For Dean McGee, public education has been part of his life for generations. He attended elementary school in Surrey, his children went through the Surrey public school system, and his parent spent 50 years serving Surrey students as a teacher and principal.

Dean has also spent years working to make that system stronger.

As a past president of Surrey DPAC, Dean represented the voices of parents and families across the district and gained firsthand experience with the governance, funding and infrastructure challenges facing one of Canada's largest and fastest-growing school districts. He also served on Surrey DPAC's Inclusion Committee, advocating for schools where students with diverse needs are welcomed, supported and able to participate fully in their school communities.

One of Dean's particular areas of experience is something Surrey families see around them every day: school space.

Dean represented Surrey DPAC on a provincial facilities committee focused on education spaces and infrastructure. He co-authored Why Doesn't My City Build More Schools?, helping explain how responsibility for planning, funding and building schools actually works and why rapidly growing communities like Surrey can wait years for the classrooms students need.

Dean has taken that advocacy directly to provincial decision-makers. He joined parents, teachers and education workers from across British Columbia at the Legislature in Victoria, meeting with MLAs to help them understand the realities facing public education and the need for greater provincial investment.

Dean is joining Our Surrey because Surrey's growth requires leadership that understands both where we've been and what needs to change. He believes students deserve schools built for learning and community, meaningful supports for inclusion, and decisions grounded in the real needs of students and families.

As trustee, Dean will bring years of parent leadership, facilities advocacy and knowledge of Surrey's public education system to the Board. He will work collaboratively with families, education workers, community partners and governments to advocate for the schools and resources Surrey students need today and for the generations still to come.

Support Dean and Our Surrey

Help elect a trustee who understands Surrey's growth, knows the education system and is ready to advocate for the infrastructure and supports our students need.