School Board Trustee Candidate Profiles
Elections will be held on October 20, 2025 with opportunities to vote at advance polls. Please watch the local newspapers for more information.
Please scroll down to read candidate profiles.
Elected by Acclamation:
| Ward 1 | Daryl Scott |
| Ward 1 | Becky May |
| Ward 3 | Penni Lougheed |
Election Candidates:
| Ward 2 | Paula Lavigne |
| Ward 2 | Holly Ekstrom |
| Ward 4 | Amanda Thomson |
| Ward 4 | Jackie Janes |
| Ward 4 | Doug Skeels |
| Ward 5 | Nolan Duffin |
| Ward 5 | Heidi Hetherington |
Candidate Profiles:
Paula Lavigne - Ward 2
Paula Lavigne is a proud wife, mother, church member, and dedicated resident of the Breton community. For the past five years, Paula has been directly involved in educating her children, which has strengthened her passion for quality education, the role of teachers, and ensuring students are taught age-appropriate content within the Wild Rose School Division.
Paula believes every child deserves a safe learning environment, equal opportunity, and a high standard of education — especially right here in Breton’s schools. Together with parents, Paula wants them to feel confident that their children are receiving an education that reflects traditional values, supports teachers, and puts students’ needs first.
Parents and students in Ward 2 deserve strong representation, and as a School Board Trustee that can be relied upon, Paula will ensure their voices are heard on the Wild Rose School Division board.
Paula can be reached at 587-206-8683 or email VotePaulaLavigne@gmail.com
Holly Ekstrom - Ward 2
As a 35-year resident of the Breton community, I bring a lifetime of experience grounded in
education and service. With over a decade as an Educational Assistant for Wild Rose School
Division, and additional experience supporting school librarians and administrators, I have a
strong understanding of the needs of students, families and educators. Education runs deep in
my family. My father was an elementary school principal for more than 30 years, my husband
has taught high school in both Breton and Drayton Valley, and my own children attended and
graduated from Breton schools.
Beyond the classroom I have served on the Breton Municipal Library Board, the Community
Scholarship Trust Society, and the Alberta Health Patient Advisory Board. I have also been
involved in literacy initiatives through ABC Headstart and adult literacy training. Through these
roles, I have gained valuable board and teamwork experience that will guide my service as
Trustee.
I believe every student deserves the resources to succeed. With the support of families, school
staff and the community, we can ensure every child regardless of background or ability, has the
opportunity to thrive. I would be honoured to bring this experience along with my dedication and
community values to the Wild Rose School Board of Trustees - working to ensure strong
support for students, staff and families.
Holly can be reached at 2holdal@gmail.com
Amanda Thomson - Ward 4
Deciding to put my name forward for this election was an easy decision for me. We have seen such drastic changes in the way our children are being educated in just the last 5 years alone. From increasing technology in the classrooms, the removal of educational assistants, to public vs government expectations, putting more challenges in the way for the students and increased stress for parents. One thing that seems to remain consistent is lack of funding and large class sizes.
I would love to be an advocate in ensuring all students have a good foundation to their learning so, all students thrive.
Amanda can be reached at daatd03@yahoo.ca or 587-744-1086
Jackie Janes - Ward 4
As a Trustee of Wild Rose School Division, I believe every student has the potential to succeed and deserves access to high-quality learning that nurtures their strengths and supports their needs. I value parental voice and see families as vital partners in education. I believe inclusion and belonging are essential for students, staff, and families to thrive, and that collaboration with schools and community partners strengthens learning for all. Decisions must be guided by research, best practice, and data to ensure continuous improvement and student success. Above all, I believe in fiscal responsibility—earning public trust through transparent, ethical stewardship of resources that directly support student learning and well-being.
Jackie can be reached at jackie.janes0@gmail.com
Doug Skeels - Ward 4
My name is Doug Skeels and I am a candidate for Wild Rose School Division Trustee in Ward 4.
My roots in this community run deep. Having lived in the Rocky area for 60 of my 66 years, I attended our local schools, married, and raised our family here. This lifelong connection gives me a personal understanding of the values and priorities of this region.
I am a retired oil patch worker, holding two trades as an HD Mechanic and Millwright. I currently continue to farm and raise cattle in the Dovercourt area. My commitment to local organizations is long-standing, including active membership with the Leslieville Elks, CAFLA (formerly the Grey Wooded Forage Association), and others. I currently serve as a director on the Rocky Gas Co-op board.
As your representative on the school board, my primary focus will be on listening to, understanding, and actively promoting your views and values. I am committed to ensuring our schools reflect the needs and aspirations of our families.
