Parent Involvement Committee

More

The Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) provides the school board with information and advice to help engage parents. The PIC undertakes activities to help parents support their children's learning at home and at school. They also share information with and support School Community Councils (SCC).

The DDSB Parent Involvement Committee Regulation provides guidelines for how the PIC is governed.

Explore the Ontario Ministry of Education Parent Involvement Committee website for more information about the role of PICs. Read through the PIC factsheet and handbook for a detailed explanation of the purpose, membership and activities of PICs.

Joining the Parent Involvement Committee

The Parent Involvement Committee’s (PIC) primary role is to support, encourage and enhance parent engagement at the board level to improve student achievement and well-being.  This purpose is achieved primarily by providing advice on parent engagement to the board, communicating with and supporting school community councils and undertaking activities to help parents support their children’s learning at home and at school.

The Parent Involvement Committee is comprised of parents/guardians, community representatives and staff representatives. This video shares the voices of our Parent Involvement Committee Members.

Volunteer Opportunities

Each September, PIC vacancies are advertised through the DDSB website, school websites, school newsletters and School Community Councils (SCCs).

New members are appointed prior to November 15th of each school year and before the first meeting. PIC members serve a two-year term.

Resources to learn more about PIC:

Meetings

View the Parent Involvement Committee meetings calendar for meeting agendas and minutes.

Meetings start at 6:30 p.m. and will be held virtually for the 2022-2023 school year.

All parents, guardians and community members are welcome to attend our PIC meetings as non-voting members.

Registration for PIC meetings is required. 

Meetings for the 2023-2024 school year will be held on:

  • October 18, 2023

  • November 15, 2023

  • December 6, 2023

  • February 21, 2024

  • April 17, 2024

  • May 22, 2024
Committee members

The PIC includes two parent representatives from each geographical area of the board, the Superintendent of Education/Engagement – Parent and Community and a Board Trustee. A balance of elementary and secondary representation is desirable. The board may appoint additional members including community representatives, administrators and teachers.

Committee Chairs
  • Huma Choudary, Co-Chair, Parent Representative
  • Jim Van Allen, Co-Chair, Parent Representative
Parent Representatives
  • Nigel Hunter, Elementary Parent Representative, Ajax
  • Arun Rai, Secondary Parent Representative, Ajax 
  • Angela Mastrangelo, Elementary Parent Representative, Oshawa
  • Kristen McKinnon, Secondary Parent Representative, Oshawa 
  • Ebony Gittens, Elementary Parent Representative, Pickering
  • Alisa Ganesh, Secondary Parent Representative, Pickering 
  • Tarun Chaudhary, Elementary Parent Representative, Whitby
  • Yugita Looknauth, Secondary Parent Representative, Whitby 
  • Tracy Marshal, Elementary Parent Representative, North
  • Lori Dunn, Secondary Parent Representative, North
SEAC Representative
  • SensaRAneb Burrell
Staff Representatives
  • Margaret Lazarus, Superintendent of Education/Family of Schools/Engagement – Parent and Community
  • Carolynne Waters, Elementary Administrator Representative
  • Nadia Nembhard-Hunt, Elementary Administrator Representative
  • Mitzi Hussett, Elementary Teacher Representative
  • Tara Bryan, Secondary Administrator Representative
  • Nadia Baby, Secondary Teacher Representative
  • Patrick Symister, Centrally Assigned Staff
Trustee Representative
  • Stephen Linton, Trustee
  • Michelle Arseneault, Trustee (Alternate)
Community Representatives
  • Trecia Facey 
  • Rupal Patel
  • Gurleen Saggu, Pickering
Minutes

Read through past meeting minutes to stay informed:

2022-2023
Parent Involvement Committee Meetings Calendar - Agendas and Minutes
2021-2022
2020-2021
2019-2020
 2018-2019

To request archived minutes or agendas, please contact the PIC.
Supporting Parents as Partners in Education e-Newsletters