- Cama-i, quyana tailuci!
- (Central Yup’ik)
- "Greetings, thank you for coming!"
Last Call, New, Reminder
Last Call:
AKRISE Convening April 23
AKRISE—Alaska’s Rural Teacher Network—is having a virtual convening for rural teachers on Saturday, April 23rd, from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Registration is now open at this link: AKRISE April 2022 Convening. All attendees will receive a $100 stipend for their participation in this free event!
AKRISE formally launched in January 2020 to bring together educators from small, rural schools across Alaska to collaborate and connect to improve teaching and learning. The network brings educators together to share strategies for tackling contextual challenges, and to share or codesign impactful instructional practices. Attendees can expect:
- to learn from teachers in different districts about their experience with current educational challenges, priorities, and practices
- to be offered the space to discuss specific challenges or interests with colleagues
- to consider planning projects with other teachers around your shared interests
For more information, please contact Eric Filardi at ericfilardi@dbsd.org.
New:
Alaska Academic Decathlon & Pentathlon News!
The Alaska Academic Decathlon (high school) and Pentathlon (middle school) are designed to stimulate intellectual growth, develop critical thinkers and lifelong learners. Both of these scholastic programs engage students of varying skills and GPA levels, both as individuals and an integral part of a team as they study five (Pentathlon) and ten (Decathlon) subjects based on a yearly theme. These statewide programs provide small group learning opportunities and often catches students that are otherwise not engaged in school since teams are comprised of students with GPAs from the following categories (Varsity 3.2 and lower, Scholastic 3.2-3.8, and Honors 3.8 and above). In addition to subject medals and trophies, both the Alaska Academic Decathlon and Pentathlon offer close to $50,000 in scholarships thanks to its premier partner, Alaska 529, and partnerships with the University of Alaska Anchorage, Fairbanks and Southeast.
Next year's theme is The American Revolution: A Birth of a New Nation. High school students will immerse themselves with the Social Science, Science, Math, Economics, Literature, Art and Music for this time period along with writing essays, engaging in mock interviews and writing and delivering prepared and impromptu speeches. Middle School students will explore the Literature, Math, Science, Social Science and Fine Arts of the time period along with writing an essay based on this year's book, Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson.
2022 Alaska Academic Decathlon State Champions: Lathrop High School in Fairbanks.
2022 Alaska Academic Pentathlon State Champions: Watershed Charter School in Fairbanks.
Both teams will represent Alaska at the United States National Competitions later this month (Decathlon) and in May (Pentathlon).
The Alaska Academic Decathlon and Pentathlon are programs of SERRC - Alaska's Educational Resource Center.
For more information, please contact Joan Pardes at joanp@serrc.org
Reminder:
Resilient Educators: Back to the Future!
June 10-11 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Anchorage
K-12 Educators! Re-fuel Your Resilience!
Head into the summer with renewed balance and readiness to recharge! During this interactive PD experience, Brightways Learning's engaging facilitators will mix purposeful play with meaningful reflection and discussion. You’ll re-discover the pathways that led to your love of teaching - and add new routes that bring you joy! Join us to make connections, understand neuroscience, learn new strategies, and boost your resilience. Bringing a team is highly encouraged and team discounts are available. Learn more and register.
U.S.E.D. Notice Inviting Applications for Alaska Native Education Program – Deadline Extended
The U.S. Department of Education has issued a notice inviting applications for the Alaska Native Education Program. The program will award up to $36 million in new awards that will support innovative projects which recognize and address the unique educational needs of Alaska Natives.
The deadline for submitting an ANEP application for 2022 has been extended from March 14, 2022 and is now April 26, 2022.
Any questions about ANEP and this grant opportunity should be directed to Almita Reed, the ANEP Program Manager at (202) 260-1979 or OESE.ASKANEP@ed.gov.
All materials related to this grant opportunity can be found at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=84.356A.
Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game Hosting Workshops for Educators
Did you know that the Alaska Department of Fish & Game offers workshops specifically for educators? Currently several workshops are scheduled in Anchorage. Workshops include learning how to create science investigations or science notebook kits, making tracks and checking out scat, ecology cards and the outdoor classroom, and how to use artifacts and kits from the collection at the ARLIS library.
For formal and non-formal educators
May 31-June 3: The Nature of Fire: Project Learning Tree and Fire in Alaska
July 25-28: Project Learning Tree and the Global Climate
Includes: 3 nights at Murie Science and Learning Center Field Camp at Teklanika, Meals, Project Learning Tree's Explore Your Environment K-8 Activity Guide, 2 full days of instruction with Alaska PLT coordinator and National Park Service Educators. Optional CEU's from UAA available for extra fee.
