Shabana Rahman to lead new Calgary school
Palliser Regional Schools has a new principal for its new school opening this fall, as well as a new principal to lead the division’s largest high school.
Shabana Rahman will serve as the principal of Horizon Elementary School, slated to open in southwest Calgary in August.
Rahman has been a vice-principal of Fort McMurray Islamic School since 2014. She was the acting principal, guiding the school through difficult times including the evacuation of the city due to wildfires in May 2016. She connected students to parents and reunited many children with their families. She demonstrates integrity while providing a safe and caring learning environment.
Rahman earned her master of education in curriculum, from Avondale College of Higher Learning, in Australia in December 2005. Her bachelor of education majoring in primary education is from the Pacific Adventist University in Papua New Guinea. She also has a diploma in primary education from Fulton College in Fiji. She earned her permanent professional teaching certification in 2009.
Her teaching experience includes four years in Fiji from 2001 to 2004. Rahman moved to Canada in 2005, working as a teacher and principal of Surrey Muslim School in Surrey, B.C., from 2006-2012. She joined Fort McMurray Public School District in 2012. Rahman received a school district TAFI Award for use of Twitter, Apps, Facebook and Instagram, for her work promoting communications and awareness of learning taking place in her classroom.
“I firmly believe that the children entrusted to me are the future of tomorrow, and it is our role as educators and administrators to invest, inspire, assist and mentor students to strive for excellence” Rahman said. “I’m eager to work with staff and students to enhance the unique potential for academic and personal achievement.”
Horizon Elementary School is a new full-time school opening in 2017-2018, created in partnership by Palliser Regional Schools and Horizon Academy Institute.
Rahman is married to Ali Nawaz. They have two children, Juveria, 12, and Adnan, 10.
Daniel Grimes to lead Kate Andrews High team
At Kate Andrews High School in Coaldale, Daniel Grimes has been appointed principal. The leadership change has been sparked by a retirement.
Grimes joined Palliser in August 2016 as principal of County Central High School in Vulcan.
He began his administrative career in the Northwest Territories in 2002, and later was a principal in Peace Wapiti School Division, in Grande Prairie. He returned home to Newfoundland in 2008 to assume vice-principal and then principal roles in the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District.
In addition to his 15 years in school leadership. Grimes taught Grade 7-12 in Fort Liard, N.W.T., and middle and high school math, science and physical education in Trout River, N.L.
He earned his bachelor of science degree from Memorial University in St. John’s, N.L. in 1996, followed by a B.Ed. the following year. He obtained his master of education degree from the University of Aberdeen (Kings College), Scotland.
Grimes and his wife, Charlene, have a 10-year-old son named Noah.