Parent Involvement Committee

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

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.

Recruitment Opportunity for Pickering - Secondary Representative

Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) is currently recruiting for a Pickering – Secondary representative to support, encourage and enhance parent engagement at the board level to improve student achievement and well-being.

PIC Member Application Form 
Application deadline will be January 8, 2026.

 

Resources to learn more about PIC:

Parent Involvement Committee

2025-2026 Meeting dates, agendas and minutes, and year end reports

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

View the Committee meeting calendar for all meeting agendas and minutes.

Meetings for the 2025-2026 school year will be held virtually, starting at 6:30 pm on the following dates:

  • September 18, 2025

  • Monday November 24, 2025

  • Thursday January 15, 2026

  • Wednesday April 15, 2026

  • Thursday, June 4, 2026

Registration for PIC meetings is required. 

Year End Reports:
Committee members

The PIC includes two (2) 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
  • Gurleen Saggu, Co-Chair, Parent Representative
  • Alissa duHasky, Co-Chair, Parent Representative
Parent Representatives
  • Nikeisha Paul-Hunnighan, Elementary Parent Representative, Ajax
  • Huma Choudhary, Secondary Parent Representative, Ajax
  • Amanda Burns, Elementary Parent Representative, North
  • Chris Nitz, Secondary Parent Representative, North
  • Katherine Taylor, Elementary Parent Representative, Oshawa
  • Arshi Ali, Secondary Parent Representative, Oshawa
  • Bee Quammie, Elementary Parent Representative, Pickering
  • Vacant/Recruiting, Secondary Parent Representative, Pickering 
  • Jennifer Cushinan, Elementary Parent Representative, Whitby
  • Chantel Walker-Hinds, Secondary Parent Representative, Whitby

SEAC Representative

  • Jennifer McLaughlin
Staff Representatives
  • Kandis Thompson, Superintendent of Education/Family of Schools/Family and Community Engagement
  • Kim Hutt, Elementary Administrator Representative
  • Marie Abbot, Elementary Teacher Representative
  • Lindsay Clegg, Secondary Administrator Representative
  • Afraa Yusuf, Secondary Teacher Representative
  • Patrick Symister, Non-Teaching Staff Representative
  • Omotola Olatunji, Central Staff Representative
  • Kerri-Leigh Weir, Community Representative
Trustee Representative
  • Stephen Linton, Trustee, Pickering
  • Shailene Panylo, Trustee, Oshawa

 
Parent Involvement Committee e-Newsletters


2025/26 Parent Engagement Series

January 21, 2026:  When Behaviour is a Signal – A Self-Regulation Lens

This presentation will include a question and answer period, and is open to all Durham District School Board (DDSB) parents and caregivers from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

When Behaviour is a Signal – A Self-Regulation Lens

Presented by Dr. Susan Hopkins

January 21, 2026

7:00 – 8:00 PM

Dr. Susan Hopkins will explore practical ways to:

  • See behaviour differently and respond with more clarity and less frustration.
  • Recognize stressors across the five domains that may be hiding in plain sight.
  • Reduce stressors when possible, and work together through the ones that can’t.
  • Grow self-awareness by building interoception as a key to resilience.
  • Honour individual differences and support others’ capacity to restore and thrive.

REGISTER for this session today!

Virtual presentation link will be shared with all registrants after registration. 
 March 26, 2026
HOLD THE DATE. Details to be determined.
 May 7, 2026
HOLD THE DATE. Details to be determined.