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Board of Directors

  • Yong
    Stephanie YongStephanie Yong
    President
    Stephanie Yong is a design thinking specialist focused at connecting problems to patterns in human behavior that lead to realistic, actionable solutions. Her passion is to use design thinking methodologies to identify what the end user truly needs in order to come up with the best solution that is the most sustainable and feasible. Stephanie’s work has allowed her to work with a variety of organizations such as the Smart Cities Challenge and the City of Saskatoon Mayor’s Office and Downtown Bid. Stephanie has aided these organizations in understanding and creating new initiatives by reviewing and ensuring the problems and issues brought forward were focused and accurate by applying design thinking principles to create solutions. Stephanie has a BA in Political Studies and an MBA from the University of Saskatchewan. She has recently completed her ICD training and is a certified Corporate Director. Stephanie is also a recent recipient of the CBC Future 40 Under 40 award. Stephanie comes from a family of hard workers and has made it her life motto the harder you work, the harder you can play.
  • Brownlee
    Wayne BrownleeWayne Brownlee
    Vice-President
    Wayne Brownlee is former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Nutrien. Prior to this he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for PotashCorp, positions he had held since 1999. In 1989, Wayne coordinated the privatization of PotashCorp, which transformed it from a provincial Crown corporation to a publicly traded company. As head of corporate development throughout his nearly 30-year career with PotashCorp, Wayne was instrumental in the acquisition of the company’s nitrogen and phosphate assets and several significant minority interests in other potash companies. Wayne holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration, both from the University of Saskatchewan. He is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at the Edwards School of Business at the U of S. and is a director of the Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation. He is also co-chair of the Wanuskewin Heritage Park fundraising campaign and is currently Vice Chair of the Wanuskewin Board.
  • Radu
    Jesse RaduJesse Radu
    Treasurer
    Jesse Radu is a CPA, CA and partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Jesse has enjoyed serving as the Treasurer of the Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation since 2015. Jesse focuses on providing professional services to charities and non-profit organizations in Saskatoon and surrounding area and he is currently enjoying watching his daughter progress through the French Immersion program at École Lakeview School.
  • Brannen
    Kathleen BrannenKathleen Brannen
    Secretary
    Kathleen Brannen is a Trustee for the Saskatoon Public School Board representing Ward 6 and serves as the chair of the Pension Committee for non-teaching employees of the Saskatoon Public School Board. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Saskatchewan and a Professional Director designation from Brown Governance/Johnson Shoyama School of Public Policy. She has worked as a music specialist and cataloguer for the Saskatoon Public Library, as a voice coach and soloist in Canada, the United States, Japan and France and as an E.A.L teacher in Japan, France and Canada. Kathleen has previously volunteered on the Board of the Spadina Child Care Co-op and the Saskatoon Opera Board and as a tutor for READ Saskatoon. In addition to her work as a Trustee, Kathleen currently works as a soloist and teaches yoga and voice in Saskatoon. She and her husband have two children attending public school. Kathleen believes in and advocates for the Saskatoon Public School Division’s vision that every child be known, valued and believed in.
  • Morrison
    Ray MorrisonRay Morrison
    Ray Morrison has dedicated several years of service to promoting and supporting public education in Saskatoon. He has served on the Board of Education for Saskatoon Public Schools since 2003 and as chair since 2006. Saskatoon Public Schools encompasses more than 25,000 students at 62 schools. He also sits as a Board member of the Saskatchewan Public Schools foundation and until recently READ Saskatoon. Mr. Morrison’s community service was recognized in 2005 when he was awarded the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal. He is passionate about public education and believes in working collaboratively to improve student outcomes in Saskatoon.
