Whitby · Municipal Election 2026

Prepare every student for what comes next.

Education should do more than help students pass. It should help every young person discover their strengths, adapt with confidence and build a future they can believe in.

See the priorities ↓Share what matters to you

Manas Khanna is a nominated candidate for one of Whitby’s two DDSB trustee positions. Election day: October 26, 2026.

The choice in 2026

Not technology for technology’s sake. Better preparation for every child.

Whitby needs a trustee who can translate the speed of technological change into responsible, practical questions for public education—while keeping student well-being, accessibility and trust at the centre.

Four commitments

A focused agenda for Whitby families

Future-ready learning

Prepare students for a world shaped by AI, automation and constant change—while protecting the human skills that technology cannot replace: curiosity, judgment, creativity and empathy.

What I will championChampion practical AI literacy, digital citizenship and stronger connections between learning, careers and real-world problem solving.

Strengths before labels

An IEP should open doors, not become the finish line. Every child deserves support that identifies how they learn, what they are good at and where their confidence can grow.

What I will championPush for measurable, strengths-based outcomes and a clearer family voice in accessibility and special-education planning.

Measure what matters

Families should be able to see how students are progressing, which gaps require attention, what DDSB is doing and whether those actions are working.

What I will championAdvocate for a clear Student Outcomes and Future Readiness Dashboard connecting results, targets, strategies, investments and progress.

Responsible growth

Whitby is growing quickly. Families need transparent decisions about capacity, new schools, boundaries, resources and the pressures educators face every day.

What I will championMake trade-offs visible and advocate for resources where student need is greatest—not simply where it has always been allocated.

Transparent student outcomes

From publishing plans to showing progress.

DDSB shares plans and assessment information, but families should not have to search across multiple reports to understand whether students are succeeding. I will advocate for one accessible view that connects:

Current result→Public target→Action and investment→Measured progress

For students

Skills for a changing world

Strong literacy and numeracy, AI literacy, digital citizenship, critical thinking, creativity and clear pathways into postsecondary education, skilled trades, employment and community life.

For educators

Practical support to evolve

Professional learning in responsible AI, evidence-informed instruction, formative assessment, Universal Design for Learning and assistive technology—without treating technology as a substitute for teaching.

For families

Clear signals and next steps

Plain-language information about expected progress, early warning signs, responsible AI use, available supports and the questions parents can ask to help their children succeed.

Strengths before labels

An IEP should describe possibility—not just accommodation.

A successful plan should help a student and their family understand what the student can do, what barriers need to be removed and how today’s support connects to a meaningful future.

Strength profileInterests, abilities, confidence and preferred ways of learning.
Measurable goalsAcademic, communication, independence, social or transition outcomes.
Support ownershipWhich accommodations will be provided, by whom and how consistently.
Future pathwayConnections to courses, activities, further education, employment and adult life.

Why I’m running

Technology leader. Accessibility advocate. Whitby parent.

I have spent my career helping organizations prepare for change, strengthen complex systems and make decisions that earn trust. I also understand, personally, that children with different needs are too often defined by the support they require instead of the strengths they possess.

I am running to bring a future-focused, evidence-led and deeply human perspective to the DDSB—one that listens to families, respects educators and keeps the success of every student as the measure that matters.

Listen with empathyQuestion with evidenceAct with accountability

This campaign starts by listening

What should the future of education look like in Whitby?

Tell me what is working, what is not, whether you support this campaign, or how you would like to help digitally. Your experience will help shape the priorities I bring forward for Whitby students and families.