Assistant Principal Appointments for 2024-2025
May 15, 2024 - Parkland School Division’s Superintendent of Schools, Shauna Boyce, is pleased to announce the following administrative appointments for the 2024-2025 school year, effective August 2024. Following one of the busiest school administration hiring waves due to announced retirements and a host of existing PSD Lead Team members being promoted from Assistant Principals to Principals, the result is eight new assistant principal positions being filled and a swap between Copperhaven School and Graminia School’s admin teams.
“This is always an exciting time of year as the current school year winds down and planning for the next school year ramps up,” stated Superintendent Boyce.
“I have confidence that PSD’s Leadership team will be bolstered with this infusion of diverse perspectives and a wealth of knowledge and experience. Lead Team in 2024-2025 will certainly have a new look and feel and we can’t wait to tap into its potential.”
Stephanie Carrozza, Assistant Principal
Brookwood School (K-4)
Stephanie Carrozza began her teaching journey in 2012 at Sturgeon School Division, immediately after earning her Bachelor of Education with a Generalist Major and a Math and Science Minor from the University of Alberta in 2011. She joined the Parkland School Division in August of 2013 and has since demonstrated her versatility across educational levels by teaching grades 1 through 6. Stephanie's roles have included Mentor Teacher and a valued member of the Superintendent's Advisory Team. After a brief period as a Middle Years Teacher at École Broxton Park School, she moved to Brookwood in 2016, where she continues to contribute to the community. Stephanie has also stepped into Acting Assistant Principal roles sporadically since September 2020, showcasing her leadership capabilities.
She earned a Graduate Certificate in Supporting and Enhancing Mental Health in Children and Adolescents in 2017, followed by a Graduate Diploma in Leadership Studies in 2018 which she capped off with a Master of Education degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2019, all from the University of Calgary.
"Serving as an educator to Brookwood students has been an amazing journey, filled with many enriching learning experiences. I am thankful for the opportunity to continue to work alongside our dedicated staff, engage with our students, and contribute to the continued growth and success of the Brookwood School community."
Trish Spink, Assistant Principal
École Broxton Park School (K-9)
Trish Spink brings a rich background and versatile experience to her roles within the Parkland School Division. She began her educational career teaching grades 4 to 6 at Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation School after completing her Bachelor of Education at Concordia University College of Alberta in 1999, having previously earned a Bachelor's degree in Sociology with a minor in Psychology from the University of Alberta in 1996.
Over the years, Trish has taught all age levels from Kindergarten to Grade 12, demonstrating a unique breadth of expertise across different educational stages. Her PSD career includes impactful tenures at Wabamun School and Greystone Centennial Middle School. Currently, she is a pivotal part of Spruce Grove Composite High School, where she fulfills multiple roles: School Counsellor, Inclusive Education Lead, and recently, Acting Assistant Principal.
Trish also completed a Master’s in Education Leadership at the University of Calgary in 2019, further enhancing her leadership skills.
"It has been a pleasure working with the Spruce Grove Composite High School community over the past 6 years. I will miss the students and staff but I'm thrilled for this new adventure. I am excited to join the École Broxton Park School team and I look forward to getting to know and supporting the students, teachers, and families in my new position."
Erin Chessor, Assistant Principal
Copperhaven School (K-9)
Erin Chessor began her teaching career in 2004 teaching grade two at New Horizons School in Sherwood Park. After a couple of years teaching for Elk Island Public Schools, Erin joined Parkland School Division in 2012 to teach grade six at Graminia School. During her time teaching at Graminia Erin taught a number of different grades, took on the Numeracy Intervention Lead position, and participated in the PSD Leadership Development Program. She previously sat on the Superintendent's Advisory Committee. In December 2021, she became the Acting Assistant Principal for Graminia. She removed the ‘Acting’ title and has been Assistant Principal at Graminia since the start of the 2022-2023 school year.
Erin earned a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta in 2004 as well as a Master of Education, Technology in Education Specialization degree from the U of A in 2013. In 2023, she returned to the U of A to begin coursework in the Graduate Certificate for School Leadership program.
“It has been an absolute honour and privilege to have been a part of the Graminia community for the past twelve years. I will cherish the relationships and memories I have made with the students, staff and families at this incredible school. I am looking forward to establishing new relationships and working with the Copperhaven community.”
