Holy Spirit Catholic School Division is excited to announce that Dr. Jana Boschee has been named as the new Division Principal for First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) Education beginning in the 2025/2026 school year. Dr. Boschee holds a PhD in Educational Research from the University of Calgary, where her work focused on Indigenous ways of knowing and place pedagogies. She also holds a Master of Education, a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Lethbridge. Over her 25-year career in education, she has served in multiple schools across the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division, including at St. Mary (Taber), St. Basil, St. Paul, and St. Teresa of Calcutta. Most recently, she served as Associate Principal at Children of St. Martha School in Lethbridge. In addition to her work in K-12 settings, Dr. Boschee has also taught at the University of Lethbridge and the University of Calgary.
"I step into this new role with a profound sense of responsibility," says Dr. Boschee. "This work is not mine alone it is guided by relationships, by learning, and by a call to walk with humility and hope alongside the stories of all the relations of this place past and present. I do feel the weight of it, but it's a sacred weight. I draw intention and grounding from the words of Siksikaitsitapi scholar Dr. Betty Bastien, who describes the concept of kiitomohpiipotokoi what you have been put here with (or responsibilities). Bastien writes: [My responsibility] in a cosmic world is to use the gifts given to me by the alliances and to live the teachings of respect and kindness by showing reverence to the simple and profound things in life. This quote reflects the way I understand being a teacher as both a calling and a commitment. It reminds me that at its heart, this work invites us to be present, to carry hope, and to make space for joy and connection in our learning."
"I am excited to welcome Dr. Boschee to the Niitsitapi team in Holy Spirit," states Mr. Aaron Skretting, Director of Religious Education at Holy Spirit. "Her depth of understanding and practical experience as a student-focused leader, dedication to excellence in student learning in an inclusive environment, and focus on humility in relationships will serve our students and staff well as we continue living truth and reconciliation."
"It is with immense joy and confidence that I welcome Dr. Jana Boschee as our Divisional Principal for FNMI Education," says Ms. Chantel Axani, Superintendent of Schools for Holy Spirit. "Dr. Boschee possesses a remarkable gift for building authentic relationships, a quality that is truly invaluable in education. Dr. Boschee genuinely lives out and believes that children who are cherished achieve their potential, and we are incredibly blessed to have her leadership guiding our students and staff at Holy Spirit Catholic School Division."
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Boschee as she begins this exciting new stage of her career at Holy Spirit.
For more information
620 12B Street North
Lethbridge Alberta
Canada T1H 2L7
www.holyspirit.ab.ca
