- Cama-i, quyana tailuci!
- (Central Yup’ik)
- "Greetings, thank you for coming!"
Last Call - New - Reminder
Last Call! Relationships, Education, Advancement, and Development for Youth for Life (READY4Life)
The Department of Health and Human Services announces that it will be soliciting applications for the competitive award of grants that support “healthy marriage promotion” activities, including relationship education, parenting, and job and career advancement activities. grants will be targeted exclusively to youth. Applications are due July 1.
Last Call! Alaska Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association Scholarship Applications Available
AIANTA is proud to offer the Tourism & Hospitality Scholarship, which provides American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students with financial assistance towards a degree or certificate in hospitality, tourism, recreation, culinary arts or related fields. Applications are due July 3.
Last Call! Building the Movement: America’s Youth Celebrate 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage
The First Lady is asking students across the U.S. for submissions depicting individuals, objects, and events representing the women’s suffrage movement. The artwork will be showcased in an exhibit to honor the centennial anniversary of the 19th amendment. Submission due date is July 6.
Last Call! Well-Rounded Education through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants
The U.S. Department of Education is inviting applications for the Well-Rounded Education through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants. This program provides competitive grants to LEAs to demonstrate model programs for providing well-rounded education opportunities through the development and implementation of student-centered funding systems based on weighted per-pupil allocations. Applications are due July 10.
New:
NEW! Secretary DeVos Issues Rule to Ensure CARES Act Funding Serves All Students
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos issued a rule that would help to ensure all students whose learning was impacted by COVID-19 are served equitably by emergency funding authorized by the CARES Act, no matter where they attend school. The Interim Final Rule, which becomes effective immediately, outlines how local education agencies must calculate the emergency funds available for providing equitable services to students and teachers in private schools.
NEW! Summer of Heroes 2020 Program
Summer of Heroes is a program between Alaska Communications (ACS) and Boys & Girls Clubs - Alaska, promoting education, awareness, and support for youth development programs throughout the state. Summer of Heroes includes two main components - a youth recognition and scholarship award, and a cause-related sales promotion. ACS is seeking nominations until August 14 of youth who are doing good in their local communities.
NEW! New Resources for Businesses to Encourage COVID-19 Precautions
Alaska businesses now have access to a new suite of printable resources to help encourage COVID-19 precautions among employees and customers. The COVID-Conscious Business Toolkit features Alaska-themed artwork to communicate and encourage measures, such as physical distancing and mask wearing.
NEW! High School Introduction to Nautical Skills
The Alaska Maritime Training Center at AVTEC’s Nautical Skills course introduces high school students to the exciting and lucrative maritime industry and assists them in developing the basic skills essential to their success and safety as a mariner. This six-week course is first-come, first-served, so register now! The course runs September 8 – October 23.
NEW! Reimagine Workforce Preparation Grants Program
The US Department of Education is inviting applications for a discretionary grant program designed to offer students the opportunity to develop new skills, provide innovators and investors the resources to expand existing businesses or build new ones, and encourage institutions of higher education to foster workforce development and modernization as the country begins to recover from COVID-19-related disruptions to education and the economy. The deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply is July 13.
Reminder:
The first ever I, Too, Am the Dream Contest seeks to engage high school seniors in describing dynamic stories that have propelled themselves and others to pursue and achieve their American Dream. Students may submit an essay, poem, spoken word, or short story for an opportunity to win $5,000 toward achieving their dreams. Submission deadline is September 14.
The Alaska Superintendent of the Year Nomination Process is Open
The Alaska Superintendents Association selection committee is seeking nominations for the 2021 Alaska Superintendent of the Year. Nominations can be made by education colleagues, school board members, parents/families, community members and/or anyone who has personal knowledge of an Alaska superintendent’s performance and qualifications. Nominations are due July 17.
AASL Partners with StoryCorps to Launch StoryCorps Connect
The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) is partnering with StoryCorps to launch StoryCorps Connect. The new free platform allows Americans to conduct and record StoryCorps interviews remotely. AASL encourages school librarians to utilize the technology to support learners in connecting with others amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and, in the process, to contribute to the creation of a unique first-person historical record of this unprecedented crisis.
How Do We Read? Let’s Count the Ways
This report analyzes data from the 2017 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA), which the National Endowment for the Arts conducted in partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau. It gives a statistical overview of how the nation’s adults engage with leisure reading and other literary activities, such as author readings, book clubs, and creative writing.
Ilisagvik College Type M CTE Teacher Prep Program
The CTE Teacher Preparation Pilot Program at Ilisagvik Colllege will help Type M teachers build upon career knowledge and combine educational practices and theories to support confident, effective classroom leaders. Ilisagvik College just released its fall course offerings. Contact Arth Brown for more information.
