Skip to content Back to Top

Information Exchange Vol. 47 No. 02 Jan 18th, 2019

INFORMATION EXCHANGE

Newsletter of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
January 18, 2019

Last call! Register now for the Alaska School Nutrition Association Annual Conference

The 51st AKSNA Conference will be held January 29-31, 2019 in Anchorage, Alaska with preconference sessions January 28. The special key note presenter is former USDA Deputy Undersecretary and SNA President, Katie Wilson.

Last call! Public Comment Sought on School Construction Geographic Cost Factors Update

DEED is seeking public comment on the updated school construction geographic cost factors used with the DEED Program Demand Cost Model for Alaskan Schools. Comments are due by noon (12:00 p.m.), January 22, 2019.

Last call! Register now for the 2019 Alaska RTI/MTSS Effective Instruction Conference

Over 1,000 educators from 39 districts attended last year. A full-day pre-conference on the RTI model for small schools will take place on Friday, January 25. The conference will take place on Saturday and Sunday, January 26 & 27 in Anchorage. Build momentum with mindset and join your colleagues from around the state to Reassess – Recharge – Reunite.

Last call! The Alaska Staff Development Network (ASDN) Code.org Fundamentals (K-6) Curriculum Training Enrollment Now Open

Contact Cheryl Bobo with questions.

Reminder: UAA/ADN 36th Annual Statewide Creative Writing Contest Seeking Submissions

This statewide contest is back with $800 in cash prizes. Entries are open to all ages, ranging from kindergarten students to senior citizens, and the categories include poetry, fiction, non-fiction as well as story writing. Submission deadline is February 8 at 5 p.m.

Reminder: AAESP/NAESP National Distinguished Principal of the Year

The Alaska Association of Elementary School Principals (AAESP) invites you to nominate an outstanding elementary principal for the 2019 National Distinguished Principal Award.

Reminder: Steven R. Nelson Native Educator Scholarship Program Seeking Applicants

This scholarship program strives to increase Native representation in the field of education by providing financial support, mentoring, and internships for Native students in the Northwest who are pursuing a master’s degree in education policy, leadership, technical assistance, research, or a closely related field. Awardees will receive a maximum of $5,000 each year. March 31 application deadline.

Reminder: Alaska Council of Administrators of Special Education Offering Scholarship Opportunity

The Alaska Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) is pleased to offer a $1000 scholarship to provide support for students currently enrolled in UAA, UASE, UAF, or an online program and pursuing a career in special education. Deadline to apply is February 12. See attached notice for details.

Reminder: DEED Offering Competitive Grant Application for Suicide Awareness, Prevention, & Postvention Funds

The purpose of the grant is to provide an opportunity for schools to support programs, practices, and policies that focus on areas that are related to the State Suicide Prevention Plan Goals and Strategies. Under this competition, DEED intends to award approximately 10 grants. Grants up to $25,000 per year will be awarded to Alaska school districts only. Letters of Intent to Apply are encouraged by February 1. The closing date is 4:00 p.m. AST on Friday, March 15, 2019. If you have any questions concerning the program or the application process, please feel free to contact sharon fishel or call 465-6523.

Reminder: Fairbanks Arts Association’s 24th Statewide Poetry Contest Seeking Entries

Fairbanks Arts invites participation from authors of all ages elementary school and up. As a celebration of National Poetry Writing Month, this contest aims to encourage, publicize, and reward the writing of high quality poetry in Alaska. Entry deadline is February 15.

Associated General Contractors of Alaska Offering Postsecondary Scholarships

The objective of the AGC Scholarship Program is to provide Alaskans, who intend to stay or return to Alaska, with monetary assistance to pursue a degree leading to a career in the construction industry. Scholarship applications must be submitted no later than 11:59pm March 31st, 2019.

Register now for the 2019 ASCA Legislative Fly-In

Please join the Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA) at their 2019 ACSA Legislative Fly In, which will be held in Juneau, March 24-27, 2019. This is an excellent opportunity to meet with colleagues from around the state to receive policy updates on relevant topics, engage in professional development in leadership, and to have unified efforts to reach legislators on important education matters during the legislative session.

Alaska State Library Accepting Applications for Summer Internships

The Alaska State Library is accepting applications for two summer internships in public libraries. Interns will receive travel reimbursement, per diem ($60/day for 50 days), an honorarium, and free housing during the eight-week internship. The internship is sponsored by the Alaska Library Network.

AAEC Seeking Nominations for 2019 Champions of Arts in Education

AAEC is looking for nominations for the 2019 Champions of Arts in Education in the following categories: arts advocate, arts educator, arts leader, and art student. Nominations are due February 1, 2019. Contact Barbara Short with questions.

