Floyd Blaikie:
Hey, it's Floyd, Director of Marketing at Sparkrock. I am here with our Senior Director of Customer Success, Frank, and with Chad from Livingstone Range School Division. Chad and Frank are going to chat about what it was like adopting Sparkrock at LRSD and being a customer for the past few years.

Frank Ferlaino:
Great. Chad, it's a pleasure to have you here today. To kick things off, maybe tell us a little bit about your role within the district.

Chad Kuzyk:
Yeah, sure. Hi everyone. Chad Kuzyk, Livingstone Range School Division. I'm the Associate Superintendent here. I'm actually retiring tomorrow. I've been at Livingstone Range for about 15 years and have worked through many amazing, innovative programs for students that I'm super proud of.

Frank Ferlaino:
What made you pursue a career in education, and how has your journey shaped your approach to supporting students with unique needs?

Chad Kuzyk:
That's a good question. There's some sense of calling. When you're younger and working, you realize you feel comfortable around students and schools. I was on a high school baseball team for five years, and my old teacher who coached me said, “You should be a teacher.” I realized he was right.

I also love the outdoors. Behind me you’d see the OR play space, environmental sciences, outdoor learning. I got to join those two passions—working with students and being outside—and that fueled my energy to do what I've done at Livingstone Range.

Frank Ferlaino:
That's great. Tell us a little bit about your student population and the key programs and services you offer.

Chad Kuzyk:
Sure. I started in Calgary and Okotoks—about 11–12,000 students—and then Peel District School Board in Ontario with over 100,000 students. Very different challenges.

Livingstone Range has under 4,000 students spread over hundreds of kilometers. It's a shift from big class sizes to small, dispersed communities. We had declining enrollment and schools with space to grow. That context forced us to find solutions and look for ways to grow instead of just being efficient.

Frank Ferlaino:
Talking about those solutions, can you walk us through the technology and systems your district uses, and how you came to implement Sparkrock? What were the goals?

Chad Kuzyk:
We needed a central hub for all our software—to be more effective and efficient with our dollars. We couldn't have big systems with big teams to run them. We had to be lean and timely in supporting student learning.

We were looking for one center of truth to manage information securely. We don’t have teams at every school to run separate hubs. We needed something flexible, secure, and supportive of innovative programming while balancing security and capacity.

Frank Ferlaino:
That's great. How about the staff? Changing software can be a big challenge. Were there any initial surprises, and how did you overcome them?

Chad Kuzyk:
Yes, always! Change always brings challenges. Key was building a culture of innovation—always looking for better ways, meeting people who can support us.

We had an implementation system that focused on vision, commitment to professional learning (virtual or in-person depending on context), and fostering effective relationships.

Building trust with the vendor was huge—we needed to be able to call and say, “We need help.” It’s all about relationships, and that’s what allowed us to implement effectively on a big scale.

Frank Ferlaino:
With Sparkrock supporting you, what specific changes did you experience in your district after adopting the system?

Chad Kuzyk:
Honestly, some people didn't see much change, which was positive! It was easier to get data, marks, report cards, do attendance, and use the parent portal. Less noise, more clarity.

For our central office and IT staff, there was a dramatic change—but it happened in the background.

Your team had amazing implementation specialists. We could pick up the phone anytime. You understood we were different from other divisions and worked with us to accommodate that. It created synergy—we were all working toward supporting student learning without technology being a barrier.

I've done three SIS implementations, and this was the best by far.

Frank Ferlaino:
That’s great. From a student-impact perspective, you mentioned supporting students with unique needs. Can you share an example of how the system helped?

Chad Kuzyk:
Sure. It allowed us to record information flexibly for special programming—students in different classes at different times, ski academies, small enrollments.

We could manage attendance whether students were at school or off-site. It enabled communication and record-keeping that still met provincial requirements but in a way that worked for our context.

Beyond SIS, we’ve integrated Finance, HR/Payroll, and School Day—all connecting staff, parents, and students. That flexibility helps us meet the needs of every student, because no two students are the same.

Frank Ferlaino:
As you near retirement, what are your biggest takeaways from your career and your experience working with Sparkrock?

Chad Kuzyk:
First, don't be afraid to take risks. We were one of the first in Alberta to do this. Know your goals, budget, resources, and security needs—but think outside the box.

Also, buy Canadian when you can!

Ultimately, it’s about relationships. Good salespeople can get you in, but you need partners who will work with you, understand you, and help you succeed. That partnership with Sparkrock made it work.

Over 27 years, I’ve learned it’s always about people—taking the time to have these conversations and really get to the bottom of what we’re trying to achieve.

Frank Ferlaino:
Is there anything else you’d like to share with other educators about embracing change and technology?

Chad Kuzyk:
It’s not going away. We’ll always be balancing security and learning. You’re not alone—look for the people around you who can support you.

Collaboration at the school, division, and provincial level is critical. The pace of change is faster now. You won't know everything, but having trusted people to work with is key.

Frank Ferlaino:
Wonderful. I appreciate the partnership we’ve built and everything we’ve accomplished. We’re excited to keep supporting Livingstone Range and the Alberta community. Thanks so much for your time, Chad, and best wishes on your retirement.

Chad Kuzyk:
Thank you, Frank. I appreciate it too.

Floyd Blaikie:
Thanks, Chad. What an honor to have you join us, especially on your second-last day of work ever! What are you doing on your last day, and your first day of retirement?

Chad Kuzyk:
My last day, I'll be with students at the PEAKS Campus—our outdoor environmental education center with dual-credit learning. I'm really proud of that program.

My first day of retirement? I was going to drive to PEI, but my wife vetoed it. So we're heading to the Yukon instead!

Floyd Blaikie:
Very exciting. Thanks so much for joining us today, Chad, and happy retirement.

Frank Ferlaino:
Awesome. Thank you very much.

Chad Kuzyk:
Thank you.