Palliser Regional Schools Superintendent Kevin Gietz is pleased to announce new members of the leadership team for 2013-2014.
They join the leadership team at an exciting time, with the division pursuing the creation of a new , as yet unnamed virtual school, and expanding its focus on literacy.
“The theme for Palliser this year is ‘Literacy: Today a reader, tomorrow a leader,’ ” says Gietz. “The theme captures the importance of literacy skills to students’ success in school, at all levels, and success in life. It also reflects our belief that everyone, whether a student or a member of the Palliser team, has the opportunity to be a leader for the benefit of others.”
Gietz said the approach to literacy is an extension of Palliser’s commitment to individual attention and personalized instruction. Each Grade 1-8 student’s reading abilities are assessed early in the fall. The teacher can then tailor instruction to the student’s needs. A second assessment in late spring helps teachers identify whether their instruction strategies have been a success. At that point, the teacher still has time before the end of the school year to make adjustments.
Palliser staff return to their schools Monday, Aug. 26. Students return for the first day of classes Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Welcome to the new members of the team and administrators taking on new challenges this year:
PALLISER’S NEW SCHOOL FOR ONLINE LEARNING: Alison Hancox joins Palliser as principal of a new, as yet unnamed school, which will provide an online learning environment. She spent the last 13 years working with Edmonton Public School Division where her research and development of online learning resources won provincial and national teaching awards. Her most recent role was as assistant principal of Edmonton Public’s online school. Her office will be located in County Central High School in Vulcan, but her work will be in support of students across Palliser.
EARLY LEARNING: Terri-Lynn Duncan joins the Central Office team in the role of Co-ordinating Principal of Early Learning, following four years as principal of Barons School which included expansion and opening of Carmangay Outreach School. In 2012-2013, she served as principal of R.I. Baker Middle School.
BARONS SCHOOL and CARMANGAY SCHOOL: Fred Jack joins Palliser Regional Schools as vice-principal of Barons School, an alternative program for students of a Low German-speaking Mennonite background, and the affiliated outreach school in Carmangay. Jack has nine years of teaching experience with Pembina Hills Regional Division in Westlock, Swan Hills and Lethbridge.
COALHURST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Chris Spanos, who served as vice-principal of Barons and Carmangay schools last year, joins the staff of Coalhurst Elementary School as vice-principal.
GLENMORE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, Calgary: Sean Gonsalvez joins the administrative team of the elementary campus as the vice-principal. This is a new position. Gonsalvez has been a math teacher of Glenmore’s intermediate school for the past seven years. He also taught for one year in Australia.
HUNTSVILLE SCHOOL, Iron Springs: Shari Rogerson takes on the role of principal of Huntsville School. Rogerson has been with Palliser for 12 years, as a learning assistant, teacher and most recently as vice-principal of Jennie Emery Elementary School in Coaldale.
JENNIE EMERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, COALDALE: Sherrie Nickel takes on the role of principal of Jennie Emery, following three years as principal of Huntsville School. Nickel is a life-long Coaldale resident. Recently, she was recognized with a Distinguished Leadership Award from the Alberta Teachers’ Association Council for School Leadership. Nickel will be joined by Kristi Van Doesberg, a first-time administrator who spent the last three years teaching at Huntsville School.
KATE ANDREWS HIGH SCHOOL, Coaldale: Katherine Pritchard joins the leadership team at Kate Andrews High School in the role of vice-principal. Pritchard has been a teacher there for the past six years and started her teaching career at Coalhurst High School in 1998.
NOBLE CENTRAL SCHOOL, Nobleford: Scott Oikawa takes over as principal of Noble Central School, following 12 years of experience as vice-principal. He’ll be joined by vice-principal Kathy Oviatt-Petrunik, who brings 18 years of teaching experience in Westwind School Division, and was most recently vice-principal of Raymond Elementary School.
R.I. BAKER MIDDLE SCHOOL, COALDALE: After spending the past four years as principal of Jennie Emery Elementary School, Dave Fender moves a few blocks away to become principal of R.I. Baker Middle School. Fender has been part of the Palliser leadership team since 1997 previously serving as principal of Huntsville, Sunnyside and Coalhurst Elementary. R.I. Baker also welcomes a new vice-principal, Jason Prebushewski. Prebushewski has been a teacher in Palliser for seven years, spending the last two years as vice-principal of Coalhurst Elementary School.