‘Showing Up Together: How Our District is Improving Attendance’ by Caitlin Santos

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This year, the North Slope Borough School District (NSBSD) set a clear and ambitious goal: reach and sustain an 80% attendance rate across all schools. This goal, established by our School Board, reflects a shared belief that consistent attendance is foundational to student success—academically, socially, and emotionally.

We are proud to share that this fall, our district reached that goal—and sustained it—for 11 consecutive weeks across all of our school sites. In addition, Harold Kaveolook School in Kaktovik, and Fred Ipalook Elementary School in Utqiaġvik have sustained 80% attendance or above for the entire year to date. 

Continue reading ‘Showing Up Together: How Our District is Improving Attendance’ by Caitlin Santos

‘Building Momentum: How YKSD’s MACSS Project Is Amplifying Math and Computer Science Learning in the Raven Homeschool Program’ by ACSA Staff

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As the Yukon‑Koyukuk School District’s (YKSD) Raven Homeschool program nears the completion of its participation in the Mathematics and Computer Science for Students (MACSS) project—funded through the U.S. Department of Education’s Alaska Native Education (ANE) program—one theme continues to rise to the top: meaningful, steady progress grounded in hands‑on learning and strong educator support.

Hands‑On Learning Through AMP IT UP Camps

During the past year, Raven Correspondence School hosted four AMP IT UP camps, bringing 82 students together for energetic, project‑based math and computer science learning. Students reported high satisfaction with the computer science activities, and teachers noted that camp experiences helped reinforce core concepts through exploration, creativity, and collaboration. Continue reading ‘Building Momentum: How YKSD’s MACSS Project Is Amplifying Math and Computer Science Learning in the Raven Homeschool Program’ by ACSA Staff

‘Alaska Educators Gather to Explore the Future of AI in K–12 Classrooms’ by Sam Jordan

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The question of how schools should approach the teaching and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and generative AI is top of mind for educators around the world. On January 23, more than 120 educators from across Alaska gathered in Anchorage for the 2026 Alaska AI Summit—an energizing day of learning, discussion, and exploration focused on AI’s growing role in K–12 education. Continue reading ‘Alaska Educators Gather to Explore the Future of AI in K–12 Classrooms’ by Sam Jordan

‘ECHO in Action: Miss Alaska Advocates for Education’ by Suparat Prasannet

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Serving as Miss Alaska has given me a unique kind of access. I get to spend time in the places where Alaska’s future is being shaped every day: our public schools. Over the past several months, I’ve had the privilege of listening to educators, students, school leaders, and families across our state. The more I see, the more I’m convinced of something simple: Alaska has strong schools because we have strong people. But many schools are working hard to meet rising needs while navigating uncertainty in resources and planning.

My Community Service Initiative as Miss Alaska is ECHO: Equity, Curriculum, Hope & Opportunity. In rural Thailand, my parents grew up in poverty and had to leave school early to survive. My mom had to drop out in the third grade, and my dad left school in middle school, both to work on a farm so their families could make it. Education wasn’t an option: it was a luxury they couldn’t afford. They worked hard, but hard work alone doesn’t always create opportunity when basic resources are out of reach. Continue reading ‘ECHO in Action: Miss Alaska Advocates for Education’ by Suparat Prasannet

‘The Our Alaskan Schools Blog Completes its 7th Year’ by Sam Jordan

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The ‘Our Alaskan Schools’ blog wraps up its 7th year this month, sharing 20 new diverse and fascinating stories from across Alaska’s public education system.

Fun fact: OAS was born from a conversation with nationally known education speaker Jimmy Casas who shared his advice that if we aren’t telling our story, no one else will. We now have over 200 stories that speak to the brilliance, creativity, and uniqueness of public education in Alaska. Continue reading ‘The Our Alaskan Schools Blog Completes its 7th Year’ by Sam Jordan

‘Alaska Blueberries as an Alternative pH Paper’ by Adrian Suladay

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In Alaska, learning often begins with what is right outside our door. Our land, culture, and environment provide endless opportunities for meaningful, hands-on education, and in our science classroom, Alaskan blueberries have become an unexpected but powerful teaching tool.

This year, students at Tok School in the Alaska Gateway School District explored how locally harvested Alaskan blueberries can serve as an alternative to traditional pH paper. What began as simple curiosity quickly turned into an authentic scientific investigation that blended chemistry, environmental science, and cultural relevance.

Continue reading ‘Alaska Blueberries as an Alternative pH Paper’ by Adrian Suladay

‘Free Training to Support Body Confidence & Prevent Eating Disorders in Alaska Youth’ by Molly McManamin

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Across Alaska, the adults who work with young people, teachers, counselors, coaches, and mentors, see firsthand how hard growing up can be. Between social pressure, body expectations, diet culture, and the constant comparisons fueled by social media, many youth are struggling silently. Too often, early signs of disordered eating go unnoticed until the situation becomes extremely serious.

The Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance (AKEDA) wants to change that narrative. With a mission to provide help and inspire hope, AKEDA is a nonprofit founded in 2019 to address the need for education, advocacy, and support for Alaskans affected by eating disorders. Today, AKEDA continues to expand its programming and outreach across the state. Continue reading ‘Free Training to Support Body Confidence & Prevent Eating Disorders in Alaska Youth’ by Molly McManamin

‘Advocacy and Learning: The Positive Statewide Impact of AASG’ by Francis Meyers

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Once a semester, hundreds of student council leaders from across the state come together at the Alaska Association of Student Government’s conference. This conference, dubbed AASG, is always a blast to attend–with the 300+ delegation engaging in workshops, fun individual challenges, and spirited competitions between the six Alaskan regions.  Continue reading ‘Advocacy and Learning: The Positive Statewide Impact of AASG’ by Francis Meyers

‘Growing Artists in the Mat-Su Valley’ by Anna Folsom

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Palmer High’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Visual Arts students participated in the Palmer Arts Council Fall Studio Tours, engaging directly with the vibrant local arts community. This was the first year of studio tours and it was a great success for artists and visitors alike. Community members were invited to visit different artists’ studios, observe their creative processes, and experience art-making in real time. Multiple art mediums were demonstrated in painting, metalwork, charcoal drawing, fiber arts, sculpture, ceramics and pottery. Artists opened their studio doors willingly, and over 200 people participated in the tours. Continue reading ‘Growing Artists in the Mat-Su Valley’ by Anna Folsom

‘How Shared Leadership is Raising the Bar for Alaska Schools’ by Superintendent Robyn Taylor

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In Petersburg School District, we’re seeing how empowering teacher leaders, working in partnership with school leaders, makes a lasting difference. Through our partnership with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), we’re building a culture where teachers lead learning, support one another, and grow together. This shared leadership structure has improved collaboration, strengthened instruction, and is helping us retain great teachers — all of which are essential in a small, rural district like ours. Continue reading ‘How Shared Leadership is Raising the Bar for Alaska Schools’ by Superintendent Robyn Taylor