Rachael Prinzen

HPEDSB – WARDS 3 , 4 , 6 , 7

Rachael Prinzen (née Gregory) was born and raised in the County and is an 11th generation County girl. She attended and graduated from Pinecrest Elementary School and PECI, where she was known as an active athlete excelling in sports such as soccer, volleyball, rugby and track and field. She then went on to achieve her Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the collaborative program at Loyalist College and Brock University. Prinzen completed her nursing degree in 2009, and married her high-school sweetheart, Joseph. Together they have two daughters, ages 8 and 11, who attend a County public school. Prinzen has been employed with Corrections Canada in various frontline nursing positions since 2010, with the majority of her career being focused on mental health. She has also taken on administrative tasks of updating outdated policies and revising NHQ (National) government documents to be site-specific and more user-friendly for her colleagues and other frontline staff. Prinzen is now in the process of launching her own independent practice as an “RN, Psychotherapist” and Coach to provide mental health services in Prince Edward County.

Prinzen says that if she is elected as school board Trustee, she will use her nursing experience to assess and identify gaps and barriers through open communication and public consultation. “I will use that insight to advocate for student needs with a holistic approach,” said Prinzen. Her platform seeks to identify the current postpandemic priorities, to advocate for student wellness and success and to represent every student and family in the County. “My nursing background has taught me how to advocate for the unique values and needs of others without discrimination. Advocating for others, critical thinking and thorough assessment skills in identifying gaps and barriers are hands down my top three greatest strengths,” she says. In terms of current student issues, Prinzen says it was well documented in research that the mental health and the overall wellbeing of children and youth were disproportionately affected during the Covid-19 lockdown mandates. “When a student’s mental health suffers, so does every other area of their life because each area of health is fundamentally linked,” she said. “Therefore, it is imperative to provide the resources and support for students and their families in addressing all aspects of health and wellness, so students can focus on their academics, growth and development, and not just their basic fundamental needs.”

When speaking on equity, Prinzen says her position is to ensure that every student is supported and assisted with removing the gaps and barriers to their individual success and wellbeing. “As a nurse, I was trained for holistic person-centred care. Therefore, as every individual is different and unique, the needs and barriers of every student will be different and unique to them in reaching their full potential,” she said.

Prinzen shares that she and her husband both grew up in families dedicated to serving and volunteering in the community. The ROC was first launched by her family in 2000. As a youth, Prinzen was active at the ROC for many years, volunteering at the drop-in nights and summer sports camps. She also volunteered with her husband’s family at DayStar Native Outreach summer camps for Indigenous children/ youth on the Sagamok Reserve. During high-school and post-secondary, Prinzen also served as a Youth and Young Adult leader in her church, providing mentorship and support to her younger peers. More recently, she has joined to serve on the Board of Directors for the Grace Inn Homeless Shelter and Shiloh House (transition home) in Belleville. She is also a founding member of a new association called Nurse Psychotherapists of Ontario, where she has successfully been lobbying for increased accessibility and affordability to mental health reservices in Ontario. Prinzen says she has also occasionally volunteered in her daughters’ classrooms, and has noted the need for additional student support, especially during math.

In terms of privatization, Prinzen says she supports individual and family autonomy to choose what is best for their child(ren). As for a two-tiered system, Prinzen plans to have public consultation with students, families, schools/staff and the community to discuss the current needs. “To evaluate what is working and what is not; and to have discussions about creative and innovative systems that would best support every student in pursuit of their success,” she says.

Ultimately, Prinzen says her focus will be to improve and enhance the public school system by advocating for the necessary resources, support services and staffing so that local students and families will find their needs met within the public schooling system.