- Cama-i, quyana tailuci!
- (Central Yup’ik)
- "Greetings, thank you for coming!"
Information Exchange: Vol. 46 No. 4
Newsletter of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
February 2, 2018
Last call! Strategic Energy Management Workshop Heading to Kenai February 8
REAP, AHFC, and ANEEEE have partnered up for a series of day long workshops focused on better managing the burdensome cost of energy for both public and commercial buildings in Alaska. These Strategic Energy Management Workshops will be taking place in Kenai, Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau and will be targeted toward facility managers and maintenance staff of schools, parks and recreation facilities, hospitals, office buildings, etc. See the attached flyer for details about the Kenai workshop.
NEW! DEED Recruiting for Tribal Education Liaison
The Tribal Education Liaison will work closely with department leadership, school districts, tribal organizations, and representatives from Alaska’s 229 federally recognized tribes statewide to ensure equity in the public education system in Alaska, ensure the Alaska Native perspective is included in policy decisions, and to promote opportunities for students in rural communities to become educators in Alaska. Deadline to apply is March 1. See attached recruitment notice for details.
NEW! Anchorage Teacher Valerie Baalerud Receives Milken Educator Award
Valerie Baalerud, a history teacher at Eagle River High School in Anchorage, has received the 2017-18 Alaska Milken Educator Award, a prestigious national recognition. Baalerud, who was honored in a surprise ceremony at her school, will receive a $25,000 award.
NEW! February is Teen Dating Violence Prevention & Awareness Month
Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness Month is a national effort to raise awareness about abuse in teen and 20-something relationships and promote programs that prevent it. February provides a unique opportunity to engage your students in a national effort which can serve as a catalyst for reinforcing the education under Bree’s Law as a part of the Alaska Safe Children’s Act which went into effect on June 30, 2017.
NEW! Wear Orange Day
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 13
WHERE: Everywhere!
Wear Orange Day is a national day of awareness where we encourage everyone to wear orange in honor of Teen DV Month. You can wear orange shirts, nail polish, ribbons, jewelry, shoes or anything else you can think of! Tell people why you are wearing orange and post pictures and updates on Instagram and Twitter using the hashtags #Orange4Love #HandsUnite and #RespectWeek2018.
NEW! Senator Murkowski Seeking High School Interns
Senator Murkowski hosts an internship program for just-graduated high school seniors each summer. A total of 20 students are selected to participate in one of two, 4-week sessions in the Senator’s Washington, D.C. office. Interns have the opportunity to shadow the Senator for a day, attend briefings and committee hearings, perform special projects for staff, and generally learn how the Senate works and participate in a professional work environment. A stipend is paid to the interns, which helps defray the cost of transportation and housing. Deadline to apply is March 15.
NEW! ALASBO Offering Two $1,000 Scholarships to Graduating Seniors
The Alaska Association of School Business Officials (ALASBO) is offering two $1,000 scholarships for graduating high school seniors. The scholarship program is named for former school business official McClain J. "Mack" Easton. The application deadline is March 31.
NEW! RurAL CAP Offering Experiential-Based Learning and Cultural Activities Opportunity to Schools
RurAL CAP is offering an opportunity for all rural schools in Alaska to apply for an AmeriCorps member who will work with students by replicating the evidence-based, data-informed Project Venture model, which will engage primarily Alaska Native youth using experiential-based learning and cultural activities in 15 predominantly remote, rural communities across Alaska. Interested schools can contact Leilani Luhrs at (907) 529-0606 or lluhrs@ruralcap.com.
Reminder: Request for K-12 Talent Pool Nominations
DEED is looking for educators, relatively new to the profession, who demonstrate outstanding instructional and leadership abilities that impact students, colleagues, and the community. Do you know an educator relatively new to the field that exemplifies Alaska’s best? One who goes above and beyond? This is your opportunity to give something back to the educators who are of great value to your district, community and state. Nominate someone you know – today! Completed forms must be submitted by March 15, 2018 (see attached form). For questions, please contact Cecilia Miller at cecilia.miller@alaska.gov 907-465-8703.
Reminder: Register Now for the 2018 PLAAY Summit Happening February 32-24
The conference is a great resource for teachers, coaches, nurses, and anyone else working with active youth. The Alaska Sports Hall of Fame is providing continuing education credits and a $50 discount to school district employees. Continuing nursing education (CNE) certification also available. If you don't live in Anchorage, they provide very affordable rates and quality technical services for remote groups wishing to participate via remote conferencing. Contact PLAAY Director Wally Wilson with any questions.
Third-Party Comment Period Open Regarding the UAF School of Education Initial Licensure Programs
UAF's educator preparation programs in the School of Education have been nationally accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 2011. NCATE has merged with another accrediting agency, and now those two organizations make up CAEP: the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. As part of UAF’s re-accreditation process, the School of Education is required to solicit third-party comment on the quality of its programs. All interested parties are invited to submit third-party comments to the visiting CAEP team.
Engage students in career exploration and job shadowing in Juneau: Registration open for Career Connections
There is space available in Career Connections' April 22-27 session. Career Connections is a week-long residential camp in Juneau that introduces students grades 9-12 to career opportunities, teaches invaluable employment skills and offers hands-on experience in a variety of fields. Some students may qualify for $400 tuition reimbursement. Letters of intent are due Feb. 23, 2018. For more information email careerconnections@serrc.org or call 907-586-6806 for Linda Kadrlik or Pat Bock.
