Michael Baumann announces bid for Coquitlam school trustee

Michael Baumann, a post-secondary educator and longtime education critic, has announced that he will seek a trustee position with School District 43.

The district serves Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra. Baumann says his campaign will focus on merit-based hiring and promotion, the growing use of artificial intelligence, spending and transparent decision-making, and tuition-free post-secondary education and training.

He argues schools need to better prepare students for citizenship and the workforce. Baumann holds a master of science degree from the University of Vienna and a PhD from the University of British Columbia.

His career has included research in animal behaviour and psychology, teaching complex adaptive systems, university administration and a decade leading a university career centre. His campaign biography also describes a difficult early experience in school and says he has criticized the education system for 25 years.