NORMA JEAN MAXWELL
FOR SCHOOL TRUSTEE TOWNSHIP OF LANGLEY
Norma Jean has spent 25 years working with children and families. As an educator, and as a parent advocating for her own children, she brings an understanding of education from both sides of the table.
I am a strong believer that every child can learn. Sometimes it takes a different approach or more support, but every student deserves someone who sees their potential and helps them find a way to succeed.
— Norma Jean MaxwellFOR SCHOOL TRUSTEE
ABOUT NORMA JEAN
Norma Jean Maxwell has lived in the Township of Langley for more than 20 years, raising her two sons who graduated from Langley schools in Brookswood. She has been a tireless advocate for improving support for students of all learning abilities, having spent two decades working inside classrooms.
Norma Jean started her career in education as an Education Assistant with the Surrey School District, supporting students with a wide range of learning needs to better participate in the classroom, including assistance with behavioural and emotional regulation.
Her understanding of that system is also deeply personal. As a parent of two sons with learning differences who struggled in school, Norma Jean knows what it is like to be in Individual Education Plan meetings and advocate for a child who needs additional support. That experience has shaped her belief that parents and educators should not be on opposing sides because their common goal is the success of the child. Parents need to be heard, teachers need the tools to do their jobs, and students need to remain the focus of any decision making.
Literacy has also been a major priority throughout Norma Jean’s career. She developed an intensive reading program for Grade 2 and 3 students who were significantly behind in reading and later created her own reading, spelling, and printing program. She has also provided professional development and training to educators and parents.
Norma Jean is driven by the core belief that every child can learn, but not every child learns in the same way. When a student struggles, the answer should be finding a better way to reach them, not lowering expectations that won’t lead to better outcomes.
Today, she works as an Orton Gillingham Therapeutic Tutor and Behaviour Interventionist and runs her own practice, helping children learn while supporting parents as they navigate the education system.
She is running for School Trustee to bring what she has learned as an educator, parent, and advocate to the Langley School Board to help ensure every child with any learning ability has the opportunity to succeed.