- Cama-i, quyana tailuci!
- (Central Yup’ik)
- "Greetings, thank you for coming!"
Last Call - New - Reminders
Last Call! Registration is open for AASB’s 2020 Spring Boardsmanship Academy and Legislative Fly-In
Join School board members and district leaders from around the state to learn more about current legislation, connect with school board members, develop strategies, and come together as a unified voice of Alaska School Board members. The Spring Academy/Legislative Fly-In will take place March 28-31 in Juneau. Early bird registration ends March 21.
Last Call! Summer Food Service Program Looking for Local Sites
Too many children who rely on school meals do not have access to meals in the summer. Are there children in your community who will go hungry this summer? DEED’s Child Nutrition Programs is looking for school districts, parks and recreation departments, non-profit organizations, and churches to operate Summer Food Service Program feeding sites for children and youth in low-income areas in Alaska. All sponsors receive training and technical assistance from DEED/CNP prior to starting their Summer Food Service Program, and throughout the program’s duration. Applications are due April 15. For questions or to register contact Jennifer Cherian at jennifer.cherian@alaska.gov or (907) 465-4969. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
- Distance Delivery for All Sponsors – Training Delivered via WebEx
March 18, 2020 - 9:00 AM to 3:30PM - All SFSP Administrators
- Distance Delivery for School Food Authorities - Training Delivered via WebEx
March 19, 2020 - 1:00PM to 4:30 PM - School District SFSP Administrators ONLY
Last Call! 2020 Justice for All Art Contest
Students are invited to interpret the importance of Fairness, Diversity, and Equality to our justice system in two-dimensional art forms (drawings, paintings, original prints, photographs, etc.) and then submit them to the 10th Annual Justice for All Art Contest. Deadline is March 16.
Last Call! Senator Murkowski’s 2020 High School Intern Program
Senator Murkowski is seeking high school seniors for her 2020 High School Intern Program. Twenty students will be selected from across Alaska to participate. Independent, inquisitive, and mature young Alaskans should apply. The first session will occur June 1-26. The second session will occur July 6-31. Senator Murkowski is also seeking Summer Intern Coordinators who will supervise the High School Interns in their daily activities. Coordinator applicants must be at least 21 years of age. Applications for both programs are due March 16.
NEW! 2020 ACSA Legislative Fly-In Cancelled
Given the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic and a subsequent declaration of a state of emergency for Alaska, the ACSA made a hard decision in the best interest of its members, students, and communities. ACSA will be offering a virtual gathering online, with more information coming soon.
Reminders:
Interim Guidance to Plan, Prepare, and Respond to COVID-19
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided interim guidance for administrators of U.S. childcare programs and K-12 schools to plan, prepare, and respond to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Remembering Sharon Sue Sears Russell
Sharon Sue Sears Russell, longtime Alaskan educator, passed away on February 26. Ms. Russell taught for 51 years in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. At the time of her passing, Ms. Russell’s tenure in Mat-Su represented the longest continuous service to a single Alaska school district.
U.S. Vietnam War Commemoration Educational Resources
The United States of America's Vietnam War Commemoration is a Department of Defense office authorized by Congress. The organization's History and Legacy Branch's professional historians and educators have developed materials to aid educators and students in gaining a greater appreciation of the Vietnam War, the veteran, and their importance to U.S. history. These resources are free and can be viewed online, shipped to middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities, libraries, and museums.
U.S. Department of Education to Host Digital Equity Summits
The 2020 Regional Digital Equity Summits will engage state and local education leaders and community collaborators, and help participants identify strategies, connect with resources, and explore partnership opportunities to ensure future digital learning demands are met. Following each Summit, attendees will have access to six-months of free, ongoing technical assistance as they build community action plans to address local digital equity priorities. Several Summits are available to choose from in the Spring/Summer. The Anchorage Summit will take place August 10-11.
Prince William Sound College For Teachers Courses
Prince William Sound College is pleased to announce the Summer 2020 For Teachers professional-development offerings for Alaska teachers. The lineup will include courses in technology, environmental science, math, chemistry, and construction. Each course is based on a one-week summer experience followed by an implementation exercise during the fall. Courses will cover lesson planning focused on place-based and experiential learning, and the Alaska Cultural Standards. Teachers can earn three 500-level college credits that can be used toward teacher recertification.
Save the Date: Our Cultural Landscape Education Conference
The Sealaska Heritage Institute will sponsor its third education conference for teachers and administrators in Southeast Alaska in an effort to promote culturally responsive pedagogy in schools. The goal is to provide educators with a deep understanding of culturally-responsive education. The conference will take place August 3-8 in Juneau. Watch for registration information.
Applications open for ASDN’s Summer Code.org Computer Science Professional Learning Program
Middle and High School teachers are invited to participate in 5-day Code.org workshops this June and August in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Bethel. There is no cost to participate, and travel scholarships are available. Contact Cheryl Bobo with questions cbobo@alaskaacsa.org.
- CS Discoveries (Grades 6-10), June 1-5 in Anchorage or June 8-12 in Fairbanks
- CS Principals (Grades 9-12 and AP), June 1-5 in Anchorage or August 1-5 in Bethel
Earn Credits, Have Fun, and Learn to Integrate with the Arts!
