- Cama-i, quyana tailuci!
- (Central Yup’ik)
- "Greetings, thank you for coming!"
Information Exchange: Vol. 45 No. 8
Inside This Edition:
- Last Few Days for the Public Survey for Alaska’s Education Challenge
- State Museum to Open Photographic Exhibition on March 3
- UAF Engineering and Mine College Offers Family Events on February 25
- Alaska Humanities Forum Forms Stakeholder Advisory Council
- UAF to Host Open House for High School Students
- State Board’s Venue for March 27 Oral Hearing is the Andrew P. Kashevaroff Building
- Service High School Partners Club Wins Inclusive Practice Award
- Department Recruiting for a Director of Student Learning
- State Board to Hold Work Session by Audio Conference on March 1
- Attend an AAEC Summer Arts Institute
- Two Early Learning WebEx’s Take Place on February 27
- Bond Reimbursement and Grant Review Committee to Meet on February 28
Contact Us
- Eric Fry: (907) 465-2851
Subscription
Last Few Days for the Public Survey for Alaska’s Education Challenge
Governor Bill Walker has challenged Alaskans to address student achievement gaps and increase our graduation rate by making sure every student has equal opportunity to learn and succeed. To meet Alaska’s Education Challenge, the State Board of Education is leading a highly participatory process with the public. It will result in recommendations to the Governor and Legislature by year’s end.
The Department of Education and Early Development began by surveying the public during all of February, asking Alaskans to share their ideas for topics for public education reform. To date, more than 1,000 Alaskans have responded to the survey and provided over 10,000 ideas for topics. Alaskans are encouraged to express their priorities for public education reform in an online survey at https://gov.alaska.gov/education-challenge. The survey closes on February 28.
State Museum to Open Photographic Exhibition on March 3
The Alaska State Museum in Juneau is hosting Rarefied Light, a photographic exhibition, from March 3 to April 15. The show’s opening is March 3 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Alaska Photographic Center (APC) is a statewide organization formed in 1983 with a mission to promote fine art photography in Alaska. Each year APC seeks out a nationally recognized artist to jury the Rarefied Light show. This year 654 entries were received from 95 artists. Guest juror Amy Arbus selected 52 photographs by 33 artists for inclusion in this year’s exhibition.
Best of Show is awarded to Greg Hensel, Wasilla, for the print “Smoke and Shadows.” In addition, Ms. Arbus chose five pieces for the Honorable Mention award: Will Anderson, Kotzebue, “Cemetery Hill”; Joseph Kashi, Soldotna, “Fleeting Images”; Charlotte Peterson, Fairbanks, “Untitled”; Charlotte Peterson, Fairbanks, “Freak Show”; and Dennis Walworth, Anchorage, “Untitled.”
Rarefied Light is funded in part by a grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, with support from Blaine’s Art Supply. Winter hours at the museum are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Discounted winter admission is $5, with those age 18 and under admitted free. An annual pass that allows unlimited visits to the Alaska State Museum and the Sheldon Jackson Museum in Sitka is available for $25. Assistance is available for visitors who have special needs. Please contact visitor services at 907-465 2901 before the visit.
UAF Engineering and Mine College Offers Family Events on February 25
The University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Engineering and Mines will host a full slate of free, family-friendly events February 25, during its annual all-ages Engineers Week Open House. All events start at 11 a.m. and run until 3 p.m. in the new engineering building and Duckering Building on the Fairbanks campus. Activities and demonstrations include unmanned aerial vehicles, cookie mining, balloon-powered Lego cars, robotic vehicles and more. The event is sponsored by the UAF College of Engineering and Mines and BP.
Alaska Humanities Forum Forms Stakeholder Advisory Council
Alaska Humanities Forum has announced a new seven-member stakeholder advisory council for its Rose Cross-Cultural Exchange Programs: Educator Cross-Cultural Immersion, Sister School Exchange, and Creating Cultural Competence of Rural Early Career Teachers Programs. For over 15 years, the Alaska Humanities Forum has been using cultural immersion, reflective learning, and place-based exploration to better prepare and connect educators and youth in rural and urban communities across Alaska.
This new Education Advisory Council will provide suggestions from educators and partners in the field on curriculum revision and cultural mentoring to move the programs forward. Advisory council members will assist in engaging broader audiences in conversations around cross-cultural competency, help to plan public workshops, and identify new needs/opportunities for youth and educators in the areas of humanities and culture.
The Education Advisory Council is made up of alumni and partner representation from the programs and from project partners including Northwest Arctic Borough School District, Anchorage School District, and Alaska Native organizations. There are members who have worked with Alaska Humanities Forum in other aspects of humanities and cultural competencies.
The 2017 Alaska Humanities Forum's Education Advisory Council members: Jeffrey Smith, Juneau; Patrina Danielle Riha, Anchorage; Alison Jech Hadley, Buckland; Karen Beranek, Unalakleet; Karen Thompson, Metlakatla; Mariko Kisada Kinikin, Fairbanks; Tom Cyrus, Kiana; and Eleanor McCrary (alternate) Noorvik. See www.akhf.org.
UAF to Host Open House for High School Students
The University of Alaska Fairbanks will host a free open house for high school juniors and seniors and their parents on March 10. The Inside Out program offers a comprehensive preview day for students who want to learn more about UAF. Students and parents will hear about financial aid, the admission process, campus life, academic programs, and professors. Inside Out includes walking tours, academic presentations, a question-and-answer session with UAF students, and other opportunities. Check-in begins at 8:00 a.m. at the UAF Regents' Great Hall. Activities conclude with a reception ending at 3:30 p.m. The registration deadline for Inside Out is March 6. For more information or to register, go online to www.uaf.edu/admissions/visit/inside-out or call 907-474-7500.
State Board’s Venue for March 27 Oral Hearing is the Andrew P. Kashevaroff Building
The location of the State Board of Education’s oral hearing on proposed regulations regarding museum fees has been changed from the original public notice. The oral hearing will be held March 27 at the classroom in the Andrew P. Kashevaroff Building at 395 Whittier Street, Juneau. The hearing will be held from 1:10 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. but may be extended to accommodate those present before 1:00 p.m. who have not had an opportunity to comment before 2:00 p.m.
You also may submit oral comments at this hearing, during this time only, via the Legislative Information Office streaming by calling 1-844-586-9085 if you are outside of Juneau. For participation from Juneau, call 586-9085. You also may submit oral comment by visiting your local Legislative Information Office (LIO). The following LIO’s will participate: Anchorage, Barrow, Bethel, Cordova, Delta Junction, Dillingham, Fairbanks, Glennallen, Homer, Juneau, Kenai, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Kotzebue, Mat-Su, Nome, Petersburg, Seward, Sitka, Tok, Unalaska, Valdez, and Wrangell. This meeting will be streamed through the Legislative Information Office over www.alaskalegislature.tv beginning at 1:00 p.m. March 27 (audio only).
Service High School Partners Club Wins Inclusive Practice Award
The Governor’s Council on Disabilities & Special Education established the Inclusive Practice Award to recognize outstanding educators who work to ensure that students with disabilities have the opportunity for an inclusive education with their peers as part of the general education curriculum. Nominations are made by parents, students, and educators. This year nominations included teachers, teams, schools, a paraprofessional, a transition program coordinator, an FASD consultant, and a school club.
The 2017 winner of the Inclusive Practice Award is the Service High School Partners Club. The club started in 2001. This team is made up of 30 students with intellectual disabilities, 8 staff members, 72 peer teachers, and 100 partners that work together on educational goals, life skills activities, and community inclusion.
Led by Adam Ahonen, the Partners Club develops activities that promote awareness and inclusion. The club uses a unique learning model in which students from the general education population partner with students in the life skills program to be peer teachers. The club also has a coffee shop, a Special Olympics group, and works with multiple sports teams. This has led to a school culture at Service High where students with disabilities are actively included in school assemblies, drama productions, choir, Prom and dances, sporting events, and after-school activities.
Department Recruiting for a Director of Student Learning
The Department of Education and Early Development is seeking a Director of Student Learning, who will be responsible, either directly or through division staff, for overseeing the work of the Deputy Director, the Rural Education Coordinator, an Education Associate, and four teams working to ensure that each student in Alaska is offered an education that meets the state standards, and has the supports necessary to achieve excellence in that education. Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. Alaska time on March 15. The State of Alaska is an EEO/ADA employer. Individuals requiring accommodations should call 1-800-587-0430 or (907) 465-4095 in Juneau or (907) 465-2815 (TTY). For the complete recruitment notice, see https://education.alaska.gov/news/StudentLearningDirector.docx.
State Board to Hold Work Session by Audio Conference on March 1
The State Board of Education and Early Development will hold a work session on March 1 by audio conference originating at the Commissioner’s Office boardroom, second floor, 801West 10th Street, Juneau. The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. The board will not take public comment. The public is invited to listen to the audio conference, which is expected to last one hour, by calling 1-800-315-6338 and using access code 16107. The purpose of the work session is to receive an update from Commissioner Dr. Michael Johnson on department activity. Persons with disabilities who need accommodations to participate should contact Melissa Bell at 907-465-2802 or e-mail melissa.bell@alaska.gov at least five days before the accommodation is needed.
Attend an AAEC Summer Arts Institute
The Alaska Arts Education Consortium has announced plans for five 2017 Summer Arts Education Institutes. For institutes that are open for registration, see www.akartsed.org. May 22-26, Unalakleet Arts are Exceptional Special Education and the Arts Institute one week, 3 credits. June 5-16, Sitka Basic Arts Institute, two weeks, 4 credits. July 24-August 4, Juneau Basic & Beyond Arts Institute, two weeks with special event during the second week, 4 credits. July 31-August 4, Anchorage Arts are Exceptional Special Education and the Arts Institute one week, 3 credits. August 9-13 Sitka Cultural Arts Institute, one week, 3 credits.
Two Early Learning WebEx’s Take Place on February 27
Alaska Developmental Profile Fall Reports. Monday 2/27 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Join by phone 1-855-244-8681 Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada) 1-650-479-3207 Call-in toll number (US/Canada).
DEED Early Learning Updates. Monday 2/27 3 p.m.-4 p.m. Join by phone 1-855-244-8681 Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada), 1-650-479-3207 Call-in toll number (US/Canada).
Bond Reimbursement and Grant Review Committee to Meet on February 28
The department’s Bond Reimbursement and Grant Review Committee will meet on February 28 in Juneau at the Michael J. Burns Building (810 W. 10th Street). The meeting will be held from 9:30 a.m.to 4:00 p.m. in the state board room on the first floor. The agenda, teleconference access information, and meeting packet will be available online at https://education.alaska.gov/Facilities/BRGR/ after February 15. Topics will include department and committee reports; review of proposed changes to, and adoption of, the FY2019 capital improvement project application; and revisions to publications relating to school facilities, including the Capital Project Administration Handbook and Project Delivery Method Handbook. The public is welcome to attend in person or via teleconference.
###