Amanda dove into supporting the EFN during the first In the Round event in April 2023. She became so inspired by the work that the EFN was doing, that she then formally became a board member in October 2023. Amanda is a registered nurse, professor at Brock University, a self-employed content creator, consultant and facilitator, and she has recently begun her PhD journey at McMaster University. Amanda firmly believes that all children have the right to fully participate in education, yet many of the children in our community are faced with barriers and adversity. As a nurse who has worked in Family Health for two decades, she appreciates how being hungry, cold, unhoused, worried, and feeling like you don’t fit in, can all limit how much a student can benefit from school. As an educator, she recognizes that being able to fully participate in education can buffer the negative effects associated with poverty, food insecurity, and family stress. And as a parent of two DSBN students, Amanda wants desperately for all children to have a positive experience in school the way her kids do. Amanda and her family live in St. Catharines, and spend a lot of time travelling, enjoying music, and being active outdoors. A good amount of her spare time is spent with the Corners Run Crew, where she helps as a crew lead/ambassador.