A former elementary teacher from Altona has been appointed to the board of the Manitoba College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists.

Margaret Klassen was an elementary classroom teacher for 23 years in Thames, Gretna and Altona, and is one of three new board members selected by Health Minister Cameron Friesen.

Margaret Klassen

"I was surprised that they would consider me because I'm not an audiologist or speech pathologist, although I have worked with them is schools," said Klassen.

Audiologists and speech-language pathologists provide important services to people across the province and the college protects the rights of patients to receive safe, competent and ethical care, according to Health Minister Friesen.

Klassen says she witnessed first hand, as a teacher, the important work these professionals do for students in schools.

"In the fall of every year, we would do hearing tests, making sure that the hearing isn't the cause of speech impediments. We always had professionals in the school system that were available to us, so as a teacher you made sure students received the help that they needed."

The other two new board members include Dr. Cory Sul of East St. Paul, a dentist who is the president of the Manitoba Dental Association, and Naomi Negrych who is an assistant director with Safe Families for Children in Winnipeg.

The nine-person board includes a combination of language pathologists, audiologists and public representatives.