- ED 194 80B – CTE: Introduction to Classroom Instructional Strategies
- ED 194 81B – CTE: Safety & Technology in the CTE Classroom
- ED 194 82B – CTE: School Law, Regulations, & Compliance
- ED 199 80B – CTE Practicum
Computer Science Workshops Now Offered through Zoom This Summer
Due to current health mandates and the uncertainty of the COVID-19 crisis. Alaska Staff Development Network created blended online professional development opportunities for learning to teach computer science in the fall. Provide opportunities for Alaska students to master the AK computer Science Standards and be career ready for jobs that require computational thinking, critical thinking, logic, and collaboration. For additional information please contact Cheryl Bobo.
- CS Fundamentals – 2 online offerings, 1 credit. Designed for K-5 elementary educators new to teaching computer science. July 21-23, July 28-30, and Aug 4-6.
- CS Discoveries – 2 online offerings, 2 credits. Designed to support middle and high school teachers before and during their first year teaching the Code.org professional learning program. Scholarships are available. July 27-31, and Aug 3-7.
- CS Principles- 1 online offering, 2 credits. Designed to support middle and high school teachers before and during their first year teaching the Code.org professional learning program. Aug 3-7
Computer Science Teachers Association 2020 Virtual Conference
CSTA's Annual Conference is a chance for computer science teachers to come together for learning, networking, and fun. The two-day virtual conference has over 100 sessions of education to broaden the knowledge of computer science education, inspirational keynotes and sessions to reinvigorate a passion for teaching, and countless moments of fun and connection along the way. July 13-14.
Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program
This two-week virtual program teaches 10-12th grade girls the computer science skills they need to make an impact in their community while preparing for a career in tech. Participants will get exposure to tech jobs and join a supportive sisterhood of women in tech.
Kindergarten Readiness Opportunity for Your Students
The state of Alaska is the beneficiary of a grant received by the Waterford UPSTART program. This program provides a unique opportunity for families to participate in the Waterford UPSTART program to support home-based kindergarten readiness delivered via technology. When parents are given the tools and knowledge to support their children, everyone wins. Every parent is empowered as their child’s first teacher right in the home.
The R.E.S.C.U.E. Project – Preventing the “COVID slide”
Millions of early readers are missing school. This may have serious negative effects on their reading development. The NSF-funded RESCUE Project hopes to prevent this COVID Slide. Educational organizations have teamed up to help Kindergarteners and First Graders learn to read at home using a researcher-developed, evidence-based computer-based game called GraphoLearn. Participation is voluntary for the free 12-week reading program and progress monitoring reports. Space is limited and filling up quickly. More information including how to sign up and media attention in NPR and the World Economic Forum can be found on the website.
Online Story Circles for Educators and Community Members
Educator Story Circles are opportunities for small groups of people (educators and engaged community members) to gather together to listen and share thoughts and stories related to a common theme. No preparation is necessary, and each participant has the option to share or simply listen to others. Story Circles aren’t about performing. Rather, the purpose is to listen and connect. Participants who want to lead Story Circles with their own students or community members will have access to a free toolkit and will be eligible for a $200 stipend from the Alaska Humanities Forum.
Ready to Read Alaska is a statewide initiative for families and caregivers of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in Alaska. The program’s mission is to promote early literacy development in Alaska’s young children to create the foundations needed for when a child begins to learn to read. Ready to Read is posting training videos on YouTube, and literacy tips, book recommendations, crafts, and activities on Instagram.
Short-term Job Opportunity – Assessment Administrators
Westat will be seeking applicants to staff the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Work with a team to proctor digitally based assessments on tablets. Applicants must be available for online and in-person training during January 2021 and able to proctor January 25 through March 12, 2021, when work is available. NAEP offers paid training, hourly wages paid weekly, and mileage reimbursement. This is a part-time, temporary position. For more information email NAEPRecruit@westat.com or call 1-888-237-8036.
The Alaska School Leadership Academy (ASLA) Launches Recruitment for 2020-21 Cohort
ASLA is a professional development and mentoring support program for early career Alaska principals designed to provide mentoring, networking, skill building and mutual support across the state. Applications are now open until September 1st for first- or second-year lead principals and assistant principals working in an Alaskan school and require superintendent support. Contact Sam Jordan at ASDN with any questions.
USDA is opening a second application window for funding under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program. Electronic applications for window two may be submitted through grants.gov and are due no later than July 13. Paper applications will not be accepted under the second window. Additional information on how to apply is available on grants.gov.
ASDN Offers Sessions and Courses for Alaskan Educators During COVID-19
The Alaska Staff Development Network (ASDN) is offering many sessions and courses for Alaskan educators during COVID-19. Please see the resources page for professional development opportunities, partner resource sites, and many resources for distance learning.
Coursera Offering Free Courses to Help Workers Displaced by COVID-19 Re-Enter the Workforce
To assist during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Coursera community is launching an effort to help reskill unemployed workers to re-enter the workforce. Cousera will provide every government agency directly serving an unemployed population impacted by COVID-19 with free access to its course catalogue for these unemployed workers. Government organizations can sign up to provide unemployed workers with access to more than 3,800+ courses and 400 Specializations from Coursera’s university and industry partners.
To submit news items, please contact Rochelle Lindley at (907) 465-6535 or rochelle.lindley@alaska.gov. This newsletter is available weekly and in archived form at https://education.alaska.gov/news/infoexch.
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