Calgary’s Catholic school trustees were sworn in Wednesday — the same day teachers across Alberta were forced back to work .

Several trustees say this term they expect to be dealing with both the hurt and exhaustion of the strike, and the underlying issue that led to the work action: too little support for teachers dealing with too much in the classroom.

Terry Ndirangu-Thuo said what staff need from the board now is empathy. Originally from Kenya, the new trustee won by acclamation to represent wards 3 and 5, leaving behind her post as an educational assistant working in special education.

“Everyone is tense. Teachers and the parents right now, when you talk to them, they have lost faith in the system. They don't feel like they've been heard," she said.

“We need to act now, not later

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