The Board of Trustees of Palliser Regional Schools held its annual staff recognition evening Monday to celebrate the many professional achievements of its staff over the course of this school year. This year, 12 individuals and the Board itself were nominated or received recognition. They are:
- The Board of Trustees was named a finalist for the Alberta School Boards Association Premier’s Award for School Board Innovation and Excellence for Palliser’s Think of Us on the Bus safety campaign.
- Don Zech, Vice-Chair of the Board, received the Public School Boards’ Association of Alberta Award for Advancing Association Business and Initiatives.
- Jean Mrak, former trustee, was recognized for nine years of service to Palliser. First elected in October 2004, Mrak did not seek re-election in 2013.
- Joe Watson, former trustee, was recognized for 15 years of service to Palliser. First elected in October 1998, he did not seek re-election in 2013. He continues his public service as a member of town council in Picture Butte.
- Ken Garinger, former principal of County Central High School in Vulcan who recently was named Associate Superintendent (Human Resources), received the Council for School Leadership’s Distinguished Leadership Award.
- Danielle Booker, teacher at Vulcan Prairieview Elementary School, was Palliser’s nominee for the Edwin Parr Award for outstanding first-year teacher. She was named the Alberta School Boards Association Zone 6 Edwin Parr award winner.
- Kira Goodrich, a teacher at Jennie Emery Elementary in Coaldale, was nominated for the Edwin Parr Award.
- Curtis Perrin, a first-year teacher at Picture Butte High School, was nominated for the Edwin Parr Award.
- Aaron Skretting, a teacher at Picture Butte High School, was nominated for the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence.
- Debra Glaister, a teacher at Jennie Emery Elementary School in Coaldale, was nominated for the Prime Minister’s Teaching Award of Excellence.
- Desiree Lamb, a teacher at Noble Central School, was nominated for the Governor General’s Award for Excellence in Teaching History.
- Verena Roberts, a teacher with Palliser Beyond Borders online school, was nominated for a Bammy Award in the Innovator of the Year category.
- Kerri Masnyk, a teacher at Picture Butte High School, was nominated for the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association Exceptional Contribution/Recognition Award for her work on the 2A Boys’ Provincial Basketball Championships.
“It’s wonderful for our trustees and staff to be recognized in these ways,” said Palliser Superintendent Kevin Gietz. “Our division has an abundance of talented, dedicated individuals who support our students, their literacy and learning day in and day out.”
The recognition dinner is held in Lethbridge. Nominees are joined by Palliser trustees, Central Office administration and the adminstrators from the nominees’ respective schools.