District Leadership

District leadership guides the provision of comprehensive educational programs, facilities and support services to students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 across a large and diverse district. 

While the majority of our schools are found in Kamloops, there are small elementary schools in Vavenby, Heffley Creek, Savona, Pinantan, Westwold, Chase, Barriere, Clearwater and Logan Lake. The District works hard to provide these small rural communities with the same quality of educational programs found in urban centres, as well as to connect those students and staff to the District's larger educational community.

To do so, we rely on a key team of senior leaders — educational, business, engineering and IT professionals with significant experience and a tremendous body of skills. 

ÌÇÐÄSwag Organizational Chart

Dr. Rhonda Nixon
Dr. Rhonda Nixon - Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Rhonda Nixon brings many accomplishments from her diverse, 30-year career as an educator in rural, rural-urban, and large school districts in Alberta and as a post-secondary professor at the University of Victoria. Her previous roles include elementary, junior, and secondary teacher, and vice-principal, principal, division consultant and division administrator. Prior to her appointment as Superintendent for ÌÇÐÄSwag on July 1, 2021, she was the Deputy Superintendent of Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools, overseeing Inclusive and Early Education, English as Second Language, Indigenous Education, K-12 Curriculum, Distance and Outreach Education, Alternative Education Programs, Educational Technologies, and Data Management. 

She holds a Bachelor of Education Degree, a Master of Education Degree, and a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta.

Lisa Carson
Lisa Carson - Assistant Superintendent - Secondary

Lisa is the lead for secondary education services, including international education, provincial online learning, distance and continuing education, as well as global education. She has taught secondary English, social studies, and art and is an experienced school-based administrator, District Principal, Director of Instruction – Curriculum and has previous experience as an Assistant Superintendent. Lisa holds multiple post-secondary qualifications, including a Bachelor of Arts (Brandon University), a Post-Baccalaureate professional teaching certificate (Simon Fraser University), and Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (Simon Fraser University). Lisa continued her post-secondary learning through the Transformative Educational Leadership Program (University of British Columbia).

Grant Reilly
Grant Reilly - Assistant Superintendent - Early Learning and Elementary

Grant has been an educator for 24 years, serving in diverse roles (district principal of inclusive education services, principal, vice-principal, teacher, learning support teacher, district numeracy lead) in rural (Lytton, Ashcroft, and Savona) and urban (Kamloops) communities. He holds multiple post-secondary qualifications, notably a Master's Degree in Educational Administration and Leadership (UVic), a School Management and Leadership (UVic) Professional Certificate, and a Transformative Educational Leadership Program (UBC) Professional Certificate.

Michelle Mattes
Michelle Mattes - Assistant Superintendent - Inclusive Education
Michelle has had a rewarding career as an educator for the last 20 years, serving in diverse roles focused on Inclusive, Indigenous, Alternate, and Continuing Education. She has served in roles such as the District Principal for Safe and Caring Schools, the District Coordinator for School Completion, the Principal of Twin Rivers Education Centre, Four Directions Secondary, and Continuing Adult Education, and as a vice principal, secondary school counsellor, and teacher with the Kamloops-Thompson School District.  Michelle holds multiple post-secondary qualifications, notably a Master of Arts degree in Leadership and Administration from Gonzaga University, and a Professional Certificate in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia.
Rick Kienlein
Rick Kienlein - Director of Instruction - Secondary Learning Services

Responsible for the Graduation Program, the School Completion Initiative, Student Information Systems and Trades and Transitions, Rick started his education career in Clearwater in 1992. While in Clearwater Rick taught history and social studies, was a school counsellor, a vice-principal and principal. In 2007, he moved to Kamloops gaining further experience as a school principal at Sa-Hali Secondary and South Kamloops Secondary. Prior to his current position, Rick was the District Principal of Human Resources for ÌÇÐÄSwag. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from SFU, a Bachelor of Education degree and Transformative Education and Leadership Program certificate from UBC, a Master of Education in Teaching (Counselling) degree from Gonzaga University, and a BC Professional Teacher Certificate.

Trina Cassidy
Trina Cassidy - Secretary-Treasurer

Trina started with School District No. 73 in 2006 and is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA) and the British Columbia Association of School Business Officials. As the Secretary-Treasurer, she is the corporate officer of the Board and is directly responsible for a broad portfolio including financial and corporate operations, legal affairs, purchasing, policies and procedures, support personnel, financial information management, risk management, maintenance, and facilities and transportation. Before joining the District, she held financial positions in Kamloops at Aluminum Curtainwall Systems, Inland Glass & Aluminum and BDO Canada LLP.

Art McDonald
Art McDonald - Director of Facilities

Art is responsible for the maintenance of the district’s 55 facilities and grounds, and a fleet of 100 maintenance vehicles. Annually he prepares the Long-Range Facilities Plan, the Capital Priorities Plan, and is integral to providing the data to manage district enrollment pressures. He is currently overseeing the expansion of Valleyview Secondary, the rebuilding of Parkcrest Elementary, and has started the process for a new elementary school in Pineview Valley.  

A professional engineer, Art holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering (PEng) from UBC.

Robbie Tallon
Robbie Tallon - Director of Finance

Robbie is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Thompson Rivers University. He started with School District No. 73 in 2019 as the Manager of Finance. His previous financial experience includes not-for-profit organizations, public accounting firms, banking, and utilities. 

Wayne Pinette
Wayne Pinette - Director of Information and Technology

Responsible for planning and managing the information technology operations of the district, Wayne has 17 years of experience working in the public sector including 11 years as the manager of networks and security with ÌÇÐÄSwag. He has a BA in Mathematics from SFU and is pursuing certification in Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), the leading framework for managing IT service delivery. 

Sherry Kristjanson
Sherry Kristjanson - Director of Transportation

Sherry started her career in transportation almost 20 years ago as a driver and then as a dispatcher at BC Transit. Sherry joined ÌÇÐÄSwag in 2013 as a dispatcher, becoming manager in 2016, and director in 2021. In 2018 Sherry became a Certified Director of Pupil Transportation (CDPT). She is responsible for the district’s fleet of 89 buses, 113 employees and supports the management of the district’s fleet of 105 service vehicles.

John Wiedrick
John Wiedrick - Associate Superintendent - Human Resources

An experienced educator and principal in both elementary and secondary schools, John joined the ÌÇÐÄSwag leadership team in 2018 as District Principal Human Resources. He assumed his current role in August 2022. Prior to coming to Kamloops he was the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for the High Prairie School Division in Alberta.  John holds a Bachelor of Education (BEd) and a Master’s of Education (MEd) in Leadership and School Improvement from the University of Alberta as well as a Canadian Professional Human Resources (CPHR) affiliation.

Barb Hamblett
Barb Hamblett - District Principal - Human Resources

Barb has experience serving in multiple roles as a secondary teacher and school-based leader in rural, urban, elementary and secondary schools. She began her career with ÌÇÐÄSwag in 1997 as a teacher at Logan Lake Secondary. She was the founding principal of Kamloops School of the Arts, and most recently the principal at Valleyview Secondary. Barb holds a Master of Educational Technology a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Music degrees, all from UBC.

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