Public – Hilgendorf, Megan

By James Tubb on October 1, 2025.

1. Please provide a short biography. Why have you chosen to run for trustee?

I am an active volunteer of over a decade within the community, including spending the last four years as a trustee on the Medicine Hat Public Library Board. In my current role as Vice-Chair I have worked in partnership with my fellow trustees, engaged with the public to inform us of the community’s needs, connected with regional board colleagues, as well as worked with multiple levels of government. Most importantly, I fully understand the distinction between governance and operations.

I’m also the mother of two children, as well as a former strength and conditioning coach of four years within the public school division working in sport development academies. Through my children, who both attend public schools, and through my work I have been able to get to know and develop relationships with many people: students, other parents, teachers, administrators and education workers. With those experiences and relationships and being an engaged parent I have gained a great deal of insight and care deeply about public education in Medicine Hat. 

I am running to be a trustee because I am capable, passionate and engaged. I know that with my years of governance experience and core values of compassion, lifelong learning, advocacy and inclusivity will make me a great asset to the board team.

2. What are your top three priorities for your division, and how would you work to meet those needs?

1. Collaborative Leadership: Trustees have a responsibility and expectation that they will work together with the best interests of students in mind. This involves getting to know key stakeholders in education: parents, students, teachers and administrators, as well as working with multiple levels of government. Building strong interpersonal relationships is an area in which I excel. I would work collaboratively and in good faith with the school board team to keep MHPSD a place in which all can thrive. 
2. Active Representation: As elected officials trustees must be accountable. That means they are not just fulfilling the role of governance, they’re showing up for the school community. This means being present and attentive to the schools they represent. They also must have their finger on the pulse of what is going on in public education as the modern landscape changes and evolves, they must also be forward thinking. All of this of course must be shaped by local context and the only way that can be fully realized is by being an engaged and active trustee, which I am committed to, if I am elected.
3. Student and Staff Wellbeing: As a school board trustee I would advocate for and be supportive of choices that would contribute to the wellbeing of students, teachers, and education workers because to me they are synonymous. I would advocate for funding that would provide more classroom support and school resources, and champion programming that would offer diversity in choice. Schools must also be inclusive. Trustees should always have this in front of mind when making decisions, to ensure inclusivity means no one is left out or left behind.

3. How would you aim to attract and retain students within your division?

Students should feel engaged in what they’re learning. In the last four years MHPSD has expanded choice in programming to allow students to pursue and explore areas of interest, especially in elementary schools. I am very supportive of this initiative and would support its continuation and expansion while ensuring access is broad, equitable, and inclusive. 

I also would go back to my priority of being an active representative. To be active means to be engaged in what is going on in public education broadly across the province and also in the local context. To be fully engaged means to have a modern understanding of the wants and needs of students and families in the division. This would inform my decision making as a trustee.

9
-8