‘ASD Student Art Takes Center Stage in Public Art Galleries’ by Leah Maltbie

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After many years of showcasing artwork for Youth Art Month at the 5th Avenue Mall on temporary display panels, an idea emerged to have a permanent student art display in the mall. This was forged from a partnership between Simon Holdings (5th Avenue Mall management) and the Anchorage School District. The mall has provided a space that has been unoccupied for years, next to JCPenney on the first floor, as an in-kind donation, making this a win-win for both the mall and school district. It was during our first installation in the new space for Youth Art Month that the name for the space was suggested. The MK Student Art Gallery is named after Mary Kaye Denkewalter, a long-time former art teacher in the Anchorage School District who passed away a few years back.  Continue reading ‘ASD Student Art Takes Center Stage in Public Art Galleries’ by Leah Maltbie

‘Nikolski School Reopens After 14 Years!’ by Superintendent Mike Hanley

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After 14 years of having our school closed in Nikolski, The Aleutian Region School District is really excited about once again having enough children in the community to re-open. Nikolski is located on the western tip of Umnak Island just west of Unalaska. It is thought to be the oldest continuously inhabited community in the world dating back 8,500 years.

In October of last year, the community let the district know of their desire to get a school back in place and their willingness to do whatever was necessary to help make that a reality. They have been great partners in the effort by providing teacher housing as well as the community center to work as the school building. Without the passion and commitment of the community, there would have been no way we could have put everything in place so quickly. Continue reading ‘Nikolski School Reopens After 14 Years!’ by Superintendent Mike Hanley

‘Teach, Nourish, Heal, and Connect: Transforming and Revitalizing Filipino Identity in Alaska’ by Alma Manabat Parker

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“It was the perfect fusion of movement, identity, language revitalization, play, and the arts – this work is transformative.” – Rachel Lucy

This statement was written in a letter of nomination for the Governor’s Arts & Humanities Awards 2024. It was submitted by my colleague who was able to witness me during a cultural enrichment session at one of Ketchikan’s elementary schools. My work as the Health Equity Director with the Ketchikan Wellness Coalition has allowed me to incorporate culture in our outreach efforts to improve overall health and wellness for the Filipino community; we feel culture is medicine. Continue reading ‘Teach, Nourish, Heal, and Connect: Transforming and Revitalizing Filipino Identity in Alaska’ by Alma Manabat Parker

‘Nome-Beltz Middle High School Celebrates Indigenous People’s Day, Highlighting A Local Civil Rights Hero’ by Rosa Wright and Sam Jordan

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On a snowy October 15th, 2024, afternoon, students at Nome-Beltz Middle High School filed into the school gym, gathering to collectively celebrate Indigenous People’s Day. The assembly brought together students and community members to share stories, give advice, and empower Nome Nanook youth. 

Continue reading ‘Nome-Beltz Middle High School Celebrates Indigenous People’s Day, Highlighting A Local Civil Rights Hero’ by Rosa Wright and Sam Jordan

‘How Columbia University Students’ Design of an Alaskan School is Informed by Climate, Culture & Community’ by Angelina Wu & Charitie Ropati

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3D Model of the rural Alaska school building design

Senior design projects are an engineering students’ rite of passage, a chance to apply four years of classroom knowledge to a real-world project. We, as civil engineering students, could choose any type of structure in any location. While our classmates decided to focus on projects within the city of our university, Columbia University in the New York City, our group decided to turn our focus to rural Alaska.

