Students will have some new staff and teachers to welcome them back to school in Drumheller and surrounding areas at the start of the 2022-2023 school year following several retirements and transfers at the end of the previous school year.
St. Anthony’s School
One of the biggest changes in the 2022-2023 school year for St. Anthony’s School will be a brand new administrative team after former Principal JoAnne Akerboom and Vice Principal Chris Bzdel both retired at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.
Former Vice Principal Celeste Schrock has accepted the appointment as new Principal of the school; joining her are newly appointed Vice Principals Susan Currie and Betina Gross.
Along with a new administrative team, there will also be some new teachers joining the St. Anthony’s faculty.
“We are happy to welcome these six teachers to our staff,” Ms. Schrock tells the Mail. “Each one of them has a unique set of skills and talents that will enhance our school community.”
Mitchell Orr graduated from the University of Lethbridge in December 2021 and will join St. Anthony’s as the new high school Math and Physics teacher; he spent a semester teaching at fellow Christ the Redeemer school Holy Trinity Academy in Okotoks.
Recent University of Alberta graduate Kevin Gritter is beginning his first teaching position at St. Anthony’s and will be teaching high school Math and Science.
Angela Jusseaume is transferring to St. Anthony’s from a teaching position in Calgary, which she has held for the last few years, to teach junior high Humanities and Drama.
Kelly Topp is looking forward to transitioning from teaching young adults and adults at Medicine Hat College to teaching elementary Physical Education and Grade 7 Science.
Two familiar faces around the halls of St. Anthony’s-Lindsay Pollock and Melanie Pappas-will become full-time members of the school at the start of the year.
Ms. Pollock taught Grade 4 students between April and June 2022, filling a maternity leave position, and in the new school year will be teaching Grade 6 Math and Science; she graduated with her Bachelor of Education from the University of Calgary in December 2021.
Ms. Pappas has worked as a substitute teacher for the last 10 years, filling numerous teaching positions over the years, including long-term positions; she will join St. Anthony’s as the new Grade 4 teacher.
Drumheller Valley Secondary School
Students at DVSS will have two new teachers joining the school in the 2022-2023 school year after Dawn Sullivan’s retirement and the transition of Ryan Hatch from teacher to Associate Principal at the Carbon School.
Brooklyn Gipman has accepted her first teaching position at DVSS following her recent graduation from Concordia University of Edmonton. She will be teaching a variety of junior high classes-Grade 7 Social Studies, Grade 8 Health, Grade 9 Language Arts, and Junior High Foods.
Matthew Lauridsen will also be one of the new teachers joining DVSS this school year. The Mail did not receive response back from Mr. Lauridsen prior to press time regarding his position at the school.
Greentree School
Mikaela Herd will be joining the Greentree School team to teach the new STRIVE program, an individualized program for students in the school with significant needs. This is Ms. Herd’s third year teaching; in the 2021-2022 school year she taught kindergarten at the new Delia School.
