Board of Directors

ASCA Board of Directors 2024 - 2025

President Kerry Bodell, St. Albert

“Engaging parents in education is important to student success. Being a part of the ASCA Board allows me the opportunity to contribute to the continued success of the collective parent voice being heard in education.”

“Engaging parents in education is important to student success. Being a part of the ASCA Board allows me the opportunity to contribute to the continued success of the collective parent voice being heard in education.”

Kerry lives in St. Albert with her husband, two children aged 13 and 15, a dog and a cat. Kerry has spent many hours over the years volunteering in classrooms, libraries, organizing events, hot lunches, and lunch supervision. She has been in various roles on School Council and Fundraising Associations since 2015; 6 of those years in the Chair position. She also volunteered on her school district education foundation (GSCSD Education Foundation) as Vice Chair.

Kerry previously worked as a substitute EA. Her wish is for student success through access to quality public education with a consistent parent voice that meets the diverse needs of all children.

Introduced to ASCA when she was Chair of her school council, Kerry attended her first AGM in 2019. After learning more about School Councils and their role in education she became interested in how to do more for parents and school councils to support student learning and success, and joined the ASCA Board in 2021.

Respect in School Certified

Vice President Ken Glazebrook, Edmonton

Advocating on issues that are important to parents and school councils, can determine outcomes that best support the students of today and into the future.

Advocating on issues that are important to parents and school councils, can determine outcomes that best support the students of today and into the future.

Ken is a single father, with a daughter in a grade 5 “Connections” class, and understands the dynamics of blended families and the challenges facing students with two homes. A big supporter of the “Pay it Forward” and “Random Acts of Kindness” movements, Ken believes there is a special magic in children, and when given the right environment, support, and chance to be heard, they can accomplish so much.

Ken feels that each student has their own unique requirements, strengths and ways of learning, and need the educational tools and resources to be successful as they grow and their needs change.

Volunteering in schools since 2005, Ken has been involved with school councils in various positions since 2015. He has seen firsthand how students flourish by volunteering in the classroom, as well as helping with special projects and field trips.

A firm believer if you want to make change, you need to be involved, Ken first observed ASCA in 2017 championing issues on behalf of parents to work towards outcomes that best support students, and joined the ASCA Board of Directors in 2023.

 

Director Greta Gerstner, Edmonton

“Parents truly are the experts on their children and represent such a diverse learning experience that it enhances the education system for all children.”

“Parents truly are the experts on their children and represent such a diverse learning experience that it enhances the education system for all children.”

Married for 18 years, Greta has two children aged 14 and 17, both who have been diagnosed with learning disabilities in reading, writing and math. She was a member of CASA’s Family Advisory Council and participated in a photovoice research project which told the parent’s story of parenting a child with mental health challenges.

Greta’s passion for education stems from her own children not having access to the resources they needed to learn to read and write. It is her dream that every child has what they need to reach their full potential in the public education system without having to pay privately for it - as that creates a two-tiered education system, when education is supposed to be the true equalizer.

Involved on school council for 12 years in various positions, Greta attended her first ASCA AGM eight years ago, and enjoys engaging with all ASCA members to ensure the parent voice is heard within the education system and considered as partners in our child’s educational journey.

Director Richard Haggarty, Spruce Grove

“I realized that issues that are important to me are also issues for others. The shared voice that is ASCA is much louder than one person.”

“I realized that issues that are important to me are also issues for others. The shared voice that is ASCA is much louder than one person.”

Richard lives in Spruce Grove, with his wife and two children. Involved with school councils for eight years, he volunteers his time to grow and develop the benefits of parent engagement.

Rich’s passion to be involved in education started with his wife – who is a teacher. They share the idea that education should, and will be, a place of inclusion and acceptance.

A part of ASCA for four years now, Rich remembers his first conference he attended and felt the shared passion for educating students. He knew then, it was where he needed to be, to make a difference.

 

Director Edward Tse, Calgary

I became a director to offer a diverse perspective to the decisions of ASCA in an Educational landscape of rapid change.

I became a director to offer a diverse perspective to the decisions of ASCA in an Educational landscape of rapid change.

Working in Education and Technology for over 15 years, Dr. Ed is focused on helping children, parents, and school districts through Ai Parenting, a hybrid learning company that teaches children about robotics and artificial intelligence.

Proud to be the product of quality publicly funded education in Alberta, Edward Tse grew up in Calgary Board of Education Schools, and went to the University of Calgary for his B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. He was the founding School Council Chair of two schools including the largest online school in Alberta in 2021 with over 5600 students. Dr. Ed has also participated in school councils for the Calgary Catholic School District.

Dr. Tse wishes that publicly funded schools would embrace diverse voices in their decision-making. When he first attended the ASCA AGM in 2019 as School Council Chair he was inspired by the idea of a collective voice for parents in schools in Alberta. Dr. Tse has since made it a priority to attend the ASCA AGM every year to better understand the voices of parents in Education, and elected in 2023, is humbled to serve as a Director for ASCA.

 

Director Chelsea Ezeagwuna, Calgary

My children inspired my desire to become a Director, which was born out of the passion to make a difference in the education system.

My children inspired my desire to become a Director, which was born out of the passion to make a difference in the education system.

Chelsea is passionate about parents using their voices to advocate for children and the public school system. She lives in Calgary with her husband and three children. She loves Sushi and spicy food. In her free time, she enjoys writing both fiction and non-fiction books that stimulate healthy engagement and meditation for children and adults.

She is the Chair of Varsity Acres School Council (VASC) where she leads and manages the school council leadership team and supports the staff and sub-committees with decisions that enable the delivery of the best educational system within the Varsity Acres School and Calgary Board of Education, while also helping to build a strong community of parents on school council.

Chelsea has been involved in school councils for five years serving in various positions. She is very excited to leverage her managerial skills to collaborate and strategically support the ASCA President, Board of Directors, and additional stakeholders involved with various ASCA initiatives.

 

Director Stephanie Bugbee, Sylvan Lake

Director Ismeria Bruce, Lethbridge

Director Meagan Parisian, Red Deer