For information and registration, See Alaska Geographic, Teacher Training Trips https://www.akgeo.org/field-courses/teacher-opportunities/
ASDN Offering Literacy Focused Professional Development Webinars
The Alaska Staff Development Network is offering multiple professional development opportunities for educators this Spring.
Literacy focused series include “The Science of Reading - Comprehension Strand of the Scarborough Rope” with Lexie Domaradzki and Shelby Skaanes and “Learning is Not a Spectator Sport” with Anita Archer. There are also webinar series for mathematics and special education.
Space is limited and university credit is available. Learn more and register here.
FCC Affordable Connectivity Program for Households
The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
UAF School of Education Hiring Special Education and Elementary Assistant Professor
The University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Education is hiring an Special Education and Elementary Assistant Professor. This position will teach both face-to-face and distance delivery special education courses serving both the special education and elementary licensure programs. The position is open until filled. Learn more and apply here.
International Dyslexia Association - Alaska Branch - Continuing Education Scholarships
Scholarships are available through the International Dyslexia Association, Alaska Branch (IDA Alaska) for professional development opportunities – good for classroom educators, advocates, or parents. Also, check out the new FREE one-year membership for teachers!
IDA branches across the nation, as well as other organizations aligned with the Science of Reading, are successfully presenting high-quality virtual conferences, webinars, certification programs, and continuing education programs. IDA Alaska compiled a list of recommended opportunities and hopes to support educators on their continuing education journey. Continuing education opportunities not on this list, if aligned with the Science of Reading, can be eligible upon approval. For more information on IDA Alaska scholarship awards (up to $500 per participant) visit: www.ak.dyslexiaida.org, or go to IDA Alaska’s 2021 Q2 Newsletter
Anonymous Reporting Systems and Wellness Programs available to districts AT NO COST
SERRC is partnering with STOPit Solutions, one of the nation’s leading experts in school safety, to bring its Anonymous Reporting System (ARS) and SEL & Compliance Training Center (SCTC) to 65,000 students across Alaska for three years at no cost. STOPit delivers their programs to over 6,000 districts nationwide and serves millions of students and staff. Their programs have helped save and change the lives of thousands. Their CEO and school teams are from Sandy Hook Promise – so they understand the needs of schools and constraints they face.
The combined programs teach and empower students, staff, and administrators to recognize and anonymously report safety, misconduct, and compliance concerns BEFORE they escalate into a crisis while also providing curriculum to educate and help prevent such concerns from ever occurring. Funding is being provided through the Stop School Violence Act – a Department of Justice grant awarded to SERRC.
If this is something your district is interested in, contact Ryan Stanley at ryans@serrc.org or (907) 433-7444.
Enhanced Learning Maps Project helps students personalize path the student success
Enhanced Learning Maps provide standards-focused materials that foster the conditions for improving student achievement, including online tools deliberately designed to support and inform personalized learning.
These tools encourage interactions that elicit evidence of student thinking, leading to conversations that engage students and teachers in formative assessment processes.
Lee Waters, Ed.D. with the Anchorage School District in collaboration with the UAA Center for Human Development LEND Without Walls has created a manual to assist all those involved with the education of students with disabilities. This manual is designed to be a helpful resource for anyone involved with the transitional needs of students with disabilities from secondary to postsecondary education. The manual is available through ASD’s website: https://www.asdk12.org/PostsecondaryTransitionManual.
The Parent’s Guide to Filling out the FAFSA Form
While the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is the student’s application, we know that parents often play a large role in the process. With that in mind, the U.S. Department of Education wanted to provide instructions for parents who are starting the FAFSA form on behalf of their child.
U.S. Department of Education Releases Parent and Family Digital Learning Guide
The U.S. Department of Education released a new Parent and Family Digital Learning Guide, a resource to help parents and guardians understand how digital tools can provide tailored learning opportunities, engage students with course materials, encourage creative expression, and enrich the educational experience.
Are you interested in dual enrollment opportunities at the University of Alaska? Members of the University of Alaska Transition Coalition (UATC) are available to assist with curriculum alignment, dual enrollment, and other opportunities that support the transition of secondary students to continue their training and education at the postsecondary level.
Girls Who Code at Home Activities
Girls Who Code releases free computer science activities for students, educators, and parents on Mondays. Some online, some offline, of varying levels of difficulty. Each activity features a woman in tech who pioneered innovative technology.
Awareness Materials on Family and Youth Homelessness
As a result of the pandemic, and without the usual methods of outreach and identification, many families and youth experiencing homelessness may be even more disconnected from school and early childhood programs. The SchoolHouse Connection created PSAs and a social media toolkit to help raise awareness and provide information around educational rights.
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.