Sixteen educators from across Alberta appointed to Teacher Advisory Council

Posted on July 2, 2026 by admin

By Heather Cameron
Westwind Weekly News

In April 2026, the Government of Alberta announced that 16 educators from across Alberta were appointed to the Teacher Advisory Council to help shape education policies from kindergarten to Grade 12.

“As classrooms grow more complex, this teacher advisory council will play a key role in helping Alberta’s government deliver meaningful, classroom-focused policy solutions,” said Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education and Childcare for the Government of Alberta

Those selected to be part of the Council, Senior Press Secretary to the Minister of Education and Childcare Garrett Koehler said, are Danella Aichele from Rocky View School Division, Lindsey Bates from Buffalo Trail School Division, Jenelle Boytinck from Edmonton School Division, Nadia Carinelli from Calgary Catholic School Division, Robert Duiker from Wild Rose School Division, Kelden Formosa from Alberta Classical Academy, Jesse Gamble from Lethbridge School Division, Angela Grammatikos from Calgary Board of Education, Keith Griffioen from Lethbridge School Division, Jeffrey Hill from Westwind School Division, Logyn Jacksteit from Prairie Rose School Division, Matthew Kierstead from Fort Vermilion School Division, Kathy Rast from Livingstone Range School Division, Denise Russell from Webber Academy, Bailee Tirschmann from Edmonton School Division, and Marnie Weber from Grasslands School Division. 

174 educators in total, Koehler also said, applied to participate in the Teacher Advisory Council, and the 16 selected will help provide input to the Minister of Education and Childcare on key priorities to address within the system.

“Members were selected through a formal application and vetting process to ensure a diverse range of perspectives from the classroom,” said Koehler.

Teacher input, Koehler stated, will be ‘essential’ as Alberta’s government continues to address evolving class sizes and complexities inside the classroom.

Koehler states that the Council, which includes both teachers and teacher leaders, will have opportunities to share diverse perspectives on emerging issues, topics, education policies and initiatives as they are being developed.  

“By bringing front-line teacher perspectives directly into the policy process, the council will help ensure decisions are informed by real classroom experience and focused on supporting student success and teacher well-being,” said Minister Nicolaides.