Ignite Alberta Institute for Learning
Board of Directors
Ignite Alberta Institute for Learning
Board of Directors
DIVERSE, COMMUNITY-FOCUSED LEADERSHIP
The Ignite Alberta Institute for Learning Board of Directors bring diverse perspectives and experiences to our collective work. In addition to tremendous breadth and depth of individual professional experiences, we all contribute significantly to our local communities through volunteer activities as well. From the inception of Ignite, there is one belief that we all shared; that all children and students can learn. We are committed to this belief as we continuously build a highly relational, supportive, innovative teaching and learning community that will ensure success for all of our students.
FUNDRAISING TO SUPPORT STUDENTS
Our Board also serves as the philanthropic society responsible for fundraising efforts, providing increased levels of support for the school it governs, Ignite Centre for eLearning. Fundraising efforts support two distinct aspects of programming; direct supports for students such as counsellors, tuition support, psycho-educational assessments and follow-up supports, innovative digital resources, assistive learning devices, etc. Fundraising will also help to offset costs to establish physical sites that will allow students and staff to meet in person more frequently. While Ignite Centre for eLearning is accessible to all students, they have a particular interest in improving educational outcomes for Indigenous students and those who are from under-served populations such as those found on our fundraising page.
The Ignite Alberta Institute for Learning received its status as a charitable organization as designated by the Canada Revenue Agency on September 1, 2021.
Interested in donating to support Ignite? Please check out our fundraising page for more information.
Our Board
DR. KATHY TOOGOOD
BOARD CHAIR
Kathy Toogood has been an educator, principal and senior manager for Alberta Education, working with independent schools to support them to pursue continuous improvement. Currently, she is a learning and leadership consultant at her company, Kanopy Consulting.
KRISTINA HILL
TREASURER
Kristina Hill has a Business Commerce Degree from the University of Alberta and is a small business bookkeeper. She is also the Treasurer of the Edmonton Women’s Squash Society.
JASON BIGCHARLES
(WAPUSTIM)
DIRECTOR, INDIGENOUS RELATIONS
Wapustim is an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper who is from the Métis settlement of East Prairie. He has been an educator for 20+ years and is a Land-based Learning and Curriculum Specialist with the KeeTasKeeNow Tribal Council Education Authority (KTCEA). See more about Wapustim here.
VAL GUILTNER
VICE-CHAIR
Val Guiltner, MEd, BScOT(c), has 25+ years of progressive management experience in the areas of rehabilitation, academia and research. Val is the Founding CEO and serves as an Occupational Therapist with Progressive Paedatrics.
ASHLEY MCKILLOP, PhD
DIRECTOR
Ashley McKillop has a PhD in Rehabilitation Science. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alberta leading an implementation evaluation of a child-centered goal-setting approach in pediatric rehabilitation. Ashley also works at Children’s Autism Services of Edmonton supporting their research and program evaluation initiatives.
JENNIFER CARSON
DIRECTOR
Jennifer Carson is the president and CEO of Lone Pine Consulting Ltd., an Alberta-based benefits consulting organization. Previously, she held senior positions in benefits administration including becoming CEO of the Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan (ASEBP). She has additional work experience in finance, human resources and strategic management.
MELISSA MALESHESKI
DIRECTOR
Melissa is an entrepreneur with a growing business in aesthetics and is a staunch supporter of community development. She currently serves in the role of Director of Operations with Progressive Paediatrics. Melissa is also a parent of a twice-exceptional child and has a special interest in assessment of student abilities.
Acknowledgements/Contributions
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”
