‘The Alaska Arts Education Data Project’ by Sam Jordan

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It has been proven time and time again in countless studies that students who actively participate in arts education are twice as likely to read for pleasure, have strengthened problem-solving and critical thinking skills, are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, four times more likely to participate in a math and science fair. -Quincy Jones

In‬ 2023‬ the‬ National‬ Endowment‬ for‬ the‬ Arts‬ and‬ Alaska‬ State‬ Council‬ on‬ the‬ Arts‬ awarded‬ funds‬ to‬ the‬ Alaska‬ Arts‬ Education‬ Consortium‬ to‬ investigate‬ what‬ was‬ happening‬ with‬ arts‬ education in Alaska.‬ Since that time, a cross-sector team of Alaskans, including educators, artists, Alaska Native culture bearers, legislators and health officials, has been working to get to the heart of the question: Which students, where in Alaska, and how are students in Alaska’s public schools experiencing arts education?

Student self-portraits from across the Lower Kuskokwim School District, Bethel, AK

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‘Alaska Youth Lead the Way: Six Honored for Positive Community Impact’ by Alaska Communications

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Across Alaska, young people are tackling real issues, like fighting food insecurity, advocating for mental health, expanding access to youth sports and the arts, and creating more inclusive communities.

This summer, through a program called Summer of Heroes, Alaska Communications and Boys & Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska are recognizing six exceptional young Alaskans. Continue reading ‘Alaska Youth Lead the Way: Six Honored for Positive Community Impact’ by Alaska Communications

‘YKSD Creates Place-Based Math Task Database’ by Bobbi Jo Erb

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“…the Alaska Cultural and Alaska Mathematics Standards combine to create relevant, engaging, and rigorous math learning.”

How long does traveling from Allakaket to Hughes by snow-go vs. boat take? Why is the distance traveled different for these two situations? How much further to go by boat? These are the types of questions Yukon Koyukuk School District (YKSD) students will tackle in math classes as teachers begin using the YKSD Place-based Math Task database. YKSD educators developed this database during spring break Place-based Math workshops. Continue reading ‘YKSD Creates Place-Based Math Task Database’ by Bobbi Jo Erb

‘More Than a Stage: How the Shakesbears Elevate Learning in Kodiak’ by Dr. Cyndy Mika

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“Programs like DDF are not extracurricular—they are co-curricular. They are extensions of the learning that happens in our classrooms and exemplify what it means to educate the whole child.”

As Superintendent of the Kodiak Island Borough School District, I have the privilege of witnessing firsthand how our students grow—not just academically, but personally and socially—through the many opportunities our schools provide. Among the most inspiring examples of this holistic development is our Kodiak High School Drama, Debate, and Forensics (DDF) team, the Shakesbears.

Continue reading ‘More Than a Stage: How the Shakesbears Elevate Learning in Kodiak’ by Dr. Cyndy Mika

‘Alaska Heart Through Student Art Auction Celebrates its 10th Year!’ by Sam Jordan

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This month, the Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA) hosted the 10th Annual ‘Alaska’s Heart Through Student Art’ reception. The event, held in Juneau at the the Andrew P. Kashevaroff State Museum, is an annual statewide celebration and auction of student art from Alaska’s 53 school districts. Legislators, statewide educational leaders, teachers, and student artists came together to celebrate and support student artistic expression in Alaska.

Photo by Michael Penn

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‘New Free Resources for Teaching Alaska Civil Rights History’ by Alexander Roider

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“We’re hoping that the graphic novel and trading cards can serve as a resource for teachers in Alaska and help make kids excited about our unique civil rights history.”

In the spring of 1961, the citizens of Utqiaġvik were hungry. After a particularly poor whaling season, the migrating eiders appeared almost mana-like to families with empty larders. Yet when the first bird was taken, the hunter was immediately arrested by federal game wardens for violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The treaty had banned duck hunting in spring—the only time the bird was present in Alaska. Given the choice between prison and starvation, the villagers solicited the local magistrate, Sadie Neakok. Sadie was the first Alaska Native magistrate and worked to desegregate Point Barrow Long Range Radar Site. And, she had a plan.

That night, the best hunters of Utqiaġvik went out and fell as many eiders as they could. Sadie worked to distribute the harvest among the town. The next morning, as the game warden made his way to his office, he was greeted by a line of more than a hundred townsfolk, each with a bird in hand and asking to be arrested. Terrified of how to explain this to his superiors, the game warden ran to consult the best legal mind in town: Sadie Neakok. Sadie calmly began explaining the mountain of paperwork that would need to be filed, how many flights should be reserved to transport the hunters down to a Fairbanks jail, and the dozens of social workers that would need to be imported to address the hundreds of newfound parentless children. After some careful consideration and a national public outcry, the game warden chose to drop all charges. Utqiaġvik would not starve that year.

Continue reading ‘New Free Resources for Teaching Alaska Civil Rights History’ by Alexander Roider

‘CTHS Project Aims to Improve Housing Options for Rural Alaska Educators’ by Principal Jason Ross

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Mat-Su Career and Technical High School (CTHS) began a new project during the 2024-2025 school year to improve housing options for educators in rural Alaska. This project has been made possible through partnerships with the State of Alaska, 62 Degrees North Customs, MSBSD Facilities Department, MassX, and Cruz Construction.

Trish Zugg, the MSBSD Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program Administrator, secured a grant from DEED to help construct a pole barn at CTHS that allows the building pathway students and instructors to work on the housing units throughout the school year. MSBSD Facilities worked collaboratively with MassX Construction to develop a gravel pad for the pole barn to be built on. A business partnership with Cruz Construction provided transportation for the connex shipping containers and an agricultural tent from Seward to CTHS. The pole barn was constructed by CTHS staff and the MSBSD Facilities Department under the guidance of Cruz Construction. Continue reading ‘CTHS Project Aims to Improve Housing Options for Rural Alaska Educators’ by Principal Jason Ross

‘Chevak’s Long-Term Investment in Growing Staff from the Community’ by Superintendent Jeanne Campbell

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“My hope is that their accomplishments will inspire the youth to follow them into education careers.”

In July of 2006 I disembarked from a seven-seat airplane with my dog onto a short runway which is now called the old airport in Chevak, Alaska. People hustled about, laughing, chatting, picking up and dropping off items and people. Being from Pennsylvania, I was enthralled by the whole experience and left speechless until approached by a woman who introduced herself as Lillian Olson. “Are you a new teacher?” she asked. “Let me direct you.” Like the old airport moved to the other side of the village as a new airport, Lillian Olson has moved from Executive Secretary (24 years) to teacher (9 years) to Chevak School’s first Cup’ik Principal in FY25. Continue reading ‘Chevak’s Long-Term Investment in Growing Staff from the Community’ by Superintendent Jeanne Campbell