Christian Stapff on Facebook We need to return to the days where public education was funded at 20.3% of the total BC budget.
Christian Stapff
Independent for SD72 Board of Education
Biography
submitted by the candidate or their team
Something about Me
BIOGRAPHY
Christian Stapff
Christian Stapff is an educator, coach, community volunteer, and long-time Vancouver Island resident with a career spanning more than three decades in education, school leadership, sport, and community service.
Christian has called Campbell River home since 2011, after first moving to British Columbia in 1997. Originally from Western Australia, he brings an international perspective to his work in education, having taught in both Australia and Canada.
Christian holds a Bachelor of Physical Education and a Diploma of Education from the University of Western Australia, as well as a Master of Educational Leadership and Management from Royal Roads University. He has spent much of his career working with students from elementary through secondary school, teaching Physical Education, Health, Science, English, Social Studies, Learning Support, and other areas. Since 2011, he has worked with School District 84, including at Gold River Secondary School, Zeballos Elementary Secondary School, and Ray Watkins Elementary School.
Throughout his teaching career, Christian has taken on leadership responsibilities within schools and the Vancouver Island West Teachers' Union. His roles have included Teacher-in-Charge, staff representative, professional development chair, treasurer, and Occupational Health and Safety chair. He currently serves as District OH&S Chair and as a staff representative and Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee member at Ray Watkins Elementary School.
Leadership and service have also been central to Christian's life outside the classroom. He has served as a board member and volunteer with organizations in education, tourism, and sport, including Tourism Campbell River and Region. He has coached youth soccer and track and field in Campbell River and has maintained a lifelong involvement in volleyball as a player, coach, administrator, and mentor.
Christian's volleyball career began in Australia, where he represented Western Australia and competed nationally and internationally. He coached elite provincial teams, worked with Australia's national programs, served on the Volleyball Association of Western Australia's coaching commission, and was an assistant coach with the Australian Women's National Team at a World Championship qualifying tournament in Japan. His coaching career has included athletes ranging from beginners to elite-level competitors. He is a life member of his state association.
Since coming to Canada, Christian has continued to contribute to youth sport and outdoor education. He has taught and coached at Shawnigan Lake School, worked in outdoor education at Strathcona Park Lodge, and coached volleyball, soccer, and track and field in Campbell River.
Christian believes that strong schools are built through committed educators, engaged families, responsible governance, and a clear focus on student learning and well-being. His professional and volunteer experiences have given him a broad understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing students, families, teachers, and school communities.
He brings to public service a combination of classroom experience, educational leadership, community involvement, coaching, and a commitment to supporting strong public education on Vancouver Island.
Reason for running
submitted by the candidate or their team
I’m running because I care about Public Education in general, and this school District specifically.
Why am I running? Public Education is at a crossroads!
Funding has not kept up with the needs of, and proper inclusion and support for students. We need to reframe this by beginning with the purpose of Public Education then looking for the resources not the other way around.
A bit more about me:
- A Campbell River resident since 2011, and an immigrant to this great province and country.
- A proud parent of two young adults who benefited from their schooling at Phoenix and CARIHI. These schools shaped the future success of my kids!
- An educator since 1986 (30+ years), both in Australia (until 1997) and here in BC.
- I am still inspired to be teaching today.
- A post-graduate degree from Royal Roads University in Educational Leadership and Management
As I hear from folks about our schools, the following issues are of high importance in this election and I am committed to and will to advocate for and advance the following:
- Proper funding of the public education system in general, and of SD72 specifically.
- Funding that makes effective inclusion of neuro-diverse and high needs students a reality, that provides nutritious and filling meals for all students
- Funding that expands and supports Arts, Music and Sport and honors and compensates for time. of staff
- Schools that are safe and welcoming for ALL–students and staff.
- To bring a systems-thinking approach to governance, where the experts are listened to and policies are developed on factual information and survey data and so on…and where EVERYBODY works on the system for learning to be more effective.
- Create policies that reflect local needs!
- Create policies around Social Media and AI that benefit ALL: students, parents and teachers.
- Advance Truth and Reconciliation in collaboration with Indigenous Stake and Rights holders
If I am elected as trustee, I will–collaboratively–bring my leadership skills for these priorities to the school board:
- To strongly advocate for proper funding and to advocate for a healthy public school system–generally–and a strong School District 72, specifically. In 2000/2001 Education in British Columbia was operating on 20.3% of the total BC budget. Today it is less than 9%. Imagine what the public school system would look like if it was funded properly.
- To ensure that all staff and all students have a safe place to work, to teach and learn and to have joy in that endeavor. To allow the experts–like doctors and nurses–to do their best work, so our students have the skills and character to become successful citizens in this fast-changing world. Evidence-based knowledge is key to make decisions that tie in with the next point
- And to develop and put in place a Systems-Thinking approach that will allow all of us to be responsive to changes in education and to make learning as a system as effective as possible. Social Media, AI, learning It is my hope you will consider me as a trustee for School District 72 in this election.
I know Campbell River, I care deeply about Campbell River and its schools. My children are the better for it as they grew up to be honest, have integrity as well as learning about and caring for those around them, be they friends or acquaintances.