CASS President’s Message
The College of Alberta School Superintendents (CASS) is the professional voice of Alberta’s system educational leaders, whose mission is to build system leadership excellence to ensure quality school leadership, quality teaching, and optimum learning for all students in Alberta.
In the spring of 2021 Bill 55, the College of Alberta School Superintendents Act, received royal assent and the College of Alberta School Superintendents was granted professional status within legislation for full implementation in September 2022. On behalf of the CASS Board of Directors, I wish to express appreciation to the hundreds of school system leaders, beginning in the 1960’s, that have laid the foundation for CASS to realize this long held aspiration. In particular, we hold a debt of gratitude to those visionary leaders who had the idea to begin operating as a professional organization long before CASS was given formal recognition in legislation. These leaders drafted bylaws and developed other governance structures that gave the association gravitas.
CASS operates using a zone system, with most zones meeting three to four times a year. Most zones organize themselves into role-alike communities of reflection and practice, and the opportunity for professional collaboration is often the most cited benefit of membership by the system leaders that participate. The Board of Directors consists of 10 individuals with representation from each of the zones, Alberta’s First Nations, Métis, and Inuit schools, and Alberta’s Francophone schools. Beginning in 2022, CASS will also have a public member appointed by the Minister of Education.
CASS works to foster system excellence by strengthening the knowledge and skills of its members and collaborating with the Ministry and other partner organizations to maintain Alberta’s world-class education system. CASS is committed to building the proficiency of system leaders to meet the Leadership Quality Standard and the Superintendent Leadership Quality standard.
On behalf of the CASS Board of Directors, I would like to thank all CASS members, past and present, who have contributed both to CASS and to educational excellence in the province of Alberta.
Sincerely,
Dr. Scott Morrison
Presidents
Years Served | Name | School Authority | Position |
---|---|---|---|
2022-23 | Dr. Scott Morrison | Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools | Superintendent |
2021-22 | Dr. Wilco Tymensen | Horizon School Division | Superintendent |
2019-21 | Bevan Daverne (2-year term) | Golden Hills School Division | Superintendent |
2018-19 | Kurt Sacher | Chinook’s Edge School Division | Superintendent |
2017-18 | Christopher MacPhee | Canadian Rockies Public Schools | Superintendent |
2016-17 | Colleen Symyrozum-Watt | Pembina Hills Public Schools | Superintendent |
2015-16 | John Waterhouse | Westwind School Division | Deputy Superintendent |
2014-15 | Karl Germann | Grande Prairie Catholic | Superintendent |
2013-14 | Dr. Larry Jacobs (D)* | Wolf Creek School Div. | Chief Superintendent |
2012-13 | Craig Foley | Calgary Catholic School Div. | Superintendent, HR |
2011-12 | Roger Nippard | Northern Lights School Div. | Superintendent |
2010-11 | Barry Litun | Lethbridge School District | Superintendent |
2009-10 | Greg Woronuk | Peace River School Div. | Assistant Superintendent |
2008-09 | Paulette Hanna | Red Deer Catholic Reg. Div. | Superintendent |
2007-08 | Dr. Jim Brandon (D)* | Foothills School Div. | Deputy Superintendent |
2006-07 | Mary Lynne Campbell | Parkland School Div | Superintendent |
2005-06 | Barbara Gammon | Palliser Reg. Div. | Assoc Supt. |
2004-05 | Barry Stangeland | High Prairie S. Div. | Assoc Supt. |
2003-04 | Patricia Dorney (D)* | Calgary RCSSD No. 1 | Area Superintendent |
2002-03 | Jim Gibbons | Chinook’s Edge S.D. | Superintendent |
2001-02 | Dr. Hal Kluczny (D)* | Wetaskiwin R.P.S.D. | Superintendent |
2000-01 | Dr. Darwin Eckstrom | Peace Wapiti | Dep. Supt. |
1999-2000 | Ed Wittchen | Northern Lights S.D. | Superintendent |
1998-99 | John Darroch | Palliser Reg. Div. | Assoc. Superintendent |
1997-98 | David A. Lynn | Foothills School Division | Superintendent |
1996-97 | Dr. David Young (D)* | Parkland School Division | Superintendent |
1995-96 | Brian Callaghan | Canadian Rockies | Superintendent |
1994-95 | Muriel Dunnigan | Edmonton Catholic | Assoc. Superintendent |
1993-94 | Dick Baker (D)* | Edmonton Public | Assoc. Superintendent |
1992-93 | Merv Kurtz | County of Lacombe | Superintendent |
1991-92 | Dave Thomas | East Smoky School Div. | Superintendent |
1990-91 | Gordon Welch | Strathcona County | Superintendent |
July 1990 | Dr. Alan MacLeod | Willow Creek School Div. | Superintendent |
1989-90 | Warren Phillips | County of Mountain View | Asst. Superintendent |
1988-89 | Dr. John McCarthy | Calgary Catholic | Superintendent |
1987-88 | Gary Kiernan | Lakeland Public | Superintendent |
1986-87 | Jacqueline Gee | Strathcona Count | Assoc Superintendent |
1985-86 | Robert David | County of Lacombe | Superintendent |
1984-85 | Harold Parr (D)* | Rocky View School Div | Deputy Superintendent |
1982-84 | Gerry Heck | Fort McMurray Catholic | Superintendent |
Jul-Sept 1982 | Bill Brownlee | Red Deer Public | Superintendent |
1981-82 | Dr. Gordon Rancier | Strathcona County | Superintendent |
1980-81 | Dennis Grant | Grande Prairie Catholic | Superintendent |
1979-80 | Dr. Robert Plaxton (D)* | Lethbridge Public | Superintendent |
1978-79 | Gerry Wilson | Three Hills School Div. | Superintendent |
1977-78 | Dr. Harold MacNeil (D)* | Edmonton Catholic | Superintendent |
1976-77 | Alvin Myhre | County of Parkland | Superintendent |
1975-76 | Dr. Jack Van Tighem (D)* | Calgary Catholic | Superintendent |
1974-75 | Harold Jepson (D)* | County of Mountain View | Superintendent |
1973-74 | Bert Strain (D)* | Stettler School District | Superintendent |
1972-73 | Frank Riddle (D)* | Medicine Hat Public | Superintendent |
1971-72 | Jack James (D)* | Calgary Public | Sec. Schools Supt. |
1970-71 | Dr. Harold MacNeil (D)* | Edmonton Catholic | Superintendent |
1969-70 | Robert Kimmit (D)* | Lethbridge Catholic | Superintendent |
1968-69 | Dr. Robert Warren (D)* | Calgary Public | Superintendent |
1967-68 | Harold Dawe (D)* | Red Deer Public | Superintendent |
1966-67 | Dr. Olaf Larson (D)* | Medicine Hat Public | Superintendent |
1964-66 | Dr. Peter Bargen (D)* | Edmonton Public | Superintendent |
*(D) Deceased