Lynn Lang, Assistant Principal
Duffield School (K-9)
Lynn Lang has been a school-based administrator for the past year and a half starting as an Acting Assistant Principal for Greystone Centennial Middle School before moving over to Duffield School in the same role. She will remove the ‘Acting’ portion of her title moving forward. Prior to joining Duffield School, Ms. Lang spent the better part of 16 years at Greystone. She started her PSD journey in the 2007-2008 school year in various capacities teaching Humanities, Health and Grades 7-9 Phys. Ed. She’s also stepped in as acting administration on occasion when called upon. Lynn has also served students in a combined role as Inclusive Education Lead and Administrative Support.
Ms. Lang earned a Bachelor of Education from the University of Regina and spent the first five years of her teaching career at École Massey School in Regina. She also earned a Master’s of Science in Kinesiology & Health Studies also from the U of R.
“It has been an honour and an absolute pleasure having the opportunity to join the Duffield School Community these past few months. I am excited to be provided with the opportunity to continue working and learning from the incredibly talented and dedicated staff, students, and community. I eagerly anticipate the journey ahead, filled with endless potential for growth and collaboration."
Luke English, Assistant Principal
Graminia School (K-9)
Luke English has been a member of PSD’s Lead Team since 2021 when he began his school administrative career as Assistant Principal of Copperhaven School. Prior to that, he served PSD students in various capacities and stops as a classroom teacher for ten years starting at Tomahawk School where he taught almost every grade in the school. From there, Mr. English moved to Greystone Centennial Middle School where he was part of the Grade five and six teams for five years. He was also an early years teacher in the Virtual Learning program at Connections for Learning and taught for two years at Copperhaven School when it first opened prior to joining the admin team.
Luke earned his Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta in 2010 majoring as a Generalist with a Minor in Educational Psychology and will be completing his Masters in Leadership through the University of Calgary this year.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Copperhaven School both as a teacher and an administrator. Working with a wonderful staff and an amazing student body has been a privilege. I am excited to build new relationships with the staff, students and parents of Graminia."
Oriana Leithoff, Assistant Principal
Muir Lake School (K-9)
Oriana Leithoff joined Parkland School Division midway through the 2015-2016 school year, where she has continued to enrich the educational community with her expertise and leadership. Prior to that, she had a brief stop at Northern Gateway School Division, where she taught grades 9 to 12, laying a solid foundation for her future roles. At PSD, Oriana has specialized in teaching grades 10, 11, and 12, including Social Studies programming tailored for Knowledge and Employability pathways. For the last four years, she has also led as the Social Studies Department Head at Spruce Grove Composite High School.
Oriana began her educational journey with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, minoring in Sociology, from The King's University College in 2009. She then pursued and completed her Bachelor of Education in 2014, majoring in Social Studies and minoring in English for secondary education from the University of Alberta. In June 2022, Oriana further advanced her qualifications by earning a Master's in Educational Management and Leadership from Royal Roads University in Victoria.
“I feel deeply honored to have spent the past nine years at Spruce Grove Composite high school. As an alumnus and later a teacher, being part of the Panther family has been an amazing journey, filled with inspiring students and exceptional colleagues. Now, I am excited to bring my passion for education and team building to Muir Lake School, where I am dedicated to supporting both students and teachers in achieving their goals through meaningful experiences. Go Mustangs!”
Dana Lakusta, Assistant Principal
École Meridian Heights School (K-9)
Dana Lakusta has been a vibrant member of the Parkland School Division community since she began as a substitute teacher immediately following her graduation with a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta in 2000. Her first full-time teaching role was at École Meridian Heights School teaching Kindergarten. Dana's journey within PSD also included significant contributions at Blueberry School and Greystone Centennial Middle School, where she embraced roles such as Early Years Teacher, Literacy Intervention Lead teacher, Community Builders Lead Teacher, Inclusive Education Lead, and even stepped into the Acting Principal position, when required. In her present role as a Teacher Facilitator, Dana is instrumental in supporting teachers and school-based administration specifically in the area of Literacy instruction and assessment, in addition to supporting teachers with the rollout and implementation of the new EAL and FILAL curriculums.
