Declan Amaral (he/him/his)

Declan Amaral is currently a student in the Bachelor of Fine Arts Music program at York University, hoping to specialize in classical performance and music education. From 2020 to 2022, Declan served as a student trustee at the Durham Catholic District School Board, and he has held several leadership positions within OSTA-AECO. In his second term as Chief Executive Officer, he continues supporting student trustees’ work on the Leadership Team and in the General Assembly. In addition to his educational advocacy at OSTA-AECO, Declan works as a Research Assistant and Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator on the Public Education Exchange (PEX) project led by Associate Professor Dr. Sue Winton at York U. He is enthusiastic about promoting accessible, equitable, and universal public education, as well as ensuring that students have a voice in shaping education and policy decisions.

Outside of his roles in education, Declan is an active musician, performing in several orchestras and ensembles in the GTA and teaching music to students aged 12-17 at local schools. Declan is committed to building a more just and inclusive education system through empowering student trustees to represent and advocate for their peers. He is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the board of directors to achieve this mission, and he looks forward to continuing to make a positive impact in education and the community.