PEACE WAPITI PUBLIC SCHOOL DIVISION
Robert W. Zahara School announces new administration

Mrs. Stacy Rorem and Mrs. Rebecca Evarts

Robert W. Zahara School (RWZ) in Sexsmith is excited to announce its new administrative team for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. Mrs. Stacy Rorem has been appointed Acting Principal and Mrs. Rebecca Evarts will take on the role of Acting Assistant Principal.

Mrs. Rorem, who has lived most of her life in Sexsmith, is excited about what she calls a full-circle moment. "I started my school journey as a student in Sexsmith and will end it as the principal of my own elementary school." She began her learning at the old K-12 school before moving over to the newly constructed Sexsmith Elementary School, later named Robert W. Zahara School, and was in its first Grade 6 graduating class; in 1986 she graduated from Sexsmith Secondary School. In 1991, she graduated from the University of Lethbridge with her Bachelor of Education, and later that winter, began teaching at Sexsmith Elementary School. "My parents instilled a strong sense of community in me, so after attending university, my husband and I chose Sexsmith to make our home and raise our three daughters." Mrs. Rorem became Assistant Principal of RWZ in 2012, and in 2020 earned her Master of Educational Studies from the University of Alberta, focusing on social-emotional learning.

Mrs. Rorem is honoured to take on the principal role for the upcoming school year. "I feel privileged to be named the principal of RWZ for 2024-2025, because while I have been an important part of RWZ's past, I am even more excited to be instrumental in our future. I will strive to provide a place where everyone feels valued, supported, and successful and always do what is best for our kids, staff, school, and community. As a child, Robert (Bob) W. Zahara was my principal, who then became my boss and friend. My greatest hope is to continue his legacy and make him proud." Mrs. Rorem says staff have already started many significant initiatives to make their great school even better and she is honoured to continue the work with an outstanding team of staff, students, and families.

Mrs. Evarts, who is also local to Sexsmith and whose children had the pleasure of attending RWZ, has been teaching at the school for the last decade and began her PWPSD journey as a Kindergarten teacher. Her role as an educator has since grown and evolved, and she is currently the Inclusive Education Teacher. Mrs. Evarts holds an undergrad degree from the University of Alberta, and a master's degree from the University of Calgary, with her areas of focus being Early Learning and Student Mental Health. She is also Montessori trained.

Mrs. Evarts says she is excited to serve the community she loves and is honoured to be part of a team that is dedicated to putting students first. "I am passionate about our school, our students, and our community. I look forward to continuing with the journey and vision Ms. Linfield and Mrs. Rorem set out for this school. I feel honoured to get to be a part of this administration team." She says together, she and the staff of RWZ will continue to foster a culture of learning, growth, and inclusion, where every student succeeds.