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Alaska Council of
School Administrators
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Volume 25 Number 2, June 2019
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Leadership, Unity and Advocacy for Public Education
#NorthToTheFuture
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Alaska Council of School Administrators
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“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….”
Patrick Mayer, ACSA and ASA President, Superintendent
Greetings Colleagues!
Hopefully you are all enjoying a superior summer while experiencing some down-time with family and friends.
We all have our favorite authors. One of mine (aside from Ken Kesey), has always been Charles Dickens. Great authors are able to bring characters alive and the beginning of a good novel should captivate you from the first page, or perhaps even from the first paragraph….
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….” From
A Tale of Two Cities
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Reflect, Plan and Share the Good News!
Dr. Lisa S. Parady, ACSA, ASA, AASSP Executive Director
May and June are the times of year when educators reflect on their practice and challenges incurred over the previous 12 months. It is also the time to plan for the coming year.
As school leaders, I encourage you to step back and breathe and really take a moment to contemplate the successes you had this year. And then, let’s start to reclaim the rest of the story about public education across Alaska. Never mind the naysayers and nattering nabobs of negativity, public education meets our constitutional duty and serves its role as a great equalizer in our state.
Our schools, our teachers, our administrators, and our communities accomplish great things together. How did you tell the story of your students, classrooms, schools, building, district successes over the last year?
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Alaska Superintendents Association
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Leadership Lessons from the Arena
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Dr. Karen Gaborik, ASA Past-President and 2018-2019 Superintendent of the Year
I read an interesting article the other day about how, depending on our personal and professional experiences, we grapple with the idea that most people most of the time are doing the best they can. As I reflect on challenges I’ve faced in our district the past couple months and my steps through those various narratives, I couldn’t help but recognize that my assumptions about people’s intent are a significant influence in my response to difficult situations.
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Alaska Staff Development Network Update
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The collaboration between
Code.org
, the Alaska Staff Development Network (ASDN) & the Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA) is
expanding access to computer science in schools throughout Alaska
!
Find out more about the partnership here.
Code.org is a national nonprofit that believes that every student should have the opportunity to learn computer science, just like biology, chemistry or algebra. The
Code.org curriculum
is the most popular in K-12 computer science, with courses for every grade band. It is used in more than 120 districts, including all 7 largest districts and by over 700,000 teachers. It’s free of charge, and is also the highest-rated by teachers.
We are pleased to share that already this school year by March we had held 13 workshops and trained 207 educators, representing 111 schools and 30 out of 54 Alaskan school districts. Of the teachers taught, 56% work in high needs schools, and 80% are in rural or remote schools. This cohort of teachers will be impacting 1,341 students, 49% of which are female. They have become proficient in the Code.org curriculum and teaching techniques that will inspire their students to pursue computer science. As our work continues this spring and summer, these numbers have only grown and will continue to do so!
Of their experience with ASDN’s Code.org training program,
one teacher said
, “I was pretty nervous and worried that I would be embarrassed by my lack of knowledge. This training was amazing and not at all what I thought it would be like! The training provided me with the opportunity and the time to explore coding as curriculum for my students.”
If you would like to see the kind of work supported in Alaska, please watch the recent
60 Minutes
segment ‘Closing the Gender Gap in the Tech Industry’ which features Code.org founder Hadi Partovi and Microsoft corporate vice president Bonnie Ross. In it they discuss the opportunities in computer science jobs that Code.org is working to fill and the critical importance of closing the gender gap in the tech industry. You can view it at
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/closing-the-gender-gap-in-the-tech-industry-60-minutes/
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It is our privilege at ASDN and ACSA to support Alaska’s public schools and our incredible workforce of educators.
We know that every educator, from para-professionals, to teachers, to administrators, are doing amazing things every day to inspire Alaska’s students.
We need to tell our education stories!
In no more than 500 words, write up an education blog post with supporting pictures/video (optional) and we will help you get the word out. Submit your blog post to us
HERE
or contact
Sam Jordan
directly.
Thank you for everything you do! We can’t wait to post about the great things happening all around our state.
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The Great Work of Alaska's Public Schools
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The Executive Directors of the Alaska Council of School Administrators, the Association of Alaska School Boards, and the Coalition for Education Equity have collaborated on a series of editorials that articulate shared priorities for Alaska students.
Please find below Op-Eds that have been published as a result of the joint publication: The Great Work of Alaska's Public Schools:
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Six Steps to Greater Public Support
Jamie Vollmer, President, Jamie Vollmer Inc. (guest contributor)
ESSA, Title IV, Part A, directs administrators to “strengthen ties with the people of their communities.” Alaska’s Administrative Code reinforces the need for districts to “engage stakeholders.” The strategic plan of every district in the state prominently promotes a public engagement objective. And yet, in my experience, attention to the so-called “community piece” is overwhelmed by more pressing concerns as the drama of the school year unfolds. Pursuit of this strategic goal falls to the superintendent and the communications director, if you are lucky enough to have one.
