Foothills School Division welcomes Stefan Dykema as Principal at Meadow Ridge School for the 2026-2027 school year

I am incredibly excited to join the Meadow Ridge School community and I am grateful for the opportunity to join a school that is deeply committed to students, families, and making school an amazing place to be. I am excited to continue to build on the great work already underway and ensure Meadow Ridge is a place where students feel safe, cared for and where they feel they belong.

Foothills School Division is pleased to announce the appointment of Stefan Dykema as Principal at Meadow Ridge School effective for the 2026–2027 school year.

Stefan brings a broad range of educational leadership experience across Kindergarten to Grade 12, with more than seven years of experience as a school principal. Mr. Dykema is currently serving as Principal in a K–9 setting with Golden Hills School Division. Stefan also carries additional experience as an Associate Principal, instructional leader, and accomplished classroom teacher into this appointment.

Throughout his career, Stefan has demonstrated a strong commitment to instructional leadership, school improvement, and relationship‑based leadership. His experience includes leadership in school organization, instructional programming, strategic planning, and financial stewardship. He has led initiatives focused on strengthening student and teacher engagement, developing inclusive supports for diverse learners, and fostering meaningful community involvement in school planning and decision‑making.

Stefan’s leadership is grounded in trust, collaboration, and shared responsibility. He brings experience working across multiple educational contexts, including licensed school‑based preschool and PUF programs. In addition to his education sector experience Mr. Dykema’s background also includes experience in management consulting and governance, further strengthening his systems‑level understanding of organizational leadership.

Stefan holds a Master of Public Administration from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta. He also holds his provincial Leadership Quality Standard credential and is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) candidate.

As a resident of the Okotoks community and a parent within the Division, Stefan brings both professional expertise and a strong personal commitment to supporting students, staff, and families. His experience, leadership approach, and commitment to continuous improvement align well with the values and priorities of Foothills School Division.

As he prepares to join the Meadow Ridge School community Mr. Dykema shares “I am incredibly excited to join the Meadow Ridge School community and I am grateful for the opportunity to join a school that is deeply committed to students, families, and making school an amazing place to be. I am excited to continue to build on the great work already underway and ensure Meadow Ridge is a place where students feel safe, cared for and where they feel they belong.”

Chris Fuzessy, Superintendent of Schools, states, “We are happy to welcome Mr. Stefan Dykema to the Foothills School Division team and community, and to the Meadow Ridge School community. Stefan brings diverse and rich instructional and leadership experience and skills to our team, and will undoubtedly continue to advance the culture of learning and community at Meadow Ridge School. On behalf of our FSD team, welcome to FSD!”

Please join us in congratulating Stefan Dykema on his appointment and welcoming him to Foothills School Division.