For information about current volunteer opportunities with the ASCA Board of Directors, please contact the Nominations Committee Chair at parents@albertaschoolcouncils.ca
Election of the Board of Directors takes place at the Annual General Meeting each April.
ASCA Board Vision Path 2023-2026
There are many perspectives and needs expressed by parents across the province and being able to connect with those parents through their school councils is a privilege for me.
ASCApresident@albertaschoolcouncils.ca (Media inquiries to communications@albertaschoolcouncils.ca)
Brandi has a passion for public education – to ensure it prepares children to be leaders in our world. Equitable access to a quality education is what our children deserve.
Married to a teacher, with five children in grades 8 through 12, and one attending university, and many pets, Brandi lives in Edmonton. She has served as executive on multiple school councils, is involved with fundraising societies, and is a frequent school volunteer, with a lifelong goal of serving others.
She is drawn to ASCA’s support of school councils in the province because it ensures that all parents have the opportunity for engagement and the ability to determine their definition of effectiveness within their local communities. Parent voice in education is crucial to student success. Education is a foundational pillar in society and having equitable access to public education is vital for Albertans.
Brandi attended her first ASCA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in 2014 and was elected as a Board Director at the 2016 AGM. She was elected Vice President at the 2018 AGM, elected President at the 2020 AGM, and re-elected as President at the 2022 AGM.
“Parent involvement is key in a child's success. The parent voice is key in education's success.”
Shelley lives in Red Deer with her husband and two kids, 18 and 14. She has been a volunteer in Red Deer Public Schools since her oldest started school and an executive on school councils since her youngest started school.
Being involved in school councils introduced her to people who are as passionate about education as she is. Attending the ASCA conference for the first time in 2017, she became a Director to learn more about being a parent advocate and to encourage parents to be more engaged in their children’s education.
Shelley is very community minded and also volunteers with the Red Deer Public Library Board, the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery Board, the United Way, and the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Her favourite way to volunteer is at school when there is any kind of outdoor activity going on.
Shelley is grateful to have been elected Vice President at the 2020 AGM.
“Parents truly are the experts on their children and represent such a diverse learning experience that it enhances the education system for all children.”
Married for 17 years, Greta has two children aged 13 and 16, both who have been diagnosed with learning disabilities in reading, writing and math. She was a member of CASA’s Family Advisory Council and participated in a photovoice research project which told the parent’s story of parenting a child with mental health challenges.
Greta’s passion for education stems from her own children not having access to the resources they needed to learn to read and write. It is her dream that every child has what they need to reach their full potential in the public education system without having to pay privately for it - as that creates a two-tiered education system, when education is supposed to be the true equalizer.
Involved on school council for 11 years in various positions, Greta attended her first ASCA AGM seven years ago, and enjoys engaging with all ASCA members to ensure the parent voice is heard within the education system and considered as partners in our child’s educational journey.
“Engaging parents in education is important to student success. Being a part of the ASCA Board allows me the opportunity to contribute to the continued success of the collective parent voice being heard in education.”
Kerry lives in St. Albert with her husband, two children aged 10 and 12, two dogs and a cat. She is an active volunteer and has held various executive positions on school council, including Chair, and the fundraising association at her children’s school since 2015. In her spare time you will find her getting crafty and creative or with her hands in the dirt tending the garden.
Kerry is a substitute Education Assistant (EA) and enjoys working with parents, students and teachers to aid in student success. Her wish is for student success through access to quality public education with a consistent parent voice that meets the diverse needs of all children.
Kerry’s journey with Alberta School Councils’ Association (ASCA) began after attending the AGM in 2019. With the help of ASCA workshops, webinars and meetings, she began updating the operations of her school council. While learning about school councils and the work of ASCA, Kerry found herself drawn to the work the association does. It is her hope that parents can be a consistent voice in education through the work of the Board.
“Working in concert with our school councils, board of trustees, parents provide valuable advocacy work and insight into how public education functions in the province.”
