By Charles Lefebvre

Prairie Rose School Division names new superintendent

Mar 23, 2017 | 11:06 AM

DUNMORE, AB — The Prairie Rose School Division has announced a new superintendent.

Roger Clarke, most recently the superintendent for the Fort Vermilion School Division, has been selected by Prairie Rose to replace Brian Andjelic, who is retiring in July.

“Roger brings a wealth of experience as an educator and as a superintendent,” said board chair Stuart Angle in a statement. “Trustees felt it was important to find a superintendent that is familiar with large geography and sparse populations, and well-versed in the advantages and challenges of operating a rural school division.”

Speaking over the phone from Fort Vermilion on Friday, Clarke says he is looking forward to his new position.

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“I’m quite excited about the new challenges of a new area, and new people and new cultures,” he said.

Clarke completed his undergraduate degrees in Newfoundland before moving to Alberta in 1990 with his wife. During the past 27 years, he has worked his way up from teacher to vice-principal, principal and assistant superintendent, before becoming superintendent of Fort Vermilion 12 years ago.

Clarke adds he enjoys working in the rural education system, saying he is able to develop a more personal connection with everyone involved.

“I get to understand the programs at each school and how they impact the different groups of kids that are there,” he said. “Being in a big school division, especially as a superintendent, you don’t often necessarily get the closer connections with the students.”

Clarke says “a lot of learning” is on the table when he joins Prairie Rose this summer, though he will be down in the months leading up to his first day on August 14.

“I certainly want to have many conversations with not only the staff at central office in terms of the work that they do and how we support schools, but also what schools are doing, and the kinds of things they’re proud of and they things they’d like to get better at and improve, so we can build stronger programs for kids,” he said.