The Public School Boards' Association of Alberta is very pleased to introduce the current Board of Directors:
DENNIS MacNEIL, President (ASPEN VIEW Public Schools)
Dennis was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 2010; this is his fourth term as a School Board trustee. After retiring from teaching Dennis decided to run for trustee and has been on the Board ever since. He is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Athabasca serving the community in many capacities and has been involved with the club for over 15 years. Dennis is a retired schoolteacher and the former administrator of Rochester School, where he worked for 8 years in that capacity until his retirement in 2008. Dennis has spent over 30 years in the field of education, 24 as a teacher in the Aspen View School Division. Dennis received his teaching degree from the University of Alberta in 1984 and later returned to the University to earn his Masters Degree in The Sociology of Education in 1998. He attended the Leadership Academy in Olds AB in 1999 and received a certificate in Leadership. He and his wife Darlene live south of Athabasca near the hamlet of Colinton where they have raised 4 of their own children and fostered countless other children who have come through their home, and eventually adopted one of those children when he became an adult. Dennis served as Board Chair for 5 years, sat on numerous committees and is currently on the provincial executive for the Public School Boards Association of Alberta. Inclusion, in the context of the public school system, is both an unalienable right, and an unalienable responsibility. He believes in a strong public school education system that promotes diversity and welcomes all students. Diversity truly is a lesson plan for life!
karen becker, First Vice President (Wetaskiwin regional Public Schools)
Karen Becker is the Board Chair for Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools. She has been involved in the field of education in a number of roles for over 25 years.
She is a strong supporter of inclusion, rural education, and inspiring success among Indigenous students.
Karen is strongly committed to advancing the goals and priorities of PSBAA, and to serving the students in Alberta's public schools.
Email: firstvp@public-schools.ab.ca
Lorraine Stewart, Second Vice President (Parkland School Division)
Lorraine Stewart is currently serving her fifth term as a trustee in Parkland School Division. She is honored to serve as Board Chair for the sixth year. Lorraine brings to the PSBAA Board of Directors her lived experience and background as an educator for 18 years; holding leadership roles at Alberta Education for 15 years and in her work as a Registered Psychologist.
Lorraine believes in promoting public education by communicating the benefits and values of public education to our communities and government.
Patrick Grisonich, First Director (Medicine Hat Public School Division)
Pat Grisonich is Vice-Chair for Medicine Hat Public Schools. Pat was born and raised in Medicine Hat. He attended Medicine Hat College for 2 years before transferring to the University of Calgary, graduating with a B.Ed. in 1985. Nowadays, he is retired and lives with his wife Kristen; between them they have four grown children, all of whom completed high school in Medicine Hat.
Pat began a career in education teaching grade 6 before moving on to become a junior high counselor. From there, he became a vice-principal: a role he held in several schools before becoming the principal of Crescent Heights High School.
As a teacher and administrator, he has always felt that building relationships is of paramount importance. It is through relationships that schools, teams, programs, and ultimately staff and student's flourish.
As a Trustee he wishes to be a familiar and friendly presence in the schools and a proud supporter of education in the Medicine Hat Public School Division. He appreciates the support from staff at central office as well as in the schools, and looks forward to working with all stakeholders throughout his four year term.
Timothy O'Hara, Second Director (Fort McMurray Public School Division)
Tim is currently serving his third term as a trustee for Fort McMurray Public Schools. He has been involved in the Student Transportation side of education for the past 20 years, starting his career as an Assistant Director of Transportation. Six years later he assumed the role of Director of Transportation with another school division, and shortly thereafter was offered and accepted the role of General Manager with Sparksman Transportation Ltd., a bus company which today provides transportation to 7 different school authorities, operates a rural transit system, and provides employee transportation to multiple oil and gas sub-contractors. He is married with two young and very energetic boys aged 4 and 7.
Prior to moving onto the private side of the industry, Tim served as Treasurer for the Student Transportation Association of Alberta. He has also held the roles of Chair of Internal Transportation for the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games and the 2019 Wood Buffalo Alberta Winter Games. In 2020, he was recognized alongside his wife, as one of Your McMurray Magazine’s top 50 under 50.
Tim shares a deep passion for Public School Education and believes in locally elected trustees and in local board autonomy. He is a firm believer that Public Education is the most important education system, as it is the only system that is truly fully inclusive, and he believes that strong public schools are a necessary part of the foundation of our province.
JAN SAWYER, DIRECTOR (EDMONTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS)
Jan (she/her) was an educator and school principal before retiring in December 2020. Feeling she had more to give to public education, she ran as a Trustee and is honoured to serve the constituents of Ward I.
Jan has a master's of education in educational leadership and comes from a long line of educators. She believes schools should be community hubs and that they should feel like a second home for students and their families.
As a Trustee, she hopes to continue supporting a strong public school system by lobbying the provincial government for increased funding for special needs education, infrastructure and staffing. She looks forward to listening to families and students to best represent their needs in the Division.