Krista was born and raised in a small coastal community in Newfoundland and moved to Alberta in 2006 with her husband. She holds a Ph.D in Canadian history from the University of New Brunswick and taught at both the University of Alberta and Grant MacEwan University. In 2017, her family moved to Calgary where her two daughters attend Calgary Catholic School Division (CCSD) schools.
Krista runs her own small tutoring business and spends many hours volunteering both at school, and in the community with organizations including Girl Guides of Canada.
A fierce advocate for public education in Alberta, Krista believes that a strong public education system is the backbone of our province. It is her wish to see public education in Alberta celebrated, respected, and funded appropriately.
Krista’s involvement with ASCA began in 2020 when she presented a resolution on behalf of her school council. It is important for her to be involved in ASCA because the parent voice in public education is critical. She believes parents, are both the primary educators and the primary advocates for our children.
Serving as an ASCA director will allow her to elevate the parent voice in education, and the importance of the relationship between parents and a strong public education system.
“I realized that issues that are important to me are also issues for others. The shared voice that is ASCA is much louder than one person.”
Richard lives in Spruce Grove, with his wife and two children. Involved with school councils for eight years, he volunteers his time to grow and develop the benefits of parent engagement.
Rich’s passion to be involved in education started with his wife – who is a teacher. They share the idea that education should, and will be, a place of inclusion and acceptance.
A part of ASCA for four years now, Rich remembers his first conference he attended and felt the shared passion for educating students. He knew then, it was where he needed to be, to make a difference.
Advocating on issues that are important to parents and school councils, can determine outcomes that best support the students of today and into the future.
Ken is a single father, with a daughter in a grade 5 “Connections” class, and understands the dynamics of blended families and the challenges facing students with two homes. A big supporter of the “Pay it Forward” and “Random Acts of Kindness” movements, Ken believes there is a special magic in children, and when given the right environment, support, and chance to be heard, they can accomplish so much.
Ken feels that each student has their own unique requirements, strengths and ways of learning, and need the educational tools and resources to be successful as they grow and their needs change.
Volunteering in schools since 2005, Ken has been involved with school councils in various positions since 2015. He has seen firsthand how students flourish by volunteering in the classroom, as well as helping with special projects and field trips.
A firm believer if you want to make change, you need to be involved, Ken first observed ASCA in 2017 championing issues on behalf of parents to work towards outcomes that best support students, and joined the ASCA Board of Directors in 2023.
My children inspired my desire to become a Director, which was born out of the passion to make a difference in the education system.
Chelsea is passionate about parents using their voices to advocate for children and the public school system. She lives in Calgary with her husband and three children. She loves Sushi and spicy food. In her free time, she enjoys writing both fiction and non-fiction books that stimulate healthy engagement and meditation for children and adults.
She is the Chair of Varsity Acres School Council (VASC) where she leads and manages the school council leadership team and supports the staff and sub-committees with decisions that enable the delivery of the best educational system within the Varsity Acres School and Calgary Board of Education, while also helping to build a strong community of parents on school council.
Chelsea has been involved in school councils for five years serving in various positions. She is very excited to leverage her managerial skills to collaborate and strategically support the ASCA President, Board of Directors, and additional stakeholders involved with various ASCA initiatives.
I became a director to offer a diverse perspective to the decisions of ASCA in an Educational landscape of rapid change.
Working in Education and Technology for over 15 years, Dr. Ed is focused on helping children, parents, and school districts through Ai Parenting, a hybrid learning company that teaches children about robotics and artificial intelligence.
Proud to be the product of quality publicly funded education in Alberta, Edward Tse grew up in Calgary Board of Education Schools, and went to the University of Calgary for his B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. He was the founding School Council Chair of two schools including the largest online school in Alberta in 2021 with over 5600 students. Dr. Ed has also participated in school councils for the Calgary Catholic School District.
Dr. Tse wishes that publicly funded schools would embrace diverse voices in their decision-making. When he first attended the ASCA AGM in 2019 as School Council Chair he was inspired by the idea of a collective voice for parents in schools in Alberta. Dr. Tse has since made it a priority to attend the ASCA AGM every year to better understand the voices of parents in Education, and elected in 2023, is humbled to serve as a Director for ASCA.