The Alaska Arts Education Consortium has opened registration for four unique Arts Institutes. Educators from all districts are invited to attend. For more information contact Barbara Short, AAEC Executive Director, bshort@akartsed.org.
- Science and the Arts for Elementary Classroom Teachers – May 26-29, Anchorage Summer Academy, 2 credits
- Social Emotional Learning and the Arts – June 1-5, Soldotna, 3 credits
- Multicultural Arts Institute – June 15-20, Fairbanks, 3 credits
- Cultural Arts Institute – July 20-31, Juneau with trip to Klukwan, 4 credits
Alaska’s Heart through Student Art
Call for student art! Showcase your student art at the 5th Annual Alaska’s Heart through Student Art show. Art will be on display at the Father Andrew P. Kashevaroff Library, Archives and Museum building in March.
USDA Food and Nutrition Services Seeking Public Comment on Proposed Regulations
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service is seeking public comment on two proposed regulations related to the Summer Food Service Program, and the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. The comment period ends March 23.
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
The Alaska Training Cooperative is offering Youth Mental Health First Aid training. This 8-hour public education program is intended for adults, and introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents. One professional development credit is available through UAA PACE with additional study and papers. The training will take place in Juneau on April 3. Contact Wendi Shackelford at (907) 264-6224 or wendis@alaskachd.org for more information.
SchoolSafety.gov Provides Resources to Create a Safer School
The SchoolSafety.gov website was created by the federal government to provide schools and districts with a one-stop shop of resources to address various threats related to safety, security, and support in schools.
Upcoming Workshop for teachers presented by Alaska Staff Development Network and Code.org
Elementary school educators are invited to join in a one-day Computer Science Fundamentals workshop. No computer science background is needed! Scroll down to the “Upcoming K-6 Workshops” section on their webpage for more information. The next session is CS Deep Dive on April 10 in Wrangell.
Steven R. Nelson Native Educator Scholarship Program
The Steven R. Nelson Native Educator 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 educational policy, leadership, technical assistance, research, or a closely related field. Awardees can receive up to $5,000 per year. Application deadline is March 31.
NCCER for Teachers Professional Development
Prince William Sound College was recently awarded a DEED grant to support teachers and paraprofessionals with a direct role in teaching CTE to become National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) certified instructors. Scholarships will provide tuition, NCCER certification, lodging, travel expenses, and stipends. Contact Woody Woodgate at wawoodgate@alaska.edu for more information. Training will occur May 24-30
Interior Agricultural Institute Professional Development Opportunity
Alaska Gateway School District invites you to apply to attend a week-long training workshop. Participants will gain working knowledge of greenhouse and hydroponic operation and utilize a culinary art curriculum with students. The workshop will take place May 26-30 in Tok. Contact Jane Teague at jteague@agsd.us or (907) 940-5031 for more information.
2020 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest: The Right to Vote
The Ninth Circuit is hosting its 2020 Civics Contest, and the theme is Right to Vote. The essay and video contest is for high school students in the western United States and Pacific Islands. Alaska high school students won first place in 2017 and 2019! Entries are accepted from February 15 through March 25.
Creative Coding is now included in BrainPOP Subscription
Many of you know that Alaska has a statewide license to BrainPOP, but did you know that your teachers can unlock additional features through individual accounts that can only be set up at the school level? At no additional charge to you? And now, BrainPOP is offering Creative Coding to teach coding and computer science to students and educators. Contact Martha Ketsdever, BrainPOP Account Manager for Alaska State Libraries, for more information at marthak@brainpop.com.
Presidential Primary Sources Project
Register for PPSP to learn about presidents like Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and George Washington directly from National Park Service rangers and presidential historians. This free, live, interactive web series for grades 4-12 runs January through March.
Registration is now open! The IECMHI+CAFBHC Conference will be held March 30-April 3 in Anchorage at the Dena’ina Convention Center.
Career Connections Registration is now open
Career Connections, a program of SERRC - Alaska's Educational Resource Center, has opened registration for 2020 dates. The sessions will take place Mar. 29-Apr. 3, 2020, and Apr. 19-24, 2020, in Juneau. Career Connections is a week-long, hands-on career exploration program held in Juneau, open to all 9-12th graders. Students who attend will:
- Visit exciting job sites in diverse career fields
- Visit and explore a university campus and post-secondary training sites
- Use AKCIS to explore future careers
- Develop a realistic, workable plan to obtain a job they are passionate about
- Practice employability skills
Join the Alaska Education Network – Project ECHO
Project ECHO is a statewide initiative focused on uniting Alaska’s educational leaders with the intention of building a support network. They offer 75-minute sessions via Zoom every other week with three themes to choose from: Educational Leadership, Instructional Development, and Positive Behavior, Safety, & Well-Being. All educators at any level are encouraged to join! There is no cost to participate! Sessions run through April 29. 500 level credit offered through UAA Pace.
To submit news items, please contact Rochelle Lindley at (907) 465-6535 or rochelle.lindley@alaska.gov. To be added or removed from distribution visit http://list.state.ak.us/mailman/listinfo/info_exchange. This newsletter is available weekly and in archived form at https://education.alaska.gov/news/infoexch.