October 1, 2024
Promoting, Elevating and Protecting Public School Education
Welcome to a brand new school year! The start of a new year brings with it a sense of renewal, opportunity, and the promise of growth for our students, educators, and community, and I always look forward to this time. This year, PSBAA is particularly thrilled to launch our PEP Initiative, which will help us all Promote, Elevate, and Protect Public School Education in Alberta. Promotion is the first pillar…
June 26, 2024
Building Trust and Embracing Change: A Year-end Message
As we wrap up another dynamic and inspiring school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on our journey and share some thoughts on the next steps ahead. This year has been one of significant growth, filled with achievements and challenges alike. When leaving this years successful PSBAA Spring General Assembly, I was struck with a thought. At the heart of our success lies two key points: trust…
May 29, 2024
Placing Students Before Politics
One of the greatest challenges we face in fulfilling the duty of prioritizing students and their needs is balancing the politics that come along with it and enter our educational system. While political discourse has its place in shaping policies and frameworks, it should never overshadow the core purpose of public education, which is to provide equitable and quality learning opportunities for all students. Our goal is to always protect,…
April 30, 2024
Fostering Cross-Ministry Collaboration
As we head into the spring season, I feel it’s important that we underscore the significance of cross-ministry collaboration. In our election readiness piece from last year, we discussed the phrase “it takes a village.” This phrase comes from a proverb that an entire community must come together in support of children. In our increasingly interconnected world, where challenges and opportunities in education transcend traditional boundaries, the need for cooperation…
March 28, 2024
Funding is Fundamental in Alberta Education
With the Alberta government releasing its budget for 2024, I am compelled to emphasize the indispensable role that government funding plays in ensuring the success of our schools and the well-being of our students. Public education has always been and will continue to be, for everyone. This fact alone is the reason funding, and resources should be allocated in a way that allows public schools to keep up with the…
February 29, 2024
Nurturing Minds, Shaping Futures: A Commitment to Mental Health in Alberta’s Public Schools
As we already finish up the second month of 2024, a year which seems to be moving at great speed, I am compelled to address a matter of paramount importance, which is the mental health of our students. Our commitment to fostering a safe and nurturing environment goes hand in hand with our dedication to promoting and protecting public education in Alberta. In recent years, the conversation around mental health…
January 31, 2024
New Beginnings and Shared Success! Setting the Course for 2024
As we face the start of a new year, I am honored and humbled to extend my warmest greetings to all PSBAA members. The journey we’ve taken together up until this point has been marked by challenges and triumphs, and as we usher in 2024, I am filled with excitement for what we can achieve this year. The past year tested the resilience of public education in Alberta. Despite the…
December 15, 2023
Season’s Greetings: PSBAA President’s Reflection on 2023
As we approach the end of another remarkable year, I am filled with gratitude and pride as I reflect on 2023 as a whole. This past year has been a testament to the resilience and dedication of our members. Our collective strength and commitment to public education has allowed us to show Alberta we stand strong. Together, we have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the well-being and education of the…
November 15, 2023
Embracing Change and Preparing for the Future
Our 2023 Fall Conference and Annual General Meeting brought about some changes to our Board of Directors. We have a new First and Second Director who both come to us with unique perspectives and a long-standing history with the public school system in Alberta. After serving two years with us as First Director, Tasha Oatway-McLay from the Sturgeon School Division stepped down and we welcomed Patrick Grisonich from the Medicine…
October 13, 2023
Looking ahead to a great Fall Conference and AGM
In just a few days, we will gather in Edmonton for the annual PSBAA Fall Conference and AGM. It has been a year of change, with a spring provincial election and a new Education Minister. We welcomed two new member boards to the Association—Pembina Hills and Peace River—and held wonderful meetings with other potential members. We have taken advantage of numerous opportunities to meet new people and build relationships and…