Trustees with the Toronto District School Board have appointed two new Trustees. During a special meeting today, Trustees appointed Fowzia Mahamed as the new Trustee for Ward 2 (Etobicoke Centre) and Alexis Dawson as the new Trustee for Ward 9 (Davenport). Ms. Mahamed and Ms. Dawson were the successful candidates following an open application process that was launched after the election of Marit Stiles and Chris Glover to the provincial legislature in June.

Ms. Mahamed has been actively involved in Ward 2 for the past 10 years in various educational capacities including as a TDSB Student Equity Program Advisor; Central Coordinator for Parent and Community Involvement and Professor at Humber College. A recipient of the YMCA Peace Medallion, Ms. Mahamed has also worked with a number of education and youth-based organizations such as Pathways to Education and Delisle Youth Services.

A Ward 9 resident for 20 years, Ms. Dawson has spent the bulk of her career working as a National Account Manager in the private sector. She is a long-time volunteer in her community where she acted as co-chair of the Rawlinson Community School Parent Council, Co-Founder of the Oakwood Village Garden Gang, volunteer with the Oakwood-Vaughan Neighbourhood Action Partnership and has been an active volunteer in various other community groups.

Working together with executive search and recruitment firm Phelpsgroup, a Selection Committee made up of Trustees reviewed each person against established criteria including having a connection to their respective communities, demonstrated interest and passion for publicly-funded education, knowledge of key TDSB priorities, and evidence of a sense of accountability for use of public resources.

Quick Facts

• In total, 27 people put their names forward as candidates for the positions.
• The Education Act requires Trustees to appoint a qualified person to fill a vacancy within 90 days of the office becoming vacant.
• This appointment is for the remainder of the current Trustee term which ends November 30, 2018.

“We set out to find two individuals that not only were active in their communities but champions of public education. Both Fowzia and Alexis have these qualities and more and I’m excited to work with them in the months ahead.”

- Robin Pilkey, Chair, TDSB

“Having lived and worked in Ward 2 for a number of years, I look forward to bringing my knowledge of the community and my passion for helping youth to the Toronto District School Board.”

- Fowzia Mahamed, Trustee Elect, Ward 2

“As a parent council co-chair, I believe it’s important to have another strong parent voice on the Board. I’m excited to begin representing my community and ensuring that their ideas, questions and concerns are heard.”

- Alexis Dawson, Trustee Elect, Ward 9