Parent Involvement Committee

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.

Resources to learn more about PIC:

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

May 21, 2026: Taking a Step: Understanding Today’s Children and Youth

Presented by Kwame Osei, educator, youth coach and mentor, former Toronto Argonaut player and contestant on the Amazing Race Canada

Thursday May 21, 2026

7:00 – 8:00 PM

A conversation about understanding youth today by learning to see the world through their eyes and building meaningful connections through empathy, compassion, and the power of role models.

Register Now

March 26, 2026: Digital Leadership – Helping kids to thrive in a tech rich world

Presented by Jennifer Casa-Todd

Thursday March 26, 2026

7:00 – 8:00 PM

Parenting today is impacted by the reality that technology and social media are a part of our world.

In this talk, Jennifer will share some of the research, challenges and strategies we can use to ensure that our kids are using the power at their fingertips not just to consume, but to create, prioritize wellness, and make a positive difference in the world. We will focus on constructive conversations which can be had in your family to ensure that we use technology and don’t let technology use us.

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.

Register Now

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

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

Presented by Dr. Susan Hopkins

January 21, 2026

7:00 – 8:00 PM

Dr. Susan Hopkins explored 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.

View the Presentation