Why I feel I am the appropriate choice for election as the minister for Children and Education.
My experience of growing up in Kazakhstan, at the end of the Soviet era, has shown me that it’s vital for all children to have the fair opportunity to attain the necessary skills and knowledge to prepare them for a potentially uncertain future. In an age where we do not know how trends in globalisation and artificial intelligence will affect our future working lives, it is more important than ever to maintain and enhance good standards of learning and education. A well rounded education makes a positive difference to the lives of children, young people, their families and carers, and our community at large. Their future is our collective future.
In my previous term in the Assembly, I was the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, a member of the Diversity Forum and the Social Inclusion Project for minorities in Jersey, a member of the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel and a member of various review panels.
During this previous term, I successfully furthered diversity and inclusion within the Youth Service through amendments to the Government Plan and I made sure that the education estate was considered as part of infrastructure planning. I further established play-area standards for the benefit of children and their parents through amendments to the Bridging Island Plan.
My full election manifesto for education can be found here
My qualifications and education
During my time at university, I worked as a youth leader. This made me realised how important it is for me to work with people, and especially supporting the most vulnerable in society to have fairer opportunities in life.
Having left Kazakhstan, I studied for a BA in Social Work at the Hebrew University Jerusalem and trained as juvenile probation officer, supporting families in crisis from the local council. I then studied at Clark University in Massachusetts for my Masters of Science, specialising in cross cultural and organisational communications. Following my first election to the Assembly, I studied Parliamentary Governance at McGill University, Quebec.
I am a certified organisation counsellor and a Bronze Badge Guide in Jersey.
My Experience in Education and Children:
In 2000, I became a self employed management consultant and, within this 20-year professional journey, I worked with educational institutions and international businesses to improve their organisational effectiveness, team dynamics, diversity and collaboration.
All eight years of my professional career prior to this were spent in education roles:
1991-1995 – Youth worker for the Jewish Agency and Youth Service
1995-1997 Department manager and workshop facilitator at the Institute of Jewish Education in Jerusalem
1997- 1999 Supervisor, Ministry of Education of Israel (specialising in the provision of therapy for disadvantaged children at state boarding schools)
My Vision
We must work together to make our Island the best possible place for all children and young people to study, play, grow and create their futures.
This starts in the early years and goes all the way to University and beyond. It starts from the breakfast clubs, through classroom activities, lunchtime, sports provision, and into the afterschool care.
I want to bring a renewed passion and leadership to our current Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills. I seek to help it meet the evolving challenges and the current needs of the community.