Currently, Dana is pursuing further professional development through Queens University, where she is completing a Post-Graduate Certificate in Leadership that will ladder into a Professional Masters of Education.
“I have had the privilege of supporting educators and staff in various schools within Parkland School Division for the last two years. I am looking forward to the opportunity to join the École Meridian Heights School community and contribute to supporting its staff, students, and families.”
Nicole Saulnier, Assistant Principal
École Meridian Heights School (K-9)
Nicole Saulnier began her teaching career in 2010 in the province of Nova Scotia. She started as a Kindergarten Teacher in Nova Scotia and briefly explored Grade 6 French Immersion teaching in Yarmouth. She further honed her skills at École Wedgeport, serving as a Literacy Intervention and Elementary Teacher for grades 1 through 5 up until 2018. Nicole’s entire Parkland School Division journey has been at Ecole Broxton Park School. She’s been there since the 2018-2019 school year, where she has continued to make a significant impact as a French Immersion teacher, Literacy Lead, and Inclusive Education Lead.
Nicole graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education (Elementary Focus) from Université Sainte-Anne in Pointe-de-l'Église, Nova Scotia in 2010. Currently, she is enhancing her professional skills by pursuing a Masters of Education in School Counselling at the City University of Seattle.
“I'm grateful for the connections that I have made at École Broxton Park. The students, staff, and community will always hold a special place in my heart, as they welcomed me from the start. I'm excited to join École Meridian Heights in this new leadership role. I am also looking forward to building new relationships and to support students, staff, and the Meridian community.”
David Griffin, Assistant Principal
Woodhaven Middle School (Gr. 5-9)
David Griffin has dedicated most of his professional teaching career to the Red Deer Catholic School Division, where he has cultivated a diverse teaching and leadership portfolio with experience in dual track schools. David has experience teaching English Language Arts, Grades 10-12 Social Studies, Drama, and Career and Technologies Foundations and has been a literacy coach and English Language Learner lead. He also served as the English Department Head at Notre Dame High School with Lakeland Catholic Schools, demonstrating his capacity for curriculum leadership and educational development. In 2017, he expanded his role into school-based administration, first as a Vice Principal for six years, and was Principal at Holy Trinity School in Red Deer this school year, overseeing a vibrant community of learners ranging from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 8.
David began his educational journey after completing a Bachelor of Education in Secondary Education from the University of Alberta in 2011. David earned a Master of Education in Leadership in Education from the City University of Seattle in 2018 and a Masters Certificate in Catholic School Administration from Newman Theological College.
"I can't tell you how excited I am to be joining the amazing community of Woodhaven Middle School! I am looking forward to using my previous experience as an administrator and all of the gifts and talents I possess to ensure that students, staff, and families are inspired to achieve their full potential. I believe that communities are nurtured in partnership, and I am very blessed to join this amazing team."
Kayla Joy, Assistant Principal
Woodhaven Middle School (Gr. 5-9)
Kayla Joy joined the Parkland School Division in 2018, bringing a wealth of experience and a strong educational background. She has taught in the Christian Program at the Grades 5 and 6 level and has taken on multiple leadership roles including Technology Lead, Literacy Lead, and Acting Admin roles. She assumed her most recent position at the beginning of this year as the Inclusive Education & Literacy Lead at Woodhaven Middle School. Prior to joining PSD, Kayla spent three years as a classroom teacher at Mount Pearl Intermediate in the Newfoundland & Labrador English School District, teaching Grades 7-8 English Language Arts and Grade 6 Core.
She began her teaching career after earning a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from the University of Waterloo in 2010 and a Bachelor of Education on the Dean's List for Intermediate-Secondary education from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2011. Kayla also served as the Director of Next Gen Ministries in Newfoundland and Labrador, where she was responsible for programming for children, youth, and young adults, relying on her Bachelor of Theology, Youth Work she earned in 2005.
In 2021, Kayla completed her Master of Education in Leadership Studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
"I'm honored to have the opportunity to continue my journey at Woodhaven in a new leadership role. Working alongside the incredible staff here, who demonstrate a commitment to students and to each other every day, has been an absolute gift. In this next stage, I'm looking forward to helping further our shared goals in providing supportive learning environments."
For further information, contact:
Shauna Boyce, Superintendent
Email: shauna.boyce@psd.ca
Phone: 780-963-4010