- Cama-i, quyana tailuci!
- (Central Yup’ik)
- "Greetings, thank you for coming!"
Information Exchange Vol. 47 No. 17
INFORMATION EXCHANGE
Newsletter of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
May 10, 2019
The State Board of Education and Early Development, meeting March 28-29 in Juneau, sent out for public comment proposed regulations that update the K-12 science standards, update the technology standards as digital literacy standards, add computer science standards as a new content area, and adopt the latest AdvancED school and school system accreditation documents. The public is invited to submit written comments on the proposed regulations changes through May 14.
Last call! Nomination Window Open for 2020 Alaska Superintendent of the Year
The Alaska Superintendents Association (ASA) selection committee is seeking nominations for the 2020 Alaska Superintendent of the Year. Nominations can be made by education colleagues, school board members, parents, community members, and/or anyone who has personal knowledge of an Alaska superintendent’s performance and qualifications. Any superintendent or top leader of a school system who plans to continue in the profession may be nominated. Nominations due May 17.
Last call! Recognize an Outstanding Youth or Youth Group in Philanthropy
This award, given by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Alaska Chapter, recognizes service by an individual or group of young people ages 5-23 who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the community through direct financial support, development of charitable programs, community projects, volunteering, and leadership in philanthropy in Alaska. Nominations can be made online by May 15.
Last call! DEED K-12 Educator Talent Pool Nominations Extended to May 15
DEED is seeking applications that identify exemplary K-12 teachers and principals. We are looking for educators, relatively new to the profession, who demonstrate outstanding instructional and leadership abilities that impact students, colleagues, and the community. These distinguished educators are considered for special recognition programs. Additionally, these educators are considered for statewide and national advisory boards and task forces. A minimum of five years in education is a must. Applications are due May 15. Contact Cecilia Miller for questions.
NEW! DEED Seeking to Award Preschool Development Grant Birth to 5 (PDG B-5)
DEED is seeking grant applications for activities that support a mixed delivery system to support the development of young children, ages birth-5, ultimately preparing them for entry to kindergarten. PDG B-5 is designed to support Alaska in coordinating programs, resources, and services that already exist. This request for applications (see attached) covers maximizing parental choice, sharing best practices, and improving overall quality. May 24 application deadline.
NEW! eLearning Continuing Education Units Now Available
DEED is pleased to announce we are now offering one CEU for the completion of eligible eLearning courses. All eLearners who hold a current five or ten-year Alaska teaching, administrative, or special services certificate can earn one CEU for 15 hours of completed coursework. The eligible coursework includes courses required for school district personnel and teaching certificates. Please visit our eLearning page for more information on the eligible courses, and how to submit your information for certification.
NEW! Coming this Fall: Google Student Contest to Develop Open Source Software
Google Code-in is a contest to introduce pre-university students (aged 13–17) to open source software development. In the fall, Google chooses more than a dozen open source organizations to participate. The organizations create an extensive list of three- to five-hour tasks for students to work on. The tasks are categorized as Code, Documentation/Training, Outreach/Research, Quality Assurance, and Design. Competition begins in the fall; check the website for details.
NEW! Public Comment Period for Publication "A Handbook to Writing Educational Specifications"
DEED has revised its publication A Handbook for Writing Educational Specifications. The publication provides guidance for school districts and consultants in creating a program for design (i.e., educational specification) for school facility construction and improvement projects that meets department regulation 4 AAC 31.010. May 24 deadline to provide public comment.
Attendance Works will host its second awareness webinar, Nurture Dreams: Ensure Students Feel Safe, Supported, Connected and Engaged, on Thursday, May 16 at 2 p.m. ET. The webinar will focus on attendance strategies for the middle and high school grades where chronic absenteeism often spikes.
Confirmed presenters include:
- Ayeola Fortune, Senior Director, Impact and Global Results, United Way Worldwide
- Fiorella Cabrejos, Principal, Fordham Leadership Academy, New York City
- Shilpa Reddy, Community School Director, Fordham Leadership Academy, New York City
- Damon Bethea, Mentoring Project Director, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania
- Hedy Chang, Executive Director, Attendance Works
NEW! Lessons from State Teachers of the Year
The ‘Lessons from Teachers of the Year’ videos series is a partnership between Google for Education and the Council of Chief State School Officers that aims to elevate the teaching profession and capture the thinking of some of the United States’ best educators. This week, Google released the videos from the 2019 State Teachers of the Year. Learn more about their personal passion projects, their thoughts on the future of education, and how they intend to use their platform to improve the education system in their state.
Reminder: ACPE Announces Decision Day Alaska
Decision Day Alaska is inspired by the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA’s) National Signing Day. The goal of Decision Day Alaska is to recognize all high school seniors and celebrate their postsecondary plans, and, by doing so, encourage younger students to consider their future, and change the conversation around postsecondary education, whether it be a 2-year or 4-year college or university, vocational school, career training center, registered apprenticeship program, or the military. Contact Dominika Szpotanska at (907) 269-7971 for resources. See attached flyer for details.
