FEATURED ALUMNI
Brian Jean, Class of 1981

WHAT SCHOOLS DID YOU ATTEND WHILE AN FMPSD STUDENT?
“I attended Peter Pond School in grade one, followed by Dr. K.A Clark Public School from Grades 1 to 5. Afterwards, I moved to Clearwater Public School for Grades 5 to 8. I attended Prairie Christian Academy in Three Hills from Grade 9 to partway through Grade 12, ultimately returning to graduate from Fort McMurray Composite High School in 1981.”
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT OCCUPATION?
“I am the MLA for Fort McMurray and the Minister of Energy and Minerals.”
HOW DID FMPSD PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR SUCCESS?
“My experiences at FMPSD prepared me for the real world, opening my eyes to many of the issues facing our community. Education shapes both individuals and communities; how we teach and nurture the next generation directly impacts the vitality of our region. I am grateful for the mentors who recognized my potential and challenged me. Given the right resources and guidance, children are capable of far more than we expect. I take pride in my resilience, overcoming challenges during my school years. This resilience
contributed to my success and these experiences motivated me to advocate for improvements in our education system.”
WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?
“If given the chance for a do-over, I would be more involved in sports and physical activities, as this would have helped me focus academically. Being more attentive would have helped in my goal to attend a local university, as good grades are extremely important in post-secondary applications."
Tany Yao, Class of 1989

WHAT SCHOOLS DID YOU ATTEND WHILE AN FMPSD STUDENT?
“I attended Fort McMurray Public School District from grades 1 through 12. I started at Dr. Clark Elementary School, then moved on to Peter Pond Junior High, and finally graduated from Composite High School in 1989.”
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT OCCUPATION?
“I am the MLA for Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo and the Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Northern Development.”
HOW DID FMPSD PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR SUCCESS?
“My experience at FMPSD laid the foundation for my career by providing a strong educational background which fostered critical thinking skills, which have been invaluable in my role within the legislature. At Fort McMurray Public School Division, I was fortunate to be supported by exceptional educators. They consistently went the extra mile for me, spending time with me after class to ensure I understood the subject matter. I take pride in the friendships and relationships that I built and grew throughout my education. These connections have enriched my life, allowing me to collaborate, learn and grow with individuals who share common experiences and values.”
WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?
“If I could go back and do school over again, I would choose to be more involved in extracurricular activities like music and shop class. These experiences would have allowed me to explore different talents and interests while building a more diverse skill set.”
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