Officials with Grande Yellowhead Public School Division (GYPSD) have announced the appointment of Susan Penner, CPA, CMA, B.Comm (Hons.) as the Division’s new secretary-treasurer, effective Aug. 17, 2026.
Reporting directly to the superintendent of schools, GYPSD officials say Penner will join the executive leadership team at the Educational Services Centre in Edson.
In this key executive role, the Division says Penner will oversee all corporate financial and business operations across GYPSD, including financial reporting, capital and facilities management, transportation services, risk management, and board governance support.
Division officials say Penner brings 25 years of diverse accounting, operational, and executive leadership experience spanning Alberta’s public education system, renewable energy, and major energy infrastructure sectors. Most recently, Penner served as the secretary treasurer for the Calgary Girls Charter School (CGCS), where she oversaw comprehensive financial management, transportation, and facilities operations for four years.
Prior to her leadership role in public education, GYPSD says Penner held senior financial positions at major corporations including TransAlta, TC Energy, and ExxonMobil Canada / Imperial Oil. Officials say her background includes managing multi-million-dollar operating budgets, leading major software system integrations, establishing financial control frameworks, and transitioning complex infrastructure projects into operational phases.
“Susan’s exceptional track record in school business administration, paired with her deep corporate finance background and collaborative approach to leadership, makes her an outstanding addition to our Division,” said Kurt Scobie, Superintendent of Schools. “Her proven ability to build strong relationships, modernize infrastructure, and maintain fiscal integrity will ensure GYPSD
continues to support student success and operational excellence across all our schools.”
It’s noted that Penner holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA).
Beyond her professional career, GYPSD says she has actively served her local community in volunteer financial governance roles, including work with the Priddis Community Association and Calgary South Little League.
