Ontario
Wants to bring fresh perspective
By Tony A. San Juan, OCT.
Herman Viloria, a long-serving Catholic high school principal in Mississauga and Brampton, is seeking election as Separate School Trustee for Wards 2 & 8 of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board (DPCDSB) this coming municipal election on October 24, 2022. Wards 2 and 8 are comprised of several Catholic elementary schools and two secondary schools in the City of Mississauga, Ontario.
37 years in the profession
An educator by training and profession, Viloria has this to say nwhy he decided to throw his hat in the political arena.
“Many challenges face the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and by extension our parents, students, teachers, and school staff. I wish to bring to the Board of Trustees a current and fresh perspective from someone who has been in the classroom and administration for 37 years interacting with various education stakeholders. If elected as a Trustee, I can help meet these challenges and find or formulate solutions by drawing from my varied and firsthand experience working in Mississauga and Brampton schools and communities, with small and large enrolments composed of a rich mix of heritages, races, and cultures.”
Principal Viloria, as he is commonly addressed by students, staff, and parents in all schools under his wing, has had a wide and extensive experience in education, particularly in school administration, instruction, and guidance. Before becoming a school administrator, he served for seven years as teacher and dept. head at St. Thomas Aquinas and Fr. Goetz secondary schools and for ten years as Vice-Principal at Loyola, St. Paul, Iona, and Cardinal high schools at DPCDSB. Viloria was the principal for 15 Years at Loyola, Ascension of Our Lord, and St. Marguerite d’Youville high schools. He was also the Principal for the Dufferin Adult and Continuing Education programs for five years. In the Philippines and Maryland USA, for three years, he was an instructor of Philosophy and Theology at De La Salle University and Mt. St. Mary’s College before immigrating to Canada.
An Ontario Certified Teacher( OCT), Viloria received the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education degrees with majors in Mathematics and Computer Science from Brock University, Ontario. His academic qualifications include Religious Education, Business Education and Honour Specialist in Computer Science, and also conferred a Principal Qualification.
In business, Viloria cited that his “prior experience running my own business will be added asset.” He will bring his talents and skills to the school board as a real estate and mortgage broker with H. Viloria Real Estate, Ltd. for 12 years. He has served too as a Past Director and President of the St. Catharines Niagara Real Estate Board.
Viloria’s involvement in community service and volunteer work includes being an active member and eucharistic minister since 1986, at the St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish in Mississauga, a 4th-degree member of the Knights of Columbus, a speaker and resource person at teacher forums, and education conferences as well as at various community and outreach events.
Hugh gap in education
Aware of the many challenges and issues in the Dufferin- Peel Catholic District School Board, Principal Herman Viloria explained that: “The top issue, in my opinion, is student success. Students are beginning a new “normal” school year. Only a very small percentage of students are still on remote learning. Students have not had a “normal” school year for over two years. Their education has been either been put on hold or delivered remotely or through a hybrid of remote and classroom instruction. This has left huge gaps in their education as a whole (academically, socially, psychologically, and physically). “
Viloria stressed that “all students, both elementary and secondary, starting in school this time face many challenges to success as a result. Among the major challenges and hurdles to success facing our students are those transitioning from elementary to secondary where success means earning 30 credits as well as passing a Literacy Test in Grade 10 in order to graduate. As an example, no current high school student in Grades 9, 10, or 11 has experienced preparing and writing a final examination at the end of each semester. Thus, students will need all kinds of support to help them achieve success and earn their high school credits. Other top issues and equally important are huge Board budget deficits, declining enrolment, and negotiations of collective agreements during a time of high inflation, to name a few.”
As a family man, Viloria is happily married, and with his wife has three children, all graduates of Dufferin-Peel Catholic schools, and six grandchildren. If elected, he will do his best to bring to the DPCDSB his experience and expertise in the realm of Catholic education and school management by helping and working towards providing appropriate and challenging programs and measures for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Herman Viloria greatly deserves our utmost support and help to get him elected as a Trustee on October 24, 2022.
Good evening ,
I am a Ward 2 candidate for councilor in the City of Mississauga.
Since we are both running in the same area , can we connect.
I usually have my meetings in the mornings . This week of the 19th I am available on Tuesday morning at 11 am . Can we meet for coffee . The Daly Grind in Clarkson is a very comfortable spot with great coffee and biscotti.
Please confirm your availability and your convenient timing .
Regards
Silvia