I was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 2021. Prior to that, I served as the Superintendent of Schools for CRPS from 1989 to 2012. Following my tenure with CRPS, I worked with the Alberta School Board Association as an Education Consultant until 2017 when I became the Executive Director of the Public School Board’s Association.
During my time on the Board, I supported program growth at our high schools, increased literacy and numeracy supports for younger learners, facility modernization at CCHS and Alpenglow, BCHS, Elizabeth Rummel School, Exshaw School and the Outdoor Learning Centre and secured long term Federal funding for Indigenous students.
Over the past 35 years in Alberta, I have also served as President of College of Alberta Superintendents, Chair of the Council on Alberta Teaching Standards and Chair of the Alberta Council for Environmental Education. In addition, I have participated in numerous curriculum and assessment committees as well as the recent Regulations Review Teams.
My community work includes Canmore Rotary Club, and past Board positions with Banff Canmore Community Foundation, Bow Valley Palliative Care Society and the Red Cross.
At the international level, I have served as an education consultant to the Ministries of Education in the German states of Hessen and Baden Wurttemberg. I have lectured at Heidelberg University and provided in-service sessions to German school superintendents. I have also represented Alberta at OECD meetings in Finland and Alberta. In 2023, I was contracted by a German education foundation to organize a fact-finding trip to Alberta of the sixteen German state education ministers.
I'm running for School Trustee because I believe in heart-led leadership that puts students first, guided by empathy, honesty, and accountability. My experience and skills align with this role. Over the past 10 years in the Bow Valley, I’ve been actively involved in our schools: as Chair of the Parent Council at Elizabeth Rummel School and as a council member at both Lawrence Grassi Middle School and Canmore Collegiate High School. I’ve also been a homestay parent to eight international students and volunteered with the CCHS Yearbook Committee, Canmore Friends of the Library, SMARTStart, Words to Action, and Alberta Health Services with my dog, Archie.
I am committed to open, inclusive decision-making and to creating a safe, equitable environment where all students feel seen, heard, and supported. I support efforts to strengthen teacher satisfaction, curriculum development, Indigenous student relations, and student safety. I aim to provide parents and the wider community with improved transparency around financial reporting.
With a strong Canadian educational background, including Queen’s University, George Brown College, and currently NAIT, I’m ready to help students succeed in trades, tourism, or academic pathways. As a parent of two ERS-to-CCHS students, I’m here to listen, learn, and lead with integrity.
I grew up in Alberta, attended public schools, and am both a parent and aunt to students at Canadian Rockies Public Schools (CRPS). I am a proven advocate for CRPS students and their families, having served on the School Councils of Elizabeth Rummel, Lawrence Grassi, and Canmore Collegiate for many years. As Fundraiser and then Chair of the LGMS Council, I achieved tangible positive impacts for students and teachers, including purchasing the Bow Valley’s first classroom spin bikes, expanding the Maker Space to enable a Career and Technology Foundation option for all students, and acquiring thousands of new books for the library.
I am passionate about promoting equity, celebrating diversity, and fostering inclusion in our schools. I am committed to expanding academic opportunities, boosting student achievement, and prioritizing future readiness across all grades and schools. With a PhD and over 15 years of post-secondary teaching experience, I understand how learning environments shape outcomes and what students need to thrive after graduation, from strong academics to critical thinking and executive functioning skills. As Trustee, I will advocate for robust learning supports and enrichment programs for every student, as well as much-needed resources for our teachers.
Website: www.annfortrustee.ca
Contact: annefortrustee@gmail.com
Facebook: Annefortrustee