With his grandchildren enrolled in Yellowknife Education District No. 1 (YK1) schools, Terry Brookes says he has already been approached by constituents to run for a ninth term.
But the longest serving YK1 school board member, would say whether or not he would put his name on the ballot.
“I've been asked by several people, several times to run again...that in itself is an encouraging sign,” he said. “I probably have more interest now because I have grandchildren in the system.”
Brookes moved to Yellowknife from Cambridge Bay in 1990 and joined the YK1 school board in 1994.
He became a school board trustee so he could involve himself in his four children's education, he said.
His children have long since graduated from YK1 schools but what inspires Brookes to keep serving is his personal desire to be a part of the evolution of education.
“I didn't want my kids to be educated the way I was and having seen my kids graduate I didn't want to see my grandchildren educated the way my kids were,” said Brookes. “Over time we learn more, so as a board we have to do better, we should be doing better...I don't deny the methodology of the old school but I guess that is a tribute to my desire for lifelong learning.”
Having been a school board trustee for nearly 24 years, Brookes said he always makes sure to have three issues for his platform for each election.
“If you only have one burning desire to run on, from my experience two things will happen,” he said. “You will achieve what you want to achieve but will then be left thinking 'what do I do next?' Two, you don't achieve what you want to and then are still left thinking 'well what do I do next.'”
Solving issues is a process, he said.
“Sometimes accomplishing a goal is just planting the seeds and then letting the solution grow with somebody else,” he said.
In addition to his role with the school board, Brookes is also a soccer referee, a magician and a former treasurer for the Yellowknife Sailing Club.
“I have a debt and a duty to volunteer,” said Brookes. “I had teachers and parents who helped me play baseball or helped me learn soccer had have passed the proverbial baton off to me.”
The election for school board trustees will take place on October 15, 2018.