Father | Educator | Inspirer
Trustee Michael Chen
I was honoured to be elected as a York Region District School Board Public School Trustee in 2022, bringing a strong commitment to student success, responsible governance, and community engagement.
During this term, I have had the privilege of being elected as the Chair of all three of YRDSB’s major standing committees:
2023 – Learning, Equity and Well-Being Standing Committee
2024 – Finance and Property Standing Committee
2025 & 2026 – Policy and By-Law Standing Committee
This experience has provided me with comprehensive leadership and a well-rounded understanding of education governance, finance, policy, and student priorities.
Since being elected in 2022, I have also proudly served as the School Board Representative on the Board of Directors of the Markham Flato Theatre.
Michael as a father
“The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.” – Proverbs 20:7
I’m a proud father of 3 beautiful children attending YRDSB schools. As a parent, it is important for me to teach my children about the value of integrity, giving back, and perseverance. But most importantly, I want to ensure that my children and your children receive the best quality in their public school education.
As a father, I deeply value the education of our children and believe that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and reach their full potential. Education is more than what happens inside the classroom, to me, it is about nurturing curiosity, building character, developing confidence, and preparing our children for the future.Â
I firmly believe that our community has much more to offer to our children. Local businesses, community organizations, cultural groups, and community leaders, can bring valuable resources, experiences, and opportunities into our schools to complement classroom learning. As a father, I want to see our schools connect more closely with the communities they serve, while always keeping student safety, well-being, and learning at the heart of education.
Michael as an educator
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6
You don’t need to be a teacher to be an educator. As a parent, I believe I am my children’s first and most important educator. Every day, I find opportunities to teach, explore, and learn alongside my children. A simple walk through our neighbourhood becomes a lesson in road safety, street names, nature, and the world around us. And my children never stop asking questions! Thankfully, Dad has all the AI tools on his side to help find the answers!
Education begins at home, and parents should not leave this precious responsibility to teachers alone. I believe parents and YRDSB educators should work together; parents providing support, encouragement, and guidance, while our teachers can focus on what they do best: teaching and inspiring students.
Michael as an inspirer
“You become what you think about!” – Earl Nightingale
I believe a true leader is someone who inspires others. Leadership is not simply about having a title, it is about investing time, energy, and care in people and helping them become the best version of themselves. As parents, we are the leaders of our households. We inspire our children, believe in their potential, and encourage them to pursue their dreams. We want our children to believe in themselves and become the person they aspire to be.
In our family, we love visiting the Markham Public Library and discovering interesting books together. To make reading more enjoyable, I often help my children choose audiobooks so they can listen to the narrator while following along with the printed book. Sometimes, I simply sit down and read storybooks to them. Today, I am proud to say that my children enjoy books more than their tablets! For me, that is what leadership is about, not telling our children what to do, but inspiring them to discover what they love and helping them develop a lifelong passion for learning.