CUPE @ Your Service

Local 2559 Executive - Danielle Danis

 

Danielle Danis

Local 2559 President

Catholic School Board

Educational Assistant 4  (EA)

 

 

Danielle, a resident of Fort McMurray for 12 years, works at St.Martha's School in the Early Entry Program.

Says Danielle:  “I am an EA because I genuinely care for people especially those that are helpless at times. I love to try and figure out the "why" rather than the "what" of their behaviour. It is like a giant puzzle that I like to try and solve. Their little smiles can make all the bad go away.  The best thing about where I work is the relationships with my co-workers in the EEP and Kindergarten classes. They make it fun to go to work every day.”

Her daily routine is that from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m., she works in the morning EEP class, and again from noon until 2:45 p.m. Lunch is between 11 a.m. and noon.

In the 2011/12 school year, she worked with two children, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  In the 2012/13 year, she will be with the same child all day.

She specializes in working with children with autism.  She assists them with daily school routines as well as implementing goals established by various specialists such as Physical, Speech, Occupational and Behavioural Therapists.

“My passion on the job is seeing the impact that we can have on the such small lives,” she says.

“We start them off on the right course to become productive individuals. We assist parents in finding their way when they feel at a loss with their child's diagnosis. It is great to look back at the end of the school year and think of what the child was like back in the fall. The progress, no matter how small, is my passion and reward.”

Danielle, 45, has always worked with children with autism. Some were from EEP to Grade 3 level, but the last few years have been specifically EEP and kindergarten.

She has been with the District since the fall of 2004 and at St. Martha's for the last five years.

Danielle joined CUPE in September of 2011 when her group became certified. She was initially Recording Secretary but was elected as President this past spring.

She believes CUPE is a positive force in the schools and the community at large.

“I do believe that the union is a positive force as it helps us pool our resources to assist members in receiving fair and equal treatment within the workplace,” she explains.

“The union also helps give a positive voice to those who normally would not speak out or up for themselves. The union provides a forum for effective, productive and open communication.”

After work , Danielle is the full time mom to Thomas (16 ) and Joel (12).

“My passion when I am not at work involves being with my family,” she explains.

“Having a happy family life means the most to me as it is the root of all that I do. A happy family life makes all the good, great and all the bad, manageable. Travelling is another passion that I share with my family. I love to see my children broaden their minds and hearts to what is in their world while at the same time having them appreciate what blessings they have and are.”

Danielle’s boys both play soccer so she volunteer for them.

In fact, she does lots of volunteering .

“I have been President of SPEF ( Society for Parents for Education in French ) for many years,” she says.

“My children attend francophone school (Ecole Boreal ) . I also volunteer for the Catholic Women's League by doing numerous Oil Baron's concessions.

“I volunteer at my church by doing readings , eucharistic minister or facilitator. I also volunteer a lot for The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as my eldest son, Thomas, has Type 1 diabetes and takes daily insulin injections.

“This year he was the Youth Ambassador.”

Danielle moved to Wood Buffalo to follow my husband, who works in the oilsands industry .

“We chose to raise our family here as it is a wonderful community. “We feel that we get back what we put in. 

“It is our home and we try to make it the best for us and our community.

“We like Fort McMurray because of the endless opportunities that it has. The vibrancy and stability of the community are also things that we love about it.”

Born in Quebec and raised in northeastern Ontario in the Timmins area, Danielle speaks and French, English and Spanish.

She and her husband celebrated their 21st anniversary this year.