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Thank you for all you do for students in our State!
Representative Andi Story, House Education Committee Co-Chair (guest contributor)
Having served on the Juneau School Board for fifteen years, I’m aware of many challenges you face, not the least of which is funding uncertainty. I wholeheartedly support ACSA and AASB’s goal for timely, reliable and predictable revenue for schools so schools can efficiently and effectively use resources to deliver the best education possible. In my role as Co-Chair of the House Education Committee, I’ll do what I can to support and advocate for these goals.
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Alaska Association of
Secondary School Principals
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Points on the Map
Dan Carstens, AASSP President
I was in my office last week when one of my bright, fresh, energetic teachers stopped in to talk with me. I had a feeling I knew what it was about with the state of the budget as I closed my door. He came in and let me know that he had applied to another school district in Oregon. He had mixed feelings because this is where he had grown up and so badly wanted to stay. After a little bit of discussion regarding the pros and cons of staying versus moving, I let him know that if he is willing to interview for a position, he should be ready to accept that position. He also knew that he would need to make the decision on the Oregon job before I could offer him a contract for this school. He and his wife had a couple more discussions, but ultimately decided to accept the other position.
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Restoring Connection to Public Schools in Alaska
Robin Jones, AASSP President-Elect, ACSA President-Elect
As I fly home from a productive and positive time at the National Principal Advocacy Conference in Washington DC, I cannot help but feel a bit discouraged by the reality that year after year administrators unite at the national, state, and local levels to tirelessly defend the value of public education and fight for funding.
Why is education always on the chopping block? Because I believe if our congressional delegation, governor, legislators, and leaders could see what I see, feel what I feel, or know what I know about public education in Alaska, then prioritizing funding so that our staff could provide the excellent education our students deserve would not be up for annual discussion and debate. Maybe the problem is that the leaders who have the admittedly daunting task of policy and budget development have lost their connection to our public school system while navigating unchartered waters in a time when our economy is suffering. If we could get those leaders to immerse themselves in school environments, listen to student and staff voice, and reflect on the true impact of these deep cuts then I believe public education in Alaska could genuinely thrive.
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If You Want to Go Fast, Go Alone. If You Want to Go Far, Go Together.
Meghan Redmond, 2019 National Assistant Principal of the Year
If you google the phrase that makes up the title of my article, you will find it credited as an African proverb. But when I hear that phrase, I think of the post my principal, Robin Jones, made on social media the day I was named the 2019 Alaska State Assistant Principal of the Year, with a picture collage; one picture of both of us with Robin holding her 2018 Region 7 Principal of the Year plaque and one picture of the both of us with me holding my 2019 Assistant Principal of the year plaque. This is Robin’s mantra behind everything she does; it’s why I said ‘absolutely’, without hesitation, when she asked me to apply to be her assistant principal three years ago,
it's why our school has had record breaking teacher retention rates in recent years, and its why, above all else, our students are happy to come to school every morning and often don’t want to leave at the end of the school day.
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Hope Quietly to do Some Good
Frank Hauser, 2019-2020 Alaska Principal of the Year
Every year, an English III class at Service High School is given the assignment to write me formal letters. It’s great fun. I dig through my desk for the official school letterhead and write them back with all of the principal-like formality I can muster. I hand-deliver the letters to class and stick around for a question-and-answer session.
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Understanding Behavior to Create Change in Schools
Robyn Harris, Ed.S, 2018-2019 Alaska Principal of the Year
As Principal of Whaley School, a separate day school for students exhibiting profound behavior, there are several things that I continue to model, connect and involve my staff in to help change negative behavior into learning opportunities for students.
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Alaska Association of
Elementary School Principals
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Change, Grow and Transform
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Eric Pederson, AAESP President
“It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow and transform.” - Roy T. Bennett
When I think about this quote and the current state of education in Alaska, it is safe to say we are all outside of our comfort zone. Mr. Bennett’s thoughts are correct,
the uncertainty in education is a good thing. Positive growth will take place.
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Alaska Association of School Business Officials
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ALASBO President's Message
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Carl Horn, ALASBO President, Nenana City School District
With the dramatic proposals made by Governor Dunleavy, we have the opportunity more than ever to engage and tell our side of the story of Public Education in Alaska. Working in unity with our umbrella association, the Alaska Council of School Administrators, a number of white papers written, engaging and informative testimony made before legislative committees and one on one questions answered for legislators and their staff.
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University of Alaska is Committed to Preparing Quality Teachers
Dr. Steve Atwater, Executive Dean, Alaska College of Education
Each spring for the past four years I’ve had the good fortune to speak to the graduates of the University of Alaska’s teacher preparation programs. They are a wonderful mix of those who entered the university straight from high school and those who are moms or dads with grown children.
