2024-2025 Executive
Michelle Harris - Vice Chair
Michelle is the Vice Chair for the DPAC and also the Chair for the Mt. Sentinel PAC and is active in the surrounding community with various PAC roles over the last seven years including Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. Michelle cares about student needs and aims to support the parent voice to improve educational experiences for all students.
Michelle is the Vice Chair for the DPAC and also the Chair for the Mt. Sentinel PAC and is active in the surrounding community with various PAC roles over the last seven years including Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. Michelle cares about student needs and aims to support the parent voice to improve educational experiences for all students.
Taryn Stokes - Secretary and Education Partners DPAC Rep
My name is Taryn Stokes. I grew up north of Edmonton and worked at a chemical plant for 15 years in Prince George. We moved to the East Shore of Kootenay Lake in 2018 and my youngest son is currently in Grade 11. My oldest son graduated last year.
I started volunteering with the school PAC and have been involved at different times and schools as Chair, Treasurer and Member at Large. I am excited to serve the DPAC as Secretary again this year. I am also the DPAC rep on the Education Partners Committee.
I love riding my bike, paddle boarding and reading. I am the Librarian for our East Shore Reading Centre (part time) where I get to order all the new books!
My name is Taryn Stokes. I grew up north of Edmonton and worked at a chemical plant for 15 years in Prince George. We moved to the East Shore of Kootenay Lake in 2018 and my youngest son is currently in Grade 11. My oldest son graduated last year.
I started volunteering with the school PAC and have been involved at different times and schools as Chair, Treasurer and Member at Large. I am excited to serve the DPAC as Secretary again this year. I am also the DPAC rep on the Education Partners Committee.
I love riding my bike, paddle boarding and reading. I am the Librarian for our East Shore Reading Centre (part time) where I get to order all the new books!
Chase Leushner - Treasurer and Policy, Operations & Finance Committee DPAC Rep
Hello, I’m Chase! I’m a dedicated finance and operations professional with over a decade of experience in logistics, operations, and finance. I’ve worked in roles ranging from Logistics Coordinator and Dispatcher to Facilities Coordinator, and I bring a strong background in financial management, problem-solving, and streamlining processes. Currently, I manage finances in an Indigenous-serving non-profit, where I've implemented efficient systems and helped guide the organization’s growth.
Outside of finance, I’ve also spent time working in construction as a carpenter, trained as an apprentice electrician, and built my own tiny home. As a father of twin 5-year-old boys, I’m passionate about ensuring our schools are set up for success and that our kids have every opportunity to thrive. I'm excited to use my skills to support DPAC and collaborate with other parents to make a meaningful impact in our district.
In my free time, I enjoy hiking, snowboarding, gaming, and I always have a dozen projects on the go. That’s me in a nutshell. I’m looking forward to connecting with you all as DPAC Treasurer. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Hello, I’m Chase! I’m a dedicated finance and operations professional with over a decade of experience in logistics, operations, and finance. I’ve worked in roles ranging from Logistics Coordinator and Dispatcher to Facilities Coordinator, and I bring a strong background in financial management, problem-solving, and streamlining processes. Currently, I manage finances in an Indigenous-serving non-profit, where I've implemented efficient systems and helped guide the organization’s growth.
Outside of finance, I’ve also spent time working in construction as a carpenter, trained as an apprentice electrician, and built my own tiny home. As a father of twin 5-year-old boys, I’m passionate about ensuring our schools are set up for success and that our kids have every opportunity to thrive. I'm excited to use my skills to support DPAC and collaborate with other parents to make a meaningful impact in our district.
In my free time, I enjoy hiking, snowboarding, gaming, and I always have a dozen projects on the go. That’s me in a nutshell. I’m looking forward to connecting with you all as DPAC Treasurer. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Natalia Nazaroff - Past Chair and Education Partners Committee DPAC Rep
Hi! My name is Natalia Nazaroff and I have lived in Krestova my entire life. I went to school at Brent Kennedy and graduated from Mount Sentinel Secondary as did my husband. Our daughter is currently in Grade 13 at Mount Sentinel and our son has been at DESK (Distance Education School of the Kootenays) since Grade 2 and is now in Grade 7.
I am the DPAC Past Chair as well as the Mount Sentinel PAC DPAC rep, DPAC rep on the Education Partners Committee, and the Advocacy coordinator for our Advocacy program as well as a parent advocate. I became involved in PAC's and DPAC in the spring of 2016 when it became clear to me that as a parent your voice matters where your children's education is concerned. I used our District trained advocates to help me navigate education for my son and the first DPAC meeting/event I attended was the Advocacy 101 seminar.
I am currently a stay at home mom teaching my neurodiverse son at home. I have some education in the Social Work field as well as in photography. I spend most of my year in an arena as both of my children are figure skaters and I myself have been taking lessons as an adult figure skater. I am an artistic person and love to sew, craft and create art. I am a Doukhobour and Russian was my first language and I love to garden and preserve my own food. My father is a Doukhobor residential school survivor from the New Denver Dormitories and my mother in law is the School Trustee for Slocan Valley Bonnington.
I have a strong belief that every child matters and in order to ensure this, we as parents need to stand together and advocate for our children. We are the only unpaid/volunteer partner group sitting at the board table and we have the opportunity to look at education from a unique perspective.
Hi! My name is Natalia Nazaroff and I have lived in Krestova my entire life. I went to school at Brent Kennedy and graduated from Mount Sentinel Secondary as did my husband. Our daughter is currently in Grade 13 at Mount Sentinel and our son has been at DESK (Distance Education School of the Kootenays) since Grade 2 and is now in Grade 7.
I am the DPAC Past Chair as well as the Mount Sentinel PAC DPAC rep, DPAC rep on the Education Partners Committee, and the Advocacy coordinator for our Advocacy program as well as a parent advocate. I became involved in PAC's and DPAC in the spring of 2016 when it became clear to me that as a parent your voice matters where your children's education is concerned. I used our District trained advocates to help me navigate education for my son and the first DPAC meeting/event I attended was the Advocacy 101 seminar.
I am currently a stay at home mom teaching my neurodiverse son at home. I have some education in the Social Work field as well as in photography. I spend most of my year in an arena as both of my children are figure skaters and I myself have been taking lessons as an adult figure skater. I am an artistic person and love to sew, craft and create art. I am a Doukhobour and Russian was my first language and I love to garden and preserve my own food. My father is a Doukhobor residential school survivor from the New Denver Dormitories and my mother in law is the School Trustee for Slocan Valley Bonnington.
I have a strong belief that every child matters and in order to ensure this, we as parents need to stand together and advocate for our children. We are the only unpaid/volunteer partner group sitting at the board table and we have the opportunity to look at education from a unique perspective.
Lesley Garlow - Policy, Operations & Finance Committee DPAC Rep
Sheri Pawlyshyn - Alternate DPAC Committee Rep
Sheri Pawlyshyn - Alternate DPAC Committee Rep
