Palliser Regional Schools is pleased to announce the following school vice-principal appointments, effective Aug. 25, 2015:
Adam Browning, Vice-Principal
Coalhurst Elementary School
Adam Browning joins Palliser Regional Schools this fall, taking over as vice-principal of Coalhurst Elementary, which serves about 240 students from early learning through Grade 6.
Browning began his teaching career in Vancouver in 2006, after earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Victoria and completing his post degree professional program. He earned a master’s degree, specializing in educational leadership, from the University of Oregon in 2009. He is currently a doctoral student at the University of Calgary, studying in the faculty of languages and literacy.
In Vancouver he taught junior high language arts and math, and was a school principal for two years before moving to Alberta. In Edmonton, he served as a vice-principal and English as a additional language teacher. For the past three years, he’s served as a principal of a Calgary school and has a strong literacy and language focus.
He replaces Chris Spanos, who assumes the principalship of Huntsville School in Iron Springs this fall.
Jennifer Nieboer, Vice-Principal
Kate Andrews High School, Coaldale
Jennifer Nieboer joins school leadership this fall at Kate Andrews High School, a Grade 9-12 program serving about 330 students. She has been teaching junior and senior high sciences at Picture Butte High School since 2006.
She graduated with great distinction from the University of Lethbridge in 2005 with both a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Education degree. She previously taught in New Zealand and with another rural Alberta jurisdiction before joining Palliser.
Rusty (Shannon) Tannant, Vice-Principal
Milo School and Arrowwood Community School
These two small Palliser schools share a principal, and now they’ll share a vice-principal as well. Rusty (Shannon) Tannant joins Palliser to provide leadership to Arrowwood which serves about 100 students, and neighbouring Milo School, which has 58 students, both up to Grade 9.
Tannant earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta in 1996 and her education degree from the University of Lethbridge in 1998. She earned her master’s, specializing in leadership, from the U of L in 2010.
She began her teaching career in Duchess, followed by a year at Brooks Junior High and three years at Brooks Composite High School. She headed to Courtenay, B.C. in 2012 to teach junior and senior math and science. She also served as Curriculum Leader for a fine arts blended program and was curriculum course developer for an online Math 7/8 program. She was a teacher-facilitator for two senior high alternative programs in the Comox School District. Her focus has been on project-based learning with strong technology integration in the classroom.
Jennifer Garinger, Vice-Principal
Barons and Carmangay Schools
Jennifer Garinger will serve as the vice-principal of Barons School and its sister campus at Carmangay this fall.
Garinger earned her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1990, specializing in math and reading. She has taught preschool, elementary (at Vulcan Prairieview Elementary School) and junior high language arts (at County Central High School). Her passions include literacy and student leadership.
Associate Superintendent (Human Resources) Ken Garinger declared a conflict of interest at the outset of the hiring process. The competition was decided by a three-person panel. Ken and Jennifer are married.
Jennifer Garinger takes over the vice-principalship from Fred Jack, who will serve as principal of both schools. Barons School serves about 200 students from early learning through Grade 6. Carmangay Outreach school has about 50 students Grade 7-12. Both schools serve the Low German-speaking Mennonite community.
Bev Wiens, Vice-Principal
Menno Simons Christian School, Calgary
Bev Wiens rejoins her “Palliser family,” as vice-principal of Menno Simons Christian School in Calgary. Wiens, a teacher for more than 30 years, taught at Menno Simons from 1999-2007. She taught at Master’s Academy before joining Glenmore Christian Academy from 2008 to present. Glenmore Christian Academy was an alternative program within Palliser Regional Schools until a year ago when it returned to private school status.
Wiens earned her education degree in 1983 from the University of British Columbia, specializing in special education and psychology. She began her teaching career in Trail, B.C., teaching special education classes, and spent 10 years in special education with Calgary Board of Education before joining a faith-based school.
Menno Simons Christian School serves about 211 students from kindergarten through Grade 9. The school is in southwest Calgary. The vice-principal vacancy was created when Karen Braun became a full-time behaviour support specialist serving all of Palliser.