Meet Judy Lane, newly acclaimed Trustee for Holy Spirit School Board Ward 4

Judy Lane

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Judy Lane has been acclaimed as the Trustee for Holy Spirit School Board Ward 4, representing Pincher Creek's St. Michael's School, where she will be replacing outgoing Trustee David DeCock.

"The children. That's what I see myself as, a spokesperson for the children."


Lane has never been a trustee before but she does have a lifetime of education experience. "I'm a retired school teacher," she told me. "I taught school for 34 years and retired in 2005." During her career as a full time teacher she taught in Lethbridge, which has 9 schools under her upcoming trusteeship, and she then taught at St. Michael's for 9 years. She continued to work as a substitute teacher up until the present day, but the Trustee position will preclude her continuing to do so.

In explaining her decision to run Lane said "My husband died the same year I retired, so I now have all this time on my hands, and my dear friend Chelan (Citrigno) said 'Why don't you run for Trustee?' When I started telling people I was considering running the support was overwhelming. Then you feel better because the people who're behind you are behind you."

Lane brings a lot to the table. In addition to her extensive teaching experience she has a perspective shaped by her former life in Lethbridge and her life here in Pincher Creek. "I have the city experience coming to the rural," she explained.

She seems determined to speak up for St. Michael's as a top priority when she takes on her new position. "Because we are one of four satellite schools we really need a strong voice. we need some who is going to say 'Hey! Don't forget that we're out here'."

"First and foremost, because we're a satellite school, we're not a priority. City schools and the needs of the city kids are being looked after first."

Lane said that people can expect her to be straightforward with them. "I'm not a pressure person. I just go down my own path, and you either like it or you don't. I tell people that I live in a black and white world, I don't operate in a grey zone. Sometimes that's not a good thing, but on the other hand people know when I speak about an issue, I speak from the heart."

She also said she intends to work towards modernizing St. Michael's School, in terms of bricks-and-mortar issues. That would included upgrading the bathrooms and rectifying some air circulation issues.

Lane said the lyrics to the first verse of the Whitney Houston hit "Greatest Love Of All" (written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed) define for her what her role is to be.

"I believe the children are our futureTeach them well and let them lead the wayShow them all the beauty they possess insideGive them a sense of pride to make it easierLet the children's laughter remind us how we used to be"        ~Greatest Love Of All" (Michael Masser and Linda Creed)

"Take that verse, and that's exactly everything I believe in. That's what it's all about to me, is the kids. Are their education needs being met? Are we really preparing them to move on into this world?"

Lane said her heart has been warmed by the reaction to the news she is taking on a new and important role. "Jessie Hall (a student) said to me 'Congratulations, Mrs. Lane. I don't know what your doing, but congratulations, my mom told me that you got something special.' It was too cute from this little kid."

Lane expressed concerns about the focus of education in our present society. "It's a financial institution now. It's become a business. I guess that's what the world has said, but we can't lose focus about what our schools are really supposed to be about."

"Because we're a Separate School we can't lose focus. First and foremost we are offering an education to Catholic Christians. We also have non-Catholics attending the Catholic Schools."

She also expressed a great deal of pride in St. Michael's very well attended French Immersion Program. "It has been a huge drawing card. We need to do everything in our power to preserve that program and the opportunity it gives those children because we are, whether we like it or not, in a bilingual Country. Education-wise, they're going to have more doors open to them in all in all likelihood because they are in that program. We have to focus on keeping that program strong. It's one of the things about St. Michael's that makes it very unique, especially in a rural setting."

St. Michael's isn't the only mandate she has to fulfill. "As a Trustee, you represent all 14 schools in the district," she explained. The district includes schools in Pincher Creek, Lethbridge, Taber, Picture Butte, and Coaldale. "I don't just represent St. Mike's. I'm aware of that, and excited about that because I get to gather ideas from all these different sources. You're not just your own entity, you are one part of a whole group."

"I want people to feel like they can come and voice their concerns to me and I'm not just going to be a political head-nodder and that people can come to me, as a Trustee... any of their concerns regarding their child, their child's education, their child's discipline. Any issue that they have, whether it is about a social event and educational situation."