May 28, 2026
Grande Prairie, Alberta
GP Technical Institute is proud to announce the appointment of Joseph (Joe) LaValley as Principal, marking an exciting milestone as the school prepares to open its doors and bring a new skills-focused, hands-on public charter school option to students and families across the Grande Prairie region.
Joe LaValley brings a unique combination of educational leadership, Career and Technology Studies expertise, Alberta Education experience, trades knowledge, and strong community connections. His career reflects the core values of GP Tech: practical learning, meaningful relationships, student success, and creating clear pathways from school to future careers.
With a Master of Education in Educational Studies from the University of Alberta, Mr. LaValley has extensive experience in secondary education, school leadership, curriculum development, student success programming, and trades-based learning. Throughout his career, he has served as a CTS educator, department head, curriculum coordinator, assistant principal, Alberta Education curriculum manager, and leader of numerous off-campus education and apprenticeship initiatives.
His experience spans classroom teaching, student success programming, safety leadership, curriculum development, and provincial-level education work. He has taught mechanics, fabrication, and off-campus education; managed an automotive repair laboratory; supported students with graduation planning and credit recovery; mentored educators; and worked directly with Alberta Education on CTS, dual credit, and off-campus education initiatives.
Adding to his educational background, Mr. LaValley is also a Journeyman Red Seal Heavy Duty Mechanic, bringing authentic industry experience and a deep understanding of the connection between education and workforce readiness.
A Leader Aligned with the GP Tech Vision
“Joe understands students, he understands trades, and he understands GP Tech’s vision and philosophy,” said Noshaba Harji, Founder of GP Technical Institute. “He brings credibility, humility, experience, and a genuine belief that students thrive when learning is connected to real life. We could not imagine a better leader to help launch GP Tech and build a school culture where students feel capable, supported, and excited about their future.”
Mr. LaValley shares GP Tech’s commitment to helping students connect learning with purpose through hands-on experiences, real-world projects, and meaningful career exploration.
“I am honoured to be part of the launch of Grande Prairie Technical Institute,” said Mr. LaValley. “This school has the opportunity to do something very special for students and families in our region. GP Tech will give young people the chance to connect learning with purpose, build confidence through hands-on experience, and see a future for themselves in skilled trades, technology, industry, and community leadership.”
Building New Pathways for Students
GP Technical Institute is being developed as a public charter school focused on skills, trades, applied learning, and workforce-connected education. The school’s model is designed to help students understand the relevance of their learning by connecting academics to real-world projects, technical training, entrepreneurship, and community partnerships.
“GP Tech was created because our community needs more pathways for students,” said Karim Harji, Director of Learning for GP Tech. “Joe’s leadership will help ensure this school is not only operationally strong, but also deeply human. We want students to be known, supported, challenged, and inspired.”
For GP Tech, the appointment represents more than a leadership hire. It is another important step toward creating a school where students learn through doing, explore meaningful career pathways, and develop the academic, technical, and personal skills needed for success beyond graduation.
Learn More
Families, students, industry partners, educators, and community members are encouraged to follow GP Tech’s progress and stay informed about enrollment opportunities, upcoming information sessions, open houses, and hiring events.
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Follow GP Tech on social media: @grandeprairietech on Meta.