Special Feature: The Magic of Alaskan Artist Ray Troll at the APK
Over 500 Alaskans stopped by the APK Building in Juneau for First Friday to see Ray Troll’s exhibit, Cruisin’ the Fossil Coastline.
Alaska artist Ray Troll and paleontologist Kirk Johnson, director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, logged more than 10,000 miles and 250 days traveling the North American coast in search of fossils and the stories they tell. This exhibition focuses on their Alaska fossil adventures and the remarkable stories that fossils reveal. The exhibit runs through October 19, 2019.
Alaska College of Education Offering Summer Courses for Teacher Certification
The Alaska College of Education will be offering two courses in July in Anchorage required for certification: Alaska Studies and Multicultural Education. Complete both courses in three weeks.
Resilient Educators: Growing Your Best Self Workshop Happening June 10-11 at Alyeska Resort
Educators think regularly about student resilience, but don’t often get the time and support to focus on their own. In these beginner and advanced workshops by Brightways Learning, you’ll learn to amplify personal and professional strengths and satisfaction. CEUs, lodging, and airfare discounts are available. Check out the event flyer.
Alaska Education Network Offering Instructional Leadership Webinars
The Alaska Education Network is a statewide initiative funded by Title II, Part A focused on uniting Alaska’s educational leaders with the intention of building community and capacity. There are five networks (graduation rates, leadership and equity, early childhood, reading strategies, and behavior support, safety & well-being. Two key components of an echo session are a Brief Didactic (30 minutes or less) and a Case Presentation (“problem of practice”).
U.S. ED Request for Public Comment on Proposed New Institute of Education Sciences Priorities
On March 28, the U.S. Department of Education printed in the Federal Register a request for public comment for proposed new Institute of Education Sciences (IES) priorities that will guide the IES over the coming years. IES priorities are general updated by each new Director of IES. You can read the current set of priorities, adopted in 2010. Comments are due by May 28, 2019.
Alaska Communications Summer of Heroes Program Seeking Nominations
Alaska Communications is seeking nominations for their 9th annual Summer of Heroes initiative, honoring Alaska’s youngest heroes: individuals ages 6–18 who are making a difference in their communities through acts of generosity, courage or achievement. Five winners will each be awarded a $1,500 scholarship. Nomination period closes June 28.
School and District Report Card Feedback
Recently, DEED released the 2017-2018 Report Cards to the Public for each school district and school in Alaska. This new user-friendly website aims to provide clear, common information about all public schools and districts in our state. DEED has created two separate surveys – a District/School Personnel Feedback Survey and a Parent Survey. These links have been added as a tab to the Report Card site. Thank you for your participation in this survey and sharing your thoughts and experience with us.
District/School Personnel Feedback Survey
Alaska School Leadership Institute (ASLI) Registration Now Open
The 11th Annual Alaska School Leadership Institute (ASLI) will be held in Anchorage May 29-31, 2019 at the Hilton Hotel. The Institute is designed to support the professional learning of teachers, teacher leaders, principals, site leaders, superintendents and district leaders from small schools or rural school districts to help prepare Alaska’s students as college, career, and culturally ready graduates.
2019 Ted Stevens Young Alaskan Artist Award Competition Now Open
Young Alaskans pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree or program in music at an accredited institution are encouraged to apply for the 2019 Ted Stevens Young Alaska Artist Award. Winners receive a substantial monetary award and are presented in a full-length solo recital. The deadline is May 30, 2019.
2017-18 Report Cards Now Available on DEED Website
The 2017-2018 report cards are now available online. The report cards provide parents and the public with important information on state, district, and school performance and progress. U.S. ED has issued a Parent Guide to State and Local Report Cards that may be a helpful resource.
AAEC Announces Summer Arts Institutes for 2019
Engaging Students in Art & Culture: Summer Institute at Mat-Su (SAMS), May 28-31, Mat-Su Career and Technical High School, free to Mat-Su teachers, others $200 member district teachers, $300 non-member district teachers, 2 Ed 590 credits available.
Amplifying Stories through the Arts: Ketchikan Basic Arts Institute, June 3-14, Ketchikan High School, $500 member district teachers, $600 non-member district teachers, 20 Sealaska scholarships available to teachers from Ketchikan, Juneau and Yakutat, 4 Ed 590 credits available.
Liitukut Allringumi: We are all learning together: Kodiak Multicultural Arts Institute, July 28-August 2, $249 member district teachers, $350 non-member district teachers. Email Barb Short with questions.
U.S. Census Bureau Offering 2020 Census Statistics in Schools Program
The Statistics in Schools (SIS) program aims to increase awareness of, and overall public response to, the decennial census by engaging administrators, teachers, students, and their parents/guardians in public conversations about the census. The program provides materials that use Census Bureau data for students in pre-school through 12th grade such as lesson plans, data tools, fun facts, and more.
Info Exchange Housekeeping: This newsletter is available weekly and in archived form at DEED Information Exchange. To submit news items, email Erin Hardin or call 907-465-6535.