As global climate change has worsened, thawing permafrost, and advancing waters have slowly eroded the coastline, washing away critical infrastructure and threatening homes along Alaskan rivers. This is particularly true for Newtok, a small village located on the Ningliq River in Southwest Alaska. In 2003, an agreement for managed retreat was made for townspeople to resettle by river to higher ground several miles away in Mertarvik. It wasn’t until 2019 that the first residents arrived in this new town, even though there is no functioning sewer system and part of the school has been torn down for safety concerns. As a complete greenfield development, Mertarvik requires all new infrastructure to be built, including an air landing strip, a landfill, an evacuation center, and a school. Continue reading ‘How Columbia University Students’ Design of an Alaskan School is Informed by Climate, Culture & Community’ by Angelina Wu & Charitie Ropati

“Shining a Light on Story: Teacher Tales Amplifies the Voices of Educators of Every Variety” by Sarah Cronick

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“It was a marvelously bright spring day- a perfect day to take my 8th graders on a bike ride along our city’s outstanding greenbelt. The trails were finally free of the sloshy slush and we were a week away from their graduation. What could be better than soaking up our final days together than hopping on our bikes and letting that fresh Alaskan spring breeze hit our skin as we meander the rolling hills to the song of babbling brooks nearby? Of course, I should’ve known that we wouldn’t be the only ones delighted to be out and about…” 

Teacher Tales shares stories. Stories of educators of every variety, in and out of the classroom, at various points along their journey. It is an opportunity to hear from the teachers themselves about what teaching is really like. The moments that make us laugh, the ones that make us cringe, the ones that make us cry.  Continue reading “Shining a Light on Story: Teacher Tales Amplifies the Voices of Educators of Every Variety” by Sarah Cronick

‘Seven Alaska Youth Recognized as Local Community Heroes’

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Seven Alaska Youth Recognized as Local Community Heroes

With a heart to serve others, young Alaskans are changing lives and making their communities better. From advocating for legislation in the U.S. Congress to supporting their peers, and raising awareness and funds for causes important to them, youth across the state are having a positive impact on Alaska.

Through the Summer of Heroes Program, Alaska Communications is celebrating seven young people for their outstanding community service across Alaska. The youth each will be awarded a $2,000 scholarship for their efforts, no strings attached. Continue reading ‘Seven Alaska Youth Recognized as Local Community Heroes’

‘AK Indigenous Educators Present Research at University of Helsinki’ by Anya Nelson and Luke Fortier

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GROUP OF INDIGENOUS SOUTHEAST ALASKA EDUCATORS PRESENT COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE MODEL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI

Through funding provided by the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation and based on a Sealaska Heritage Institute Community of Practice approach, a group of Southeast Alaska educators recently traveled to the Reimagining Teachers and Teacher Education for Our Futures conference at the University of Helsinki in Finland. They presented findings for a Community of Practice approach to strengthening educational practices that makes Indigenous language and pedagogies a central component to the classroom. Continue reading ‘AK Indigenous Educators Present Research at University of Helsinki’ by Anya Nelson and Luke Fortier

‘Bats of Alaska! Yakutat’s Summer Explorers Camp’ by ACSA Staff

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The land of the midnight sun and the study of nocturnal animals, such as bats, isn’t what you would expect at your typical summer camp—however, this unique combination made for a memorable experience for students and members of the Yakutat community.  

For the past 12 years, Sarah Israelson, the middle school teacher for Yakutat School District, has led the district’s Summer Explorers Camp for students in grades 3-8. The two-week camp focuses on STEM projects and has a theme around local wildlife or nature. This year, Israelson and her team chose bats.   Continue reading ‘Bats of Alaska! Yakutat’s Summer Explorers Camp’ by ACSA Staff

‘Growing Employment Opportunity Through YKSD’s Welding Program’ by ACSA Staff

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Every school district in Alaska focuses on preparing students for life after graduation. Anthony Cavan, CTE Welding Instructor for the Yukon-Koyukuk School District (YKSD), helps students receive the certifications and skills they need to start a career as welders right after graduation.  

After 22 years of teaching welding in Kodiak, Cavan moved to Fairbanks in 2021 to develop a welding program for YKSD. What was created was a short-term intensive training program where Cavan would visit each of the 10 YKSD schools for one week to introduce them to the concepts of welding.   Continue reading ‘Growing Employment Opportunity Through YKSD’s Welding Program’ by ACSA Staff