Release Date: May 17, 2023
Elementary Principal Announcement
Adriana Klassen announced as the new Elementary Principal of Westmount Charter School
The Westmount Charter School Board of Directors is pleased to announce Adriana Klassen as the new Elementary Principal effective August 23, 2023.
Adriana began her teaching career in gifted education in 2006. She worked at the University of Calgary Centre for Gifted Education as an instructor for the SUCCESS Summer Program and Super Saturday Program. Her personal interest and passion for gifted education led her to pursue a Master’s of Arts in Gifted Education in 2011 with a thesis focusing on underachieving gifted children and the necessary intervention strategies to help them succeed. Adriana has more than 17 years of teaching experience and more than 10 years of experience as a vice principal or assistant principal at various schools in the Calgary Catholic School District including St. Jean Brebeuf, one of the few schools in the Catholic district with a gifted program. She is currently a Vice-Principal at St. Jerome.
As a lifelong learner, with a growth mindset, Adriana is committed to student and staff well-being. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership from Western University, where her focus of research is supporting organizational improvement strategies to help teachers thrive so all students can succeed. Adriana is a passionate supporter of innovative teaching practices, including technology integration, student and staff wellness and supports for the diverse learning needs of students.
Adriana has an interest in the intersection of brain science and teaching and has developed and modelled professional development modules in neurodiversity, inspired by the work of Whitman and Keller in their book “NeuroTeach”. In her previous roles, she has fostered innovative ways to connect with students, with the goal for students to understand themselves as learners and take risks in their learning to succeed.
Adriana describes herself as a “servant leader.” She believes that leadership is about listening and being responsive to the needs of others. Her goal is to promote practices that positively impact teachers’ self-efficacy skills and encourage an equitable school culture where teachers embrace ongoing professional learning and reflection in their work to meet the diverse needs of the students. Adriana’s collaborative approach is a natural fit for Westmount’s philosophy of Gifted from the Inside Out.
Please join the Board in welcoming Adriana Klassen to the Westmount Community!
