Photo COURTESY Jody Lynn Dryer

By Tanner Smith

Grande Prairie Public Schools

GPPSD Trustee Election Candidate Profile: Jody Lynn Dryer

Sep 29, 2025 | 5:18 PM

Jody Lynn Dryer is one of 12 individuals running for seven Grande Prairie Public School Board Trustee vacancies.

She was asked to provide a candidate bio, or answer four questions in 600 words or less.

1. What has inspired you to run for mayor/council/school trustee in the Oct. 20, 2025, municipal election?

To quote Desmond TuTu; “We need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream to find out where they are falling in.”

Something has gone terribly wrong in our society and this is by design. In a world where division is heightened I think most can agree that classroom teachers have one of the hardest jobs out there.

Why is that?

What is happening to our children where we have so many with autism, learning disabilities, behavior issues, various forms of anxiety and a whole host of other diagnosis that make up our classrooms today?

Who is tasked to investigate why this is happening and why it is increasing at an alarming rate?

When I hear someone say we have a world class education system I wonder what they are using as a comparison.

Although there are great schools and awesome teachers in our community, many children graduating today are barely literate, can’t make change, (with money) and have social anxieties that limit their ability to work. It would seem as though healthy, well adjusted and motivated students are becoming the minority.

2. What skills or experience do you have that you feel would make you a good fit for the role?

I have served on a number of local boards over the past 2 decades including Parent Councils, Swan City Rotary, Habitat for Humanity and the two Grande Prairie UCP CA boards.

I enjoy hosting and planning events and engaging in meaningful conversations.

But it was during the dreaded covid era that it became clear to me that there was a need in the community to support those who lost family, friends, jobs and homes.

In 2022 I started the Holy Shift.

This group has grown over the past few years as has the need to support one another. What initially started as what some would call a “freedom group” turned into a place for people to express themselves and have difficult conversations while finding solutions to the issues that plague our society today.

As word spread, we started getting people who were vaccine injured and so a focus was put on assisting them in finding help that they weren’t getting from AHS.

3. What do you feel are the key or main election issues in your community, and what are the issues of priority for you?

1.) The biggest issue of priority for me and many parents is their child’s safety and well-being while at school.

I have had many discussions and hope to continue the conversation on the effectiveness of inclusive classrooms.

No matter where you sit on the left/right spectrum, we can all agree that teachers are overwhelmed and underpaid.

2.) I would like to initiate discussion on the dangers and risks associated with high electromagnetic frequencies and electromagnetic radiation in schools.

How does this affect our children’s health and their ability to learn?

3.) I would like to find out firsthand what influence an elected board of trustees has over administration and their budget. Who is really driving the bus?

4. Where can people learn more about you?

I have decided to use my personal public FB page so that people can see where I stand on many issues. I only want the job if I am voted in on who I Am!

I can also be reached at 780-228-9148.