth Treatment facility in Waterloo until I started as the Executive Director of Victim Services Huron in 2016. Our office is based out of the OPP station in Central Huron and I reside in Huron East in the village of Brussels.
I am also on the Huron Area Search and Rescue (HASAR) Board of Directors as the Secretary.
I look forward to bringing my experience and passion to the role of Trustee.
Patricia Smith
North Huron, Morris Turnberry and Howick (Maitland River ES, Howick Central PS, FE Madill SS)
519-357-4352; [email protected]
I am excited to represent the municipalities of North Huron, Morris-Turnberry and Howick and Maitland River Elementary School, FE Madill and Howick Central Public School as their Trustee. I am a mother of two children and together with my partner, we live on a farm with a menagerie of animals. I did not grow up in rural Ontario but have come to love and appreciate the importance of community. As such, I have volunteered extensively with a variety of organizations, such as the United Way, the Foundation for Education, Rural Response for Healthy Children and the Huron County Library, among others. I am the Co-Founder and Executive VP of The Well Community Collective, which is an organization bringing Youth Wellness Hubs to our areas. I have a MA in Archaeology and am a PhD candidate in Anthropology. Both research projects are focused on children and hearing what they have to say. This is something I strongly believe - education is made better by listening to the voices of those being educated. Along with the voices of their parents and the community, I think we have the ability to improve the lives of children in the here and now and increase the chances of their future success. Not only can we imagine a better world for children, but we also have the tools to make that happen!
Bruce Whitaker
Stratford (Anne Hathaway PS, Avon PS, Bedford PS, Hamlet PS, Romeo PS, Shakespeare PS, Stratford Intermediate School, Stratford District SS)
I was employed as a Senior Consultant with Ernst & Young, New York where I focused on process improvement, corporate finance and executive recruitment. I also worked for several years in corporate lending and international project finance with TD Bank within Canada and internationally. I was SVP of sales and business development for a high tech firm acquired by Zephyrtel, a Texas based corporation. I am currently the owner/operator of the Perth County Inn building at 6 Ontario and the Edison’s building at 46/48 Ontario in Stratford.
A father of three boys, I created an organization called POWER Youth and Sports which broadened the opportunities of inner city youth in Toronto. Since moving to Stratford, I captained the approval and build of the All Wheels Skatepark in the downtown. The skatepark was approved in 2014 with three additional phases having now been completed. Recently, I guided and partially funded the construction of basketball courts in the centre of town.
I have also been a director on several boards in Stratford: YMCA of Stratford Perth, the Local Community Food Centre, the Stratford Public Library and the Grand Trunk Block, Citizens for Action. I was also Chair of the parent council at Stratford Secondary School.