New Superintendent’s/Principal’s Toolkit on Using National Service to Strengthen Schools and Student Success
Looking to utilize AmeriCorps or SeniorCorps programs in your school district? Check out the Corporation for National & Community Service’s new toolkit to access national service resources to support student success.
2016-17 Report Card to the Public Now Online
Alaska’s Report Card to the Public for the 2016-2017 school year is now online! Each year, the state, district, and school report cards provide information about how Alaska’s schools are performing for ALL students. Visit the DEED Data Center to see the most recent updates to Alaska’s Report Card to the Public.
New eLearning course: Opioids and the Overdose Epidemic 101
DEED partnered with the Department of Health and Social Services Office of Substance Misuse and Addiction Prevention to create a new eLearning course, Opioids and the Overdose Epidemic 101. This course provides an overview of Alaska’s opioid epidemic and its impact on communities and schools, offers practical tools for school personnel, explains how to identify signs of opioid misuse and what educators can do to help. Coming this February, we will release a secondary course related to opioids, Narcan Administration.
Alaska Humanities Forum Seeking Students for Youth Advisory Council
The Alaska Humanities Forum is looking for students currently in the 9th-11th grades to serve on their Youth Advisory Council. This council will have an in-person orientation in Anchorage and will meet virtually bimonthly. Adult mentors will provide support and guidance to council members. They are looking for students who are motivated to strengthen their communities, connect with new friends and mentors from other parts of the state, and feel like they have something to say. If you know of any young people who might be a good fit, please encourage them to apply.
College Board Announces Unlimited SAT Score Sends for Low-Income Students
The College Board will provide unlimited SAT score reports for low-income students this spring. In addition, CSS Profile will become completely free for low-income students.
Attention 2017-18 Grads! Do you know about the National Youth Science Camp?
The NYSCamp is a broad science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) experience that incorporates both creative and performing arts as well as an outdoor adventure series including opportunities for rock climbing, mountain biking, spelunking, whitewater kayaking, and overnight backpacking. The delegation also travels to Washington, D.C. are able to tour museums on the National Mall, attend a Science Policy panel discussion at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and are hosted at a luncheon in their honor with members of the United States Senate. Nov. 1, 2017 – Feb. 28, 2018 application window.
Pathfinders Summer Institute 2018 Seeking Teachers
Infosys Foundation USA will host the Pathfinders Summer Institute 2018, an intensive week of in-person professional development in Computer Science and Making, at Indiana University Bloomington from July 15-20, 2018. Over 800 US K-12 US public school teachers will convene at #InfyPathfinders for high-quality hands-on training.
College Board Offering SAT School Day Opportunity
SAT School Day allows schools to offer the SAT to juniors and seniors in their school, providing the home court advantage on a weekday. The 2018 SAT School Day test dates are March 7, March 21, April 10, and April 24.
Subscribe to DEED's Early Learning Updates Newsletter
The DEED Early Learning team puts out a bi-weekly newsletter featuring news about early learning inside and outside Alaska. This issue contains a welcome to the new CCTHITA Head Start Director, resources from Shape America and ARISE Partnership, volunteer opportunities at the upcoming AAEYC Conference, and a collaboration between a preschool and a pioneer home.
College Board Fellowships Available for AP Teachers to Attend AP Summer Institutes
AP teachers with 50% under-represented students are provided with a $1000 stipend. AP teachers from rural schools will receive a $1500 stipend. AP teachers teaching AP Government and Politics in low income schools may apply for a stipend to cover tuition. Applications due February 15.
Nominate a Student for the 2018 Billy Michael Student Leadership Award
Nominees should have a strong record of volunteerism, school and/or community activism, or implementing creative solutions to recognized problems. Selected awardees will be flown (along with a chaperone) to New Orleans to participate in the Museum's American Spirit Awards celebration, June 7 –June 8, 2018. Nominations must be received by March 2, 2018.
Secretary DeVos Seeking Public Comment on Rural School & District Needs
In accordance with Section 5005 of the ESSA, Secretary DeVos is seeking information from the public regarding how the Department can improve upon its consideration of the unique needs of rural schools and districts as it develops and implements policies, programs, and procedures (see preliminary report and blog post). The Secretary intends to use this information in issuing a final report, as required under ESSA, describing the steps the Department will take to increase the participation of rural schools and districts in the development and execution of its initiatives. Comments must be received no later than February 20.
PLAAY Day 2018 is February 22
PLAAY stands for Positive Leadership For Active Alaska Youth and is an initiative of the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. The inspiration behind PLAAY Day is to galvanize communities and our state as a whole around the importance of living a physically active lifestyle. See attached info flyer for details.
2018 Justice for All Art Contest Now Open
Alaskan students are invited to interpret the importance of three concepts (fairness, diversity, equality) of our justice system in two-dimensional art forms and submit them by March 15, 2018. Winning entries and selected submissions will be displayed at courthouses statewide. See attached flyer for details.
Registration Now Open for the Alaska School Nutrition Association Annual Conference
The AKSNA 50th Annual Conference is scheduled for February 13-15, 2018 at the BP Energy Center in Anchorage. Download a registration form and agenda summary. Pre-conference sessions on Nutrition 101 & Food Safety Certification will be held on February 12th. Additional registration fees are required for these sessions.
Steven R. Nelson Native Educator Scholarship Program Seeking Applicants
This 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 education policy, leadership, technical assistance, research, or a closely related field. Application window is open and closes March 31, 2018.
AAEC Seeking Nominations for Statewide Champions of Arts Education