  • Bellegarde
    Leanne BellegardeLeanne Bellegarde
    Leanne M. Bellegarde, Q.C., is from Treaty 4 territory and is a member of the Peepeekisis First Nation. She resides in Saskatoon. With a career spanning land claims, private/municipal/provincial/federal legal experience, in sectors like gaming, telecommunications, post-secondary institutions, mining, and agri-food, Leanne’s career has increasingly focused on fostering mutually beneficial relationships with Indigenous people for economic prosperity with an emphasis on employment and business opportunities directly and through economic development and supply chain and enhanced with strategic alignment of philanthropic investments. Leanne has extensive board experience, both advising boards and as a director. She has a Professional Director status from a joint program of the Johnson Shoyoma Graduate School and Governance Solutions.
  • Uchacz-Hart
    Janet Uchacz-HartJanet Uchacz-Hart
    Janet Uchacz-Hart was a high school teacher with Saskatoon Public Schools for 21 years before assuming the Executive Director position with the Saskatoon Industry Education Council for the past 16 years. Through a partnership among business, K-12 and post-secondary schools, Janet and her team have created unique hands-on career exploration events and programs designed to connect youth with current and future workforce needs. SPS is one of the SIEC’s partners. She is married with two sons, both graduates of Marion Graham Collegiate.
  • Adams
    Marla AdamsMarla Adams
    In May 2018 Marla retired from her role as Partner/Senior Vice President with Deloitte after 38 years in public accounting. Marla is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Licenced Insolvency Trustee with expertise in personal and corporate financial restructuring. She worked on a variety of special consulting assignments including assessing financial position, corporate governance, management and performance enhancement. Marla held various leadership roles within Deloitte at the local and national level. Marla has served on numerous boards including the YWCA and the United Way of Saskatoon and Area. Marla currently is a member of the Board/Executive for Saskatoon’s regional theatre, Persephone Theatre, serving as Treasurer. In addition, Marla is the Treasurer of the Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals and serves on numerous committees including Governance and Professional Conduct. A former teacher, Marla instructed at the post-secondary level, was a frequent seminar and conference presenter and in-house faculty for Deloitte partner leadership programs. Marla is married to Seth, a retired teacher/counsellor with Saskatoon Public Schools Division, and has two adult daughters, one of whom is currently a teacher with the division.
  • Hunter
    Rylund HunterRylund Hunter
    Rylund holds a J.D. from the University of Saskatchewan, College of Law and is a practicing lawyer at McDougall Gauley LLP. In addition to practicing law, he owns The Backyard Family Entertainment Centre & Rentals. Rylund serves on the boards of Autism Services, Kidsport, Saskatoon Minor Football and the Huskie Football Alumni. Born and raised in Saskatoon and a graduate of one of Saskatoon’s inner-city schools, Rylund joined the board as he wanted to help support the organization’s goal of ensuring all children have the resources they need to learn and be successful. He enjoys being part of a dedicated and passionate community that puts the children of Saskatoon first at every opportunity.
  • Klassen
    Brooke KlassenBrooke Klassen
    Brooke Klassen is an Assistant Professor at the Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan. Her teaching specializations include marketing, decision making and entrepreneurship. Brooke has been a management consultant for six years and has completed a large number of projects in the areas of strategy, governance and communications. Her client list includes private, public, government and Indigenous organizations from a variety of industries. She is also an accomplished author and her work has been published in several well respected peer-reviewed journals.
  • MacDougall
    Barry MacDougall Barry MacDougall
    Barry MacDougall serves as the Director of Education for Saskatoon Public Schools. He has spent his whole career with Saskatoon Public Schools as a teacher, school administrator, superintendent, deputy director and director of education. He sees the supports provided by the Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation as an excellent way to assist in fulfilling the division’s commitment “to create learning experiences that inspire all students to reach their potential”.
  • DaveDerksen
    Dave DerksenDave Derksen
    Dave is a Superintendent of Education with Saskatoon Public Schools and has worked with the division in various capacities for over 30 years. He is passionate about literacy and healthy active schools and sees a great alignment between the foundation's pillars and the division’s strategic goals.