Candy Nikipelo, Chair

Candy is entering her second term as trustee for Ward 3 (Northeast). A lifetime resident of the Boyle area, Candy and her husband Al are maintaining family roots by continuing to farm just west of Boyle, as well as operating a business. Their three grown children are all former students of Aspen View Public Schools, graduating from Boyle School, and are all pursuing post-secondary studies. Candy believes in actively contributing to the community and has served in many organizations include the Boyle Curling Club, Boyle School Parents Advisory, minor hockey and many other groups in which her family has been involved. She feels that trusteeship is another way to serve and better to community, and she looks forward to four more years dedicated to the students and staff of the division.

Anne Karczmarczyk, Vice-Chair

This is Annie's first term as a Trustee, representing Aspen View North Central. Annie and her husband reside in Athabasca with two daughters attending Landing Trail Intermediate School and Whispering Hills Primary School, providing a vested interest in schools. Being a business owner, having unique opportunities volunteering throughout the community and schools, Annie believes the ultimate success of a child is your involvement. Maintaining effective partnerships for continued growth not only for the schools in Athabasca, but throughout the division.

April Bauer, Trustee

April feels public education is the best choice for providing a broad range of learning experiences and understands the importance of creating safe, caring, and welcoming learning environments. It is important that students, parents, and staff feel valued and that their thoughts and opinions matter. April and her husband Monty run a family farm in the Thorhild area and have two daughters that attended and graduated from Thorhild Central School. Also a graduate of TCS, April believes in rural sustainability. It is important to continue to focus on providing a variety of learning options for students to ensure our rural schools are strong viable choices for education. Beginning her second term as a trustee, April brings years of experience collaborating with Aspen View Public Schools on parental engagement. She looks forward to continuing to work with local school councils and having regular meaningful conversations with constituents about serving kids the best way possible.

Donna Cherniwchan, Trustee

This is Donna's second term as the Trustee representing Ward 6 (Southeast). Donna and her husband Shawn operate a cattle/grain farm in the Vilna area, and have the exciting task of raising three active school-age boys. Her family are very active members in the community, volunteering in many local clubs. Donna has a BSc in Human Ecology specializing in Family Studies, and worked as a Family School Liaison Worker for Smoky Lake County. This employment experience allowed her to work firsthand with students, families and school staff through various challenges and help to facilitate positive change. Having children in the current school system has fueled her desire to make their educational experience the best it can be. Donna believes that one of the board's key priorities is its role in advocating for equitable opportunities for rural students. "We must continue to be a strong voice for students. It is their right to access quality programs and services. I believe we need to provide every opportunity for students to learn competencies, and be responsible, caring citizens".

Elohne Chizawsky, Trustee

Elohne and her husband Cory reside in Smoky Lake County a few miles from where Cory grew up. They raised their two grown daughters who both attended H.A. Kostash School from Kindergarten through to Grade 12. Their oldest daughter Alyssa is the Assistant to the ED for the Justice and Solicitor General Ministry - Financial Services Division. Their daughter Grace is Safety and QC Administration for Edmonton Exchanger at Shell Scotford. Elohne is no stranger to a board table. She sat on the Links to Learning Literacy Society Board for many years and served as Board Chair. She also served a 4-year term as an Aspen View School Board Trustee. Elohne believes that all students need to feel welcome, safe, supported and respected in an inclusive school setting. Not all students learn the same way or at the same pace. We need to ensure that we are providing optimal learning environments with diverse quality programs for all students. She says she is very happy to be back as School Trustee and looks forward to the next 4 years. She is grateful for all of the support she has been shown by colleagues, parents and students upon her return.

Brenda Fulmore, Trustee

Biography to come.

Dennis MacNeil, Trustee

Dennis was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 2010; this is his fourth term as a School Board trustee. After retiring from teaching Dennis decided to run for trustee and has been on the Board ever since. He is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Athabasca serving the community in many capacities and has been involved with the club for over 15 years. Dennis is a retired schoolteacher and the former administrator of Rochester School, where he worked for 8 years in that capacity until his retirement in 2008. Dennis has spent over 30 years in the field of education, 24 as a teacher in the Aspen View School Division. Dennis received his teaching degree from the University of Alberta in 1984 and later returned to the University to earn his Masters Degree in The Sociology of Education in 1998. He attended the Leadership Academy in Olds AB in 1999 and received a certificate in Leadership. He and his wife Darlene live south of Athabasca near the hamlet of Colinton where they have raised 4 of their own children and fostered countless other children who have come through their home, and eventually adopted one of those children when he became an adult. Dennis served as Board Chair for 5 years, sat on numerous committees and is currently on the provincial executive for the Public School Boards Association of Alberta. Inclusion, in the context of the public school system, is both an unalienable right, and an unalienable responsibility. He believes in a strong public school education system that promotes diversity and welcomes all students. Diversity truly is a lesson plan for life!