News from The Alaska Department of Education

Last Call! Collaborative Digital Exhibit for ages 7-12 with artist Tanna Peters

Join Tanna Peters on Saturday, January 23 from 10 – 11:30am to create a collaborative digital exhibit to reflect on the ways that we reacted and adapted to the challenges of 2020 personally and as a community.  Participants need to be able to use Zoom, a webcam, and digital camera.  Space is limited!  For more information on the workshop and to register, please visit lam.alaska.gov/youthart. 

Last Call! Bond Reimbursement and Grant Review Committee Member Recruitment

Applicants with an interest in school facilities and their impact on the education of Alaska’s school children are currently being sought to fill positions on the committee, with appointment terms beginning March 1, 2021, through February 28, 2025. The committee approves the department’s capital improvement project application and develops criteria for cost-effective school construction. Letters of interest and resumes are requested by January 18. 

NEW! DEED Final FY22 Capital Improvement Project Grant Rankings Available

DEED’s FY2022 final school construction and major maintenance priority lists are now available. Final lists are brought to the State Board of Education for approval and forwarded to the Governor and Legislature for consideration during budget development in the upcoming session. 

Alaska State Library, Archives and Museums Reopen

The Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum in the Father Andrew P. Kashevaroff building and the Sheldon Jackson Museum in Sitka have reopened to the public effective December 28.  Beginning the week of January 4, the State Library and archives will be open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. and the APK Museum and the Sheldon Jackson Museum will be open Wednesday through Saturday, noon – 4 p.m.  Please check  lam.alaska.gov for updates.

Alaska Educators – We Want to Hear From You!

Alaska's educators were invited by email on October 26, 2020 to take an online survey about the factors affecting their current motivation to continue teaching in Alaska. The results of this survey will be used to propose practical, professional, and policy recommendations for the Governor, legislators, local education officials, and communities to help solve the persistent teacher retention and recruitment issues in Alaska. The survey will close January 31, 2021.

If you did not receive your invite and would like to complete the survey please let us know at https://education.alaska.gov/trr.

Women of Alaska Display Featured on Official Election Pamphlet

Women of Alaska is an exhibit on virtual display through the Alaska State Library and Archives. Women have played a significant role in shaping Alaska into the state it is today. Women of Alaska recognizes and celebrates their achievements and contributions to the economic, academic, social, cultural, and political fields within our communities.

Alaska Statewide Virtual System Discussion Board

AKSVS teachers, are you looking for a place of discussion and support? Interested in meeting and sharing with other Alaskan teachers using AKSVS? Check out the Teacher Channel Discussion Board through the Alaska Professional Learning Network.

Trauma Engaged Toolkit Professional Development Opportunities

This fall AASB & DEED will be hosting a series of webinars featuring the Transforming Schools Framework and Toolkit. The first session will take place on September 15^th and will focus on Self Care. Please continue to check back as more sessions are added.

New DEED Science Education Listserv

DEED launched a new Science Education! The listserv will be a space for science teachers in Alaska to share information on teaching practices, instructional resources, community partnerships, lesson plan and unit ideas, professional development opportunities, and to discuss topical concerns in science instruction. DEED will also use it to push out notifications regarding opportunities in science education.  All science teachers in Alaska (pre-K, K-12, and collegiate) are encouraged to join.

Documenting the Impact of COVID-19 on Life in Alaska

The Alaska State Libraries, Archives, and Museums Division is documenting the impact of COVID-19 on life in Alaska. You can help by sharing documents, images, journals, audio recordings, videos, and other digital or tangible items relating to COVID-19 in Alaska.

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?

• For students to access BrainPop: click the LOG IN tab (not ENTER CODE)
• For teachers to whose schools are set up to use BrainPop Educator: use the ENTER CODE

If you have the username and password for DEED’s statewide subscription, please only share it in a way that no one on the internet besides your patrons or students can access the username/password. (i.e. direct e-mail ok, posting to your social media/website/blog is NOT.) If you don’t have the current SLED database credentials, visit the SLED Password Request form and fill it out completely. Expect a response within one business day. The SLED usernames and passwords are good for nearly all the SLED Databases and resources. One request will empower you to help with just about anything SLED related. Contact Martha Ketsdever, BrainPOP Account Manager for Alaska State Libraries, for more information.

Seeking Public Review and Comment on State Content Standards

DEED is seeking review and comment on state content standards. We encourage parents, educators, and communities to take a few minutes to provide input on Alaska's current English Language Arts and Mathematics standards adopted in 2012.