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Dalia Shehata

Independent for Sea to Sky School Board

I want a school district where every student has equitable access to education, the support and connection they need to thrive, and where decisions are thoughtful, accountable and grounded in evidence, community voices and the realities our schools face.

Climate Change / Emergency Preparedness

Make sure our schools are prepared for the climate realities we’re living with, from wildfire and extreme heat to flooding and other emergencies, and have strong plans for keeping students and staff safe.

Local Government, Planning, & Democracy

Budgeting

Make resource decisions transparently, balancing student and educator needs with fiscal reality and requiring clear evidence for major spending priorities.

Good Governance

Ask difficult questions, examine the evidence behind major recommendations and hold district leadership accountable for implementing Board decisions and reporting on results.

Mental Health, Drugs, & Addiction

Mental Health in Schools

Prioritize evidence-informed mental health and well-being supports that strengthen students' connection, belonging and ability to access their education.

Reconciliation & Indigenous Nations

Indigenous Schooling

Support meaningful Indigenous education and relationships with local Nations, guided by listening, learning and the direction of Indigenous communities.

Schools & Public Education

After-School Programs

Support accessible, sustainable opportunities for students beyond the classroom through thoughtful partnerships and responsible use of district resources.

Bullying & Bigotry

Support clear, consistent approaches to preventing and responding to bullying, discrimination and harassment, with meaningful support for affected students.

Indigenous Schooling

Support meaningful Indigenous education and relationships with local Nations, guided by listening, learning and the direction of Indigenous communities.

Mental Health in Schools

Prioritize evidence-informed mental health and well-being supports that strengthen students' connection, belonging and ability to access their education.

Neurodivergent Students & Support

Advocate for policies and resources that remove barriers for neurodivergent students and ensure their needs meaningfully inform district planning and decisions.

Ensure educators and support staff have meaningful opportunities to inform decisions about the policies, resources and supports they rely on every day.

Student Involvement & Engagement

Create meaningful opportunities for students to inform decisions that affect their education and make clear how their input is considered.

Parent Engagement & Transparency

Strengthen meaningful communication with families and clearly explain how community feedback and evidence inform major Board decisions.

Educators / Workforce

Ensure educator perspectives meaningfully inform Board decisions and examine whether district policies, resources and processes are supporting teachers and support staff to do their jobs effectively.

Everything else

Facilities / Community Partnerships

Work collaboratively with the District of Squamish, community organizations and other partners to make thoughtful use of school facilities and expand opportunities for students where appropriate.

Biography

submitted by the candidate or their team

Squamish parent, educator and community volunteer with 10 years of PAC, DPAC and inclusion/accessibility committee experience. Through Happimess and community partnerships, I bring a unique perspective shaped by students, parents and educators.

Dalia Shehata is a Squamish parent, educator, community advocate and small-business owner who has spent the past decade deeply involved in SD48. She has volunteered with PAC since her eldest started kindergarten, served on DPAC's Inclusion Committee, chaired the committee, and currently represents Don Ross on DPAC.

Through her work at Happimess Art Studio, Dalia also works with hundreds of children and families each year, giving her a perspective that extends beyond her own family and into the wider community.

Dalia brings a combination of lived experience, advocacy and an unapologetically research-heavy approach to governance. She believes trustees should listen carefully, ask difficult questions, challenge assumptions and make thoughtful decisions based on evidence, community needs and the resources available.

Her focus is equitable access to education, student support, belonging, accessibility and accountability.

Promises

See all 13 promises