Mr. Steven RIPKENS

This year I am very excited to be Dual Campus Principal of Ecole Pine Grove Middle School and Parkland Composite High School.  The opportunity to work and learn with a strong administrative team and the excellent students, teachers, and support staff in both schools, I am confident this is going to be a great year!  

I grew up in Bonnyville, Alberta, after which I graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Education in 2008 with specializations in Social Studies and Physical Education.  I started my teaching career at Roland Michener Secondary School in Slave Lake, where I taught for two years before moving home to teach at Bonnyville Outreach School for six years, and Bonnyville Centralized High School for one.  In 2017, I completed my Masters Degree from the University of Alberta with a focus on leadership and school improvement.  In 2018, I moved to Edson with my wife and two sons to become one of two Assistant Principals at Parkland Composite High School.  For the 2021-22 school year, I joined the GYPSD Central Office Team as a Supervisor in Learning Services and Educational Technology, before becoming Principal at GYPSD’s fantastic Niton Central School.  I am  a strong believer in a well rounded educational experience, by providing students with a broad range of learning opportunities to support their core studies.  I am committed to creating a learning environment where every student feels welcome, and achieves to the best of their ability.  In my free time, I enjoy time with my family, snowboarding, kayaking, camping, and cycling.