A Project of the Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA)

‘2026 Summer of Heroes: What Youth Leadership Looks Like in Alaska’ by ACSA Staff

ouralaskanschools on August 7, 2026

When we talk about student leadership, it is easy to picture speeches, titles, or big moments on a stage. But some of the most meaningful leadership happens in everyday choices: helping an elder, mentoring a younger student, organizing support for a cause, or simply noticing a need and deciding to do something about it.

That is the kind of leadership Alaska Communications is celebrating through its 2026 Summer of Heroes program. This year, seven young Alaskans were selected for their service, compassion, and commitment to making their communities stronger. Each recipient will receive a $2,000 scholarship in recognition of the work they are already doing to support others. Continue reading ‘2026 Summer of Heroes: What Youth Leadership Looks Like in Alaska’ by ACSA Staff

‘Building Bridges for Indigenous Children: A First-Year of Resilience, Culture, and Early Learning’ by Sam Jordan

ouralaskanschools on July 28, 2026July 28, 2026

If you want to understand what meaningful education innovation looks like in rural Alaska, look closely at the first year of the Building Bridges for Indigenous Children project (BBIC). BBIC is not simply adding preschool seats or launching another grant-funded initiative. It is building an early learning system rooted in community leadership, Yup’ik language and culture, local educator development, and a deep belief that young children deserve joyful, culturally grounded classrooms close to home. Continue reading ‘Building Bridges for Indigenous Children: A First-Year of Resilience, Culture, and Early Learning’ by Sam Jordan

‘Putting Books Back at the Center of ELA in Rural Alaska’ by Alex Roberts

ouralaskanschools on May 22, 2026May 22, 2026

“At the center of this work is a simple belief: students in rural Alaska deserve strong literacy instruction. They deserve powerful books. They deserve stories from outside their own world, and they also deserve to see Alaska, Indigenous voices, local communities, and rural experiences reflected in what they study.”

When Bering Strait School District (BSSD) started looking to replace its outdated and out-of-contract 6 through 12 ELA curriculum, the goal was simple. We needed something that worked. We needed something that increased student engagement and put the focus back on reading and writing, not isolated skills or snippets of stories. We also had to face the reality of rising curriculum costs, extreme underfunding, and the major expense of running schools in rural Alaska. Continue reading ‘Putting Books Back at the Center of ELA in Rural Alaska’ by Alex Roberts

‘Learning by Land and Sea: False Pass School’s Place-Based Science & Marine Safety Adventures’ By Sam Jordan

ouralaskanschools on April 29, 2026

At False Pass School in the Aleutians East Borough School District, learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door—and it definitely doesn’t stay on dry land. This year, students explored science through hands-on investigations of the Aleutian environment while also building practical marine safety skills connected to everyday life in a fishing community. Together, these experiences helped students see that what they learn in school matters: it keeps them curious, capable, and prepared.

Continue reading ‘Learning by Land and Sea: False Pass School’s Place-Based Science & Marine Safety Adventures’ By Sam Jordan

‘It’s Not Just the Conference, It’s the Commitment: The MTSS-Effective Instruction Conference Celebrates 15 Years’ by ACSA Staff

ouralaskanschools on April 15, 2026

This past January, hundreds of educators from across Alaska gathered in Anchorage and online for the 15th annual MTSS-Effective Instruction Conference. Year after year, this event is typically the largest statewide gathering of Alaska educators, bringing together nationally recognized experts and practitioners from across the country alongside the teachers, coaches, and leaders who serve Alaska’s children every day. The conference is hosted by the Alaska Staff Development Network (ASDN), a division of the Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA). Continue reading ‘It’s Not Just the Conference, It’s the Commitment: The MTSS-Effective Instruction Conference Celebrates 15 Years’ by ACSA Staff

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

ouralaskanschools on March 3, 2026March 3, 2026

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

ouralaskanschools on February 20, 2026February 20, 2026

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

ouralaskanschools on February 5, 2026

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

ouralaskanschools on January 31, 2026

The ‘Our Alaskan Schools’ blog wraps up its 7^th 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

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