Being a trustee for Prairie Rose keeps getting better

Nancy Haraga is more than halfway through her first term as Ward 6 trustee (Foremost area) for Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS). At the time of the elections, Haraga put her name forward after a friend suggested the idea. “I took a leap of faith and put my name in, explained Haraga. “As a parent you don’t understand how a school division is run, but as a trustee it is something I really enjoy.” 

While being a trustee during the final months of government restrictions due to the pandemic was challenging, it’s been up and up since then. “We were doing what we were supposed to do, which is making education decisions for the children of the division, that’s what I put my mind to because this is about the kids,” stated Haraga.

Getting out and meeting people and having conversations with teachers, school and division staff, parents and community is the most enjoyable part of the job for Haraga. “I’ve always thought that as trustee it’s very important to be active in the communities. This is where you find out what’s going on in the community and most of the time, we can resolve many questions or concerns beforehand. Communication is key to every aspect of life and I’m so grateful for our parent council and staff at Foremost School. I’m pretty biased when I say we have the best, but I know throughout all of Prairie Rose, that we have a pretty amazing group of staff, including custodians who do an amazing job at keeping our schools clean. Happy staff, Happy kids.”

Haraga, who grew up in Foremost, is now a fourth-generation rancher in Skiff, along with her husband, where they run 400 head of cattle, 80 head of sheep along with laying and boiler chickens. “We raise our own meat and butcher our own chickens. I don’t like to be part of the killing or gutting but will sit in the kitchen and clean them,” said Haraga. “We get about 70 eggs a day from our laying hens and the boilers, we usually do about 40 a year. We start with 40 and usually the coyotes take a few.”

Most of the ranch work is done on horseback and getting the work/life balance right while also being a trustee has some challenges. Haraga is also a licensed hair stylist but discovered last winter this isn’t the right time for her to be returning to that work, not with being a trustee, helping on the ranch and raising three children, who are in Grade 4, 6 and 8 at Foremost School. 

Haraga has visited most of the schools in her ward and some in other wards and intends to try to visit each school within PRPS by the end of her first term. 

“I love seeing the different dynamics, I went to Ralston for the first time this year for their Exhibition of Learning and met most of the staff and students. That is a different culture and dynamic than what I’m used to in Foremost. I’d like to get up north and into the Oyen area because as a new trustee I haven’t been into those schools. I’ve been trying to make a point of meeting parents and staff because I think that is really important, for them to know the board is here to support them at every aspect,” explained Haraga.  

Her kids are heavily involved with Foremost School, her daughter in school sports and her two sons with the South Alberta Hockey Academy. Having constructive conversations with parents is important to Haraga. A huge advocate for the students, Haraga continues to work for what is best for them so they can succeed after Grade 12.

She is interested in bringing Prairie Rose Possibilities into all schools, such as Burdett where she feels the AgPro programs - Western Tractor, beef and crops – would be a good fit there along with the health care aide program. With so many opportunities available, it only takes the time to develop the program and find a champion within each school to bring new possibilities to students. 

“I think the programming Reagan and the school division are doing is phenomenal and I love that there are these options for children because, growing up in a rural community, it was always a question why we couldn’t have certain programs. 

I like that the education they are providing is for everybody and is rural and urban based. Just because you are a city kid, doesn’t mean you can’t become an agronomist or get into the agriculture world. I think it’s great what they are doing and I’m excited to see what the future holds in PRPS and I’m glad my kids are right in the middle of it and my oldest is already experiencing the John Deere program and I know they are looking to get the AgPro in Foremost as well. I’m glad my kids are on the cusp of it so they can start to experience some of that as well,” concluded Haraga.

By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer