St. Albert Public parents will get to vote for at least two new trustees this fall now that the board’s current chair has stepped out of the electoral race.
St. Albert Public School Board chair Glenys Edwards told The Gazette this week that she would not seek re-election this fall.
“I just decided I needed to step away and leave the board in new hands,” she said, adding that she felt ready to take on some new challenges after eight years as a trustee.
Edwards was first elected as trustee in 2013, having previously spent about 35 years as a teacher, principal, and associate superintendent with St. Albert Public.
Edwards said she sought to cultivate a collaborative culture while in office and spent much of her time managing the district’s rapid growth.
“We are one of the fastest-growing divisions in the province,” she said, and adding the division is showing no signs of slowing down.
Edwards saw the district gain some 2,000 students and three new schools in her time in office. She spoke with pride about being with the board in 2013 when it became one of the first in Alberta to create a standalone sexual orientation and gender identity policy, and of the board’s more recent efforts to advance Indigenous reconciliation and create an anti-racism policy.
Edwards said she plans to travel and spend time with her family after her term in office is up.
She encouraged skilled communicators and team players who are committed to putting student needs first and to supporting high-quality education to run in this fall’s trustee election.
Trustee Cheryl Dumont said earlier this year she would not seek re-election. The Gazette will speak to her about her time in office later this summer.