Regardless of the time it took to complete their UA programs, I tell these graduates that they are our future educators, and I emphasize the importance of teaching and the responsibility that comes with it. I tell them that teaching is our society’s most important profession and that without good teachers and a strong public education system our social fabric would unravel. I advise them that their hard work has prepared them for the classroom, and I thank them for choosing the profession.
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Leadership Through Unity: We truly are #BetterTogether
Tamara Van Wyhe, DEED Director of Educator & School Excellence
Happy 2019! Every new year brings new opportunities and new challenges, and with the gaveling-in and out of the 31st Legislature, there has been plenty of speculation about what the next several months will bring for schools. Politics are involved, so (as always) there is plenty of doom-and-gloom about what may lie ahead. Call me an eternal optimist, but I beg to differ: This is not the time to fixate on what could go wrong. Never before have we seen the opportunities in Alaskan education that we see today. The sun will always rise in the morning and, at least between late August and early June, students will arrive at school, ready to learn. Students and their families depend on us to make sure the schools and classrooms our youth enter are prepared to engage, inspire, and ultimately, prepare them for life in their communities and beyond. That is no easy task, but it is the job for which we all, as educators, signed up.
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Brian Calvary, CAE, CoSN Director of Membership and Chapters
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Brian Calvary, CAE, CoSN Director of Membership and Chapters
The
Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) is pleased to continue to support the work of current and aspiring superintendents and district leadership teams in leading all aspects of digital learning transformations. Last month we addressed the challenges and opportunities of rural school districts in taking the digital leap (
https://www.cosn.org/Rural).
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Congratulations to the 2019 BP APF & Commissioner's Scholarship Recipients
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BP has partnered with the Alaska Principals Foundation (APF) to award 10 graduating seniors across Alaska each with a one-time $5,000 scholarship to get them started on the next phase of their educational journey.
Since the BP Principals Scholarship began 30 years ago, BP has contributed over $3.5 million to support the continuing education of deserving students.
Trevor Wilson, Unalaska High School
Maria Salzetti, Kenai Central High School
Gabriel Smith, Nikiski High School
Grace Salima, Grace Christian School
Franklyn Correa, Ketchikan High School
Ella Lubin, Sitka High School
Ainsley Burch, South Anchorage High School
Anna Jones, West High School
Vera Soloview, Robert Service High School
Collin Dyches, Eagle River High School
Vera Soloview is the recipient of the 2019 BP Commissioner’s Scholarship.
The BP Commissioner’s Scholarship recognizes academic excellence in graduating high school seniors and will provide Vera with $10,000.00 towards her college education. Thank you Commissioner Johnson for supporting this scholarship selection!
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Businesses are Champions for Children!
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The Alaska Council of School Administrators is grateful for the sponsorship and financial support of the business that provide goods and services to public schools across Alaska.
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2019 Education Association Upcoming Events
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July 2019:
NAESP National Conference – July 10-12, Spokane
NASSP National Conference – July 18-20, Boston
ASA/DEED Summer Meeting – July 27-29, Juneau
July 27th - ASA New and Incoming Superintendent Cohort meeting, Juneau
September 2019:
ASA Fall Conference – September 25-28, Fairbanks Area
October 2019:
53rd Annual Alaska Principals’ Conference – October 26-28, Anchorage
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ACSA Board of Directors and Staff
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Directors
Patrick Mayer, ACSA President & ASA President
Aleutians East Borough School District
Dr. Karen Gaborik, ASA Past-President
Fairbanks North Star Borough School District
Kerry Boyd, ASA Secretary
Yukon-Koyukuk School District
Dan Carstens, AASSP President
Nikiski Middle High School
Robin Jones, AASSP President-Elect
Chief Ivan Blunka School
Brendan Wilson, NASSP Alaska State Coordinator
Wendler Middle School
Eric Pederson, AAESP President
Paul Banks Elementary School
Lynn Mayberry-Burke, AAESP Vice President
Lake Otis Elementary School
Heather Jones, AAESP Treasurer
Chinook Elementary School
Carl Horn, ALASBO President
Nenana School District
Karen Quitslund, ALASBO President-Elect
Petersburg School District
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Staff
Dr. Lisa S. Parady
Executive Director,
ACSA/ASA/AASSP
Heather Johnson-Smith
Development & Membership Services Manager, ACSA
Kathy Blanc
Administrator, ASDN
Ceann Murphy
Office Manager, ACSA
Program Coordinator, ASDN
Kelly Tonsmeire
Grants Director, ASDN
Sam Jordan
Grants & Outreach Administrator
Melody Douglas
ALASBO Executive Director
Jennifer Schmitz
AAESP Executive Director
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ACSA Affiliate Member Boards
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Alaska Council of School Administrators
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