I genuinely look forward to the opportunity to earn your trust and support.
Doug can be reached at skeels4schools@yahoo.com or 403-845-2515.
Nolan Duffin - Ward 5
I moved to Rocky Mountain House in 2001 as a teenager, where I attended high school before graduating and starting my career. Since then, I've built a life here—marrying my wife and raising our three beautiful children, who currently attend grade school within Wild Rose School Division.
I deeply value everything this area has to offer and take pride in contributing to the growth and well-being of our community in any way I can. I’m extremely passionate about the work our division does for students and the role trustees play in shaping the future of our schools.
Rocky Mountain House offers a strong mix of educational options for our children. However, with the current challenges and changes in education, we need leadership that provides a clear voice, strong vision, and direction—supporting quality teaching and diverse learning options that meet the needs of all students in our evolving society.
As a local business owner and active board member for organizations like Rocky Speed Skating and Friends of Pioneer School, I’ve had the privilege of working on a range of projects with clear strategic goals and objectives. These experiences have reinforced the importance of collaboration, planning, and community engagement.
Above all, I understand that a key part of this role is listening—listening to parents, students, educators, and community members. If elected, I will be committed to representing your voice and ensuring that all concerns are heard and addressed with care and integrity.
Nolan can be reached at tnolanduffin@gmail.com
Heidi Hetherington - Ward 5
My name is Heidi Hetherington, and I’ve proudly called Rocky Mountain House home since moving here with my family in 2000. I graduated from West Central High School in 2006, and in 2015, I was invited to run in a by-election for school board trustee. At the time, I had no idea what I was stepping into, but despite the steep learning curve, I quickly discovered how rewarding the role could be.
As a mother of two children, including one with complex needs, I’m deeply committed to ensuring every student receives the education and support they deserve. I believe that strong public education is the foundation of a thriving society. Without an informed and educated population, our communities cannot function as they should.
During my time on the board, I’ve worked tirelessly to advocate for:
- Fair and adequate funding for rural schools
- Meaningful investment in inclusive education
- Improved mental health resources for our communities
- Stable infrastructure funding
- Greater responsiveness from Child Protective Services
I bring both lived experience and a proven ability to get things done. I believe these qualities make me a strong candidate to continue serving our students and families. After all, children are the leaders of tomorrow, and when we support them well today, we all benefit in the future.
Heidi can be reached at hgwlnd25@gmail.com
Daryl Scott - Ward 1 - Acclaimed
Daryl Scott has served as Ward 1 Trustee for the Wild Rose School Division since 2013, and as Board Chair since October 2021. He received his certificate in Career and Academic Advising from the University of Calgary and has counseled for five years, and as well as instructed the career portion of CALM 10 the local schools under the Career Prep program. Previously his 28 year career with the RCMP saw him as the community constable in Drayton Valley where he instructed the DARE program as well as was the RCMP liaison officer for all the schools in Drayton Valley which included both the public and separate systems. He is an enthusiastic Riders fan. He currently resides in Brazeau County along with his wife Dawn.
Daryl can be contacted at draescott@telus.net or phone 780-542-1945
Becky May - Ward 1 Acclaimed
I’d like to bring a “back to education basics” focus to our division and expand our learning opportunities for our students within our division. Education is a passion of mine and and support that it can look different for a variety of learners. I look forward to working with the new board to find solutions to the challenges we face today in the classrooms and celebrate our educational achievement and success!
Becky can be reached at 780-514-6122
Penni Lougheed - Ward 3 - Acclaimed
My name is Penni Lougheed, and I’m honored to serve as the Trustee for Ward 3. A lifelong resident of Condor, I enjoy life on our family farm with my husband, Daryl, and our daughter, Grace.
My connection to education in this division runs deep—I began as a student at Condor School in Grade 3 and graduated from David Thompson High School. Over the years, I’ve served in many roles including Educational Assistant, Teacher, and Administrator, spending most of my 32-year career teaching Kindergarten to Grade 8 within WRSD. I also had the privilege of serving as Vice Principal at École Rocky Elementary.
Committed to lifelong learning, I earned my Master's in Literacy and continue to stay involved in education through substitute teaching and other learning opportunities. I retired in June 2019, but my passion for education remains strong.
I am grateful for the opportunity to bring my passion for education and years of experience to my role as Trustee. I look forward to working alongside families, staff, and the community to help ensure all students have access to meaningful learning opportunities and a strong foundation for success.
Penni can be reached at loudarpen@gmail.com or 403-357-4859