Career Connections Seeking 9-12th Grade Student Participants

Career Connections - Career Awareness is a week-long, hands-on career exploration program held in Juneau, Alaska, open to all 9-12th graders. As part of the program, students visit a variety of exciting job sites in diverse fields, as well as tour the University of Alaska Southeast campus and the UAS Technical Center. This year, Career Connections has two sessions: April 7-12, 2019 and April 21-26, 2019. District registration is due on Friday, February 1, 2019.

Educator Cross-Cultural Immersion Program Accepting Applications

The Alaska Humanities Forum's ECCI program is currently accepting applications from educators (teachers and staff) in urban Alaska interested in building stronger relationships with their students and families from different cultural backgrounds. The program takes place from May-September 2019, earns three graduate-level credits, and includes one week of travel to a culture camp in rural Alaska over the summer. All costs are covered. Apply by Feb. 28, 2019.

Registration Open for the AASB 2019 Leadership Fly-In & Youth Advocacy Institute

Join the Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB) for their first 2019 Fly-In to show that the unity of Alaska’s school boards can lead positive change, February 9-12 in Juneau. School Board Members: build boardsmanship skills, discuss key legislative issues, meet with legislators, and learn how new legislation will affect your district. Register students to attend the 2019 Youth Advocacy Institute (YAI) so they can come together and learn from their peers, build relationships with policymakers, and gain advocacy skills. 

AASB’s 28th Annual June Nelson Scholarship Competition Now Open

Attention High School Seniors: Don't Wait! Apply Now! The Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB) is proud to announce its 28th Annual June Nelson Scholarship Award Competition. This 2018-2019 school year, AASB will award fifteen $1,500 scholarships to apply toward post-secondary education. Thirteen of these scholarships are available for graduating seniors, and two may be awarded to returning college sophomores. The scholarship may be applied toward the student's choice of a business, trade, or a college institution. Application Deadline: Midnight, March 25, 2019. Winners Announced: Saturday, April 6, 2019. 

2019 National Youth Science Camp (NYSC) Competition Now Open

The 2019 National Youth Science Camp (NYSC) competition is now open to Alaskan high school students who will graduate by June 30, 2019. It is a residential science education program that honors and challenges two graduating high school science students from each state and others from selected countries around the world. NYSC is offered at NO COST to its participants so that selected delegates may attend regardless of their financial status. The application window closes at 11:59pm on February 28th.

Free CE Credit for High School Science Teachers

Are you a high school science teacher who wants to teach a unit on energy in your Environmental Science, Physics, or other advanced class next semester? UAF Bristol Bay Campus is offering an opportunity to teach their Home Energy Basics class to high school students. The students can earn 1 college credit (as long as they are 16 or older) and the teacher can also earn one continuing education credit through UAF. Better yet, UAF has a grant to cover the cost of the credits so it’s completely free for you and your students! If you are interested in this opportunity, contact Colleen Fisk at Renewable Energy Alaska Project or Mark Masteller at UAF.

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is Seeking Alaska Nominees

Anyone may nominate exceptional STEM teachers teaching grades 7-12. (Awards alternate between elementary and secondary teachers.) Teachers may also self-nominate. The President bestows up to 108 awards each year. Since the program’s inception, over 4,800 teachers have been recognized for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession. Nomination period closes March 1, 2019. Contact Ms. Joey Jigliotti with questions.

2019 Alaska Statewide Special Education Conference (ASSEC) Registration Now Open

Join the largest gathering of special educators in Alaska at ASSEC for high quality professional development relevant to the cultural, rural, and remote characteristics of our great state. February 25-27, 2019 in Anchorage. 

Applications Now Open for Summer Computer Science Workshops for Grade 6-12 Teachers

Applications are now open for the 2019 Code.org Summer Workshops in Alaska. Middle and high school teachers can apply for scholarships to participate in the 5-day CS Discoveries (Grades 6-10) or CS Principles (Grades 9-12 and AP) summer workshops in Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau. Contact Cheryl Bobo with questions.

Register for the AASB 2019 School Climate and Connectedness Survey (SCCS)

Join over 30 Alaska school districts who collect and use school climate data each year to improve and strengthen school environments, relationships, and connections between students, staff, and families. SCCS’s interactive survey platform makes survey administration, reporting, and analysis interactive and user-friendly. Participating districts also receive free webinars and training on overseeing survey administration and using the interactive platform. Additional support on how to use survey results includes on-site workshops or video conferences led by AASB staff. Districts choose a two-week window between January 18 - March 22 to take the survey.

The 2019 ASTE iDidAContest is Now Accepting Submissions

ASTE recognizes the best photos, movies, documentaries, podcasts, music, books, apps and things through its 19th annual digital media contest. Deadline is January 31, 2019.

The Alaska Staff Development Network (ASDN) Code.org Fundamentals (K-6) Curriculum Training Enrollment Now Open

Contact Cheryl Bobo with questions.

Info Exchange Housekeeping:
This newsletter is available weekly and in archived form at DEED Information Exchange Webpage. To submit news items, call 907-465-6535 or email Erin Hardin.