Meet our Trustees

Donna Tugwood is a wife to Earl Jackson, mother of five, stepmother of four, grandmother of 18, and great-grandmother to little Aziel. Donna attended Nova Scotia Teachers' College and Red Deer College where she received an Early Childhood Diploma with a Major in Speech. After moving to Lacombe, she worked with Alberta Health Services for 18 years as a Speech Language Pathology Assistant in Catholic, Public, and Private schools. After retiring, she worked at Father Lacombe Catholic School from 2012 to 2017. Donna has attended St. Stephen's Parish since 1994, serving on the Parish Council for six years - three years as Chair - and is Past President of St. Stephen's Catholic Women’s League as well as Eucharistic Minister.   She is honoured and proud to be serving her second term on the STAR Catholic Board of Trustees. She believes in keeping faith as the heart and soul of education and wants to ensure students have the knowledge, skills, and faith that will enable them to do well in life.

Dawn is honoured to be serving her first term as a Trustee with the STAR Catholic School Board. She currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the STAR Board and the Vice President of the Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association. She has had the honour of representing parents in Leduc over the last 14 years through school councils as an executive at École Notre Dame School, Father Leduc Catholic School, and Christ the King School. She is married and a mother of three: one child has graduated from Christ the King, and two are still attending STAR Catholic Schools. Through her work in education, both locally and provincially, she has gained extensive experience in Alberta’s publicly funded system. Being a certified parliamentarian, Dawn has a passion for strong governance, values the importance of relationship-building with the greater community, and has always endeavoured to ensure the stakeholder's voice is valued at every level. Dawn has a family history of preserving and promoting Catholic education in Alberta as her great-grandfather sat as a Catholic trustee. She is also a proud executive member of the St. Michael's Parish CWL. Through this, she has been and will continue to be committed to a strong, publicly funded, Catholic school system in Alberta.

Marilyn Burke has lived and worked in Ponoka for over 30 years. Together with her husband Bernard, they raised 3 sons who are now married with their own families. They are blessed with 8 lovely grandchildren. Marilyn is an active member of St. Augustine parish. She is also a CWL member and contributes to fundraising activities. She loves STAR Catholic School Division and feels blessed that we can offer children the experience of getting the education they need in a faith-filled atmosphere. Marilyn loves to read, camp, and travel. As a trustee, she wants to ensure that people always have a choice for Catholic Education.

Jolyne has proudly called Leduc home for over thirty years. Together with her husband, Paul, she enjoys raising their two children and actively participating in the local community. Throughout the years, Jolyne has dedicated her time to volunteering in schools, at St. Michael’s parish, and with various community organizations. 

A lifelong learner, Jolyne returned to school to earn her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from NAIT in August 2020. Her passion for travel has not only allowed her to explore the world but also to assist others through her travel advisor business. Jolyne feels both humbled and grateful to serve as a trustee for STAR Catholic and is eager to strengthen the faith community within our schools.

Henry Tettey Effon immigrated from Ghana in West Africa to Canada for new opportunities and beginnings in life. Before moving to Canada, Henry attended Catholic schools all through his primary and secondary education in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
Henry and his wife, Carrie, and three children reside in Wetaskiwin. Henry and his family are members of Sacred Heart Parish in Wetaskiwin. Henry is an active volunteer at his church and community programs. Henry is a graduate of Social Work from Grant MacEwan University, a Registered Social Worker with Alberta College of Social Workers and a third term elected School Board Trustee with St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic School Division. Henry is a member on the Board of Director of Catholic Social
Service. Henry is passionate about social and primary education issues. When Henry is not working as a social worker or governing as a school trustee, Henry can be found helping others, coaching, or playing soccer, spending time with his family and friends.
Henry believes our world is a better place with love and compassion.

Michael Linner has been a resident of Drayton Valley for almost twenty years. He is an active member of his local parish St. Anthony's Catholic Church. He served for two years as a missionary with NET Canada: one year in Swift Current, SK, and one year at Christ the Redeemer School Board in the Calgary area. Michael also spent a few years discerning the Priesthood at St. Joseph's Seminary in Edmonton. During this time, he served as an assistant in St. Brendan's School, was active with the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, and assisted the Chaplins in the Edmonton Remand Centre. Michael is currently residing in Drayton Valley with his wife Laura. He is deeply passionate about seeing Catholic Education thrive in Alberta with Christ as the center. 

Liz Taylor-Sirois and her husband Denis have resided in Leduc County for 28 years. Liz is honoured to be rel-elected in her 2nd term as STAR Catholic Trustee. She has been employed by Covenant Health at the Grey Nuns Hospital for the past 30 years on a part-time basis. Liz has four daughters and 10 grandchildren, several of which attend Académie Saint-André Academy and École Mother d'Youville School. She enjoys gardening, walking, travelling, pontoon boating, and hosting celebrations for family and friends. Liz attends St. Vital Parish, is a member of the Catholic Women’s League, and is the Parish Activities Coordinator. Serving in her second term, Liz believes quality Catholic education is very important and provides hope for our children. She believes that our Catholic schools are another avenue for promoting the Gospel of Jesus.