Insider's Guide to K-12 Education in BC

David Mushens is a vice-principal at École Cariboo Hill Secondary School in School District No. 41 (Burnaby). He has presented workshops to educators and parents on topics such as teaching standards, assessment and evaluation, educational leadership, labour relations, and poverty’s impact on learners. With co-author Faizel Rawji, he has presented workshops on school leadership to Aga Khan Education Services’ headmasters in Kenya. David has published two novels, written commentary for numerous media outlets, and presented a paper to the national conference of the Canadian Association for the Practical Study of Law in Education.

Faizel Rawji is the principal at Sunnyside Elementary School in School District No. 36 (Surrey). He has served as an advisor for the Premier’s Technology Council and contributed to the BC Education Plan in areas ranging from technology education to healthy living standards. A recipient of Canada’s Outstanding Principals Award and the Surrey Now Community Leader Award, he serves as the president of the Surrey Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association. In addition to his work with co-author David Mushens in Kenya, Faizel has been appointed to the Aga Khan’s national education board, providing strategy and advice for the Ismaili community.

David Starr is the principal of Byrne Creek Community School in School District No. 41 (Burnaby). David has authored a book, From Bombs to Books, that shares the deeply moving stories of refugee students, their parents, and the staff at Edmonds and Byrne Creek Community Schools. He has also written a novel for young adults that will be published in 2016. David has spoken nationally and internationally on issues around community and refugee education. His schools have been featured by numerous media outlets. He is a Vancouver Canuck Community MVP Award winner and a member of the board of directors of Canada Scores Vancouver, a charity dedicated to providing literacy, soccer, and leadership opportunities to inner city youth.