We are pleased to announce that Mike Thiesen has accepted the role of Area Director, for the Calgary Area, commencing August 22, 2022.
Mike has been the principal at Calgary Christian Elementary School since August of 2016, when he joined The Palliser School Division.
Mike has a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Providence University College, a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (Old Testament) from Providence Theological Seminary, a Bachelor of Education (Elementary) from the University of Winnipeg, and a Bachelor of Arts (History) from the University of Winnipeg.
Mike’s teaching and leadership experience are diverse, including teaching Hebrew at the Graduate level, Biblical Studies at the Undergraduate level, High School English and History, Elementary School PE and Grade One. He has been a principal for close to 21 years; first in a rural Manitoba community school setting with a significant LGM population, and then in Calgary in an urban Faith-based Alternative Program environment. Mike has been involved in school initiatives in the areas of literacy, numeracy, technology, parenting programs, report cards, social-emotional learning, school-wide behaviour programs, ELL, and others.
Mike was married in 1988 to his wife Karen, who grew up in Coaldale, Alberta. Karen is a teacher and currently works as a Learning Commons Facilitator at Calgary Christian Elementary School. The Thiesen’s have two adult sons, Taylor and Adam. Their eldest son is a lawyer in Edmonton and the youngest recently married and is attending college in Manitoba.
“I look forward in this new position to deepening relationships within the Administrative Council,” notes Mike. “Building continued trust with stakeholders and school leaders from across the Palliser School Division will be my focus.”
Congratulations Mike!