Meet the Team

Committed to our students and their brilliant futures.

Join our team

School Leadership

Dean Lindquist
Superintendent

Dr. Dean Lindquist joined the Thrive School team in July 2023. In addition to his enthusiasm for student empowerment and community engagement, Dean brings extensive leadership and teaching experience in public, separate and charter schools. In addition to his most recent position as Superintendent for New Horizons Charter School, he served in Superintendent roles for SD 71 (Comox Valley) and Grande Yellowhead Public Schools, as well as Associate/Deputy Superintendent for the Aspen View Regional School Division. Earlier in his career, Dean also held positions as a Principal and as a classroom teacher in schools across central Alberta. Rounding out his experience, Dean has taught graduate-level courses at the University of Calgary and served as Assistant Deputy Minister (Program and System Support) for Alberta Education. Dean is an avid sports fan and spends time cheering on his favourite teams. He also enjoys immersing himself in professional and academic literature to stay up to date on the latest developments in education and related areas.

Donna Rankin-Anderson
Principal

Donna Rankin-Anderson joined the Thrive School team in February 2023. An experienced educator and instructional leader, Donna is strongly committed to shaping a vision of success for all students and serving as a dedicated advocate for students and families. In her nearly 20 years in the Edmonton separate school system, she has brought her passion for connection and positive school environments to her roles as a Principal, Assistant Principal, Learning Coach and classroom teacher. In addition to her expertise in school operations and data-driven instructional practices, she is the kind of educator who will remember the name of each student’s pet. Donna earned a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta and has completed graduate-level courses in education policy. When she is not out running on the Edmonton river valley pathways, you can find her enjoying time with her husband and son, likely cheering on her son at the hockey rink or basketball court.

Nelson MacDougall
STEM Lead Teacher

Nelson MacDougall joined the Thrive School team in August 2023. Taking on the role of Lead Teacher and STEM Program Lead, Nelson is excited to support staff in their educational journeys as well as bringing his knowledge and passion of STEM learning to Thrive Elementary. In his 15 years in education, Nelson has experience working in the public, private, and charter school systems and has experience with the Alberta curriculum as well as the IB program. He has taught from kindergarten through to grade 12 with an array of subjects from visual arts, general sciences, chemistry, biology, and mathematics, focusing his career into the fields of technology and STEM based courses. Holding such titles as STEM learning strategist and director of STEM learning, Nelson is invested in developing additional leadership skills to further help the students, staff, and the school. Outside of education, Nelson enjoys spending time with his family, and taking part in many of the nerdy, STEM related hobbies that he teaches.

Teachers

Shannon Coulombe

Kindergarten/Music

Shannon is an experienced teacher who has a passion for teaching literacy, art and music. She has taught grades 3 through 6 as well as preschool. She owned and operated a preschool for 7 years and has experience in school administration. Her Bachelor of Education degree has a special focus in early childhood education. She lives in Beaumont with her 3 children and enjoys reading and being active, healthy and creative!

scoulombe@thriveschool.ca

Kristen Robb

Grade 4 Teacher

Kristin Robb was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, and she holds a Bachelor of Elementary Education from the University of Alberta. Kristin is an engaging elementary education teacher with experience in classrooms across both Canada and New Zealand. She has a strong passion for children’s growth and development. After moving to New Zealand in 2019 and returning to Canada in 2024, she is excited to continue fostering student learning and motivation. Outside of teaching, Kristin loves spending time outdoors with her husband, Matt, and their 2-year-old daughter.

KRobb@Thriveschool.ca

Courtney Rolfe

Grade 5 Teacher

Courtney enters her 8th year of teaching very excited to be a part of the Thrive team! She grew up in northern Saskatchewan and graduated from the University of Alberta with her Bachelor of Secondary Education. She is patient, empathetic and passionate about building positive relationships with students. Her teaching experience ranges from grade 5 all the way up to 30-level courses! When not in the classroom, Courtney enjoys playing sports (golf, curling, volleyball and slo-pitch), fishing back home in Saskatchewan, watching football (go Raiders!), and reading.

crolfe@thriveschool.ca

Carter Savard

Grade 6 Teacher

Miss Carter is an experienced elementary school teacher who values teaching the whole child, building genuine relationships with all students, creating a safe and engaging learning environment, student-led learning, and collaborating with all stakeholders. Building relationships and addressing students' needs are her top priorities as an educator because she believes that these priorities affect all other aspects of teaching and learning. Furthermore, she loves being involved in her school community and believes that leading by example positively impacts students, families, staff, and the greater community. She is passionate about providing opportunities for her students to think critically, problem-solve and collaborate which will support them in their lives moving forward.

csavard@thriveschool.ca

Liz Skjerven

Grade 3 Teacher

Elizabeth Skjerven (sure-ven) lives in Spruce Grove with her husband and 3 kids (13, 11, and 9). She grew up in the area but moved to Edson for her first teaching job in 2007. They moved back in 2012 and for the last two years, she has been teaching Grade 3 French Immersion in Stony Plain. In her spare time, she loves to craft all sorts of things! She knits, crochets, quilts, sews and cross stitches.

eskjerven@thriveschool.ca

Lauren Soltys

Grade 2 Teacher

As a recent graduate from the University of Alberta, earning her a bachelor in Elementary Education with distinction, Lauren is very excited to start her journey in the field of education. She is passionate and determined in creating a safe, positive, and welcoming learning environment that is inclusive for all learners, and will ensure their academic success. She is most looking forward to building and fostering relationships with each of her students. When Lauren isn’t teaching in the classroom you can find her enjoying many sports, and spending time with her family, friends and pet dog.

lsoltys@thriveschool.ca

Rachel Ware

Grade 1 Teacher

Rachel is a dedicated first year teacher and recent graduate from the University of Alberta with a BEd. She is dedicated to creating powerful educational experiences for students, while allowing opportunities for student directed learning. Rachel’s priority in the classroom is developing meaningful student- teacher relationships, while supporting students academically, socially and emotionally. When Rachel is not at school, you can find her doing outdoor activities like hiking, camping, kayaking, paddle boarding and snowboarding!

rware@thriveschool.ca

Office Staff

Kelsey Elicksen

Administrative Support

Kelsey Elicksen joined the Thrive School Team in April of 2023. As Administrative Support for the school, Kelsey is focused on creating a positive environment for students to THRIVE in while maintaining the functionality of day-to-day tasks. Previously, Kelsey has had extensive experience as an Assistant Director of a preschool, an Educational Assistant working with children with diverse needs, and as a Program Coordinator for an out of school program. When Kelsey is finished managing the lives of her own children, she enjoys spending time inside reading, painting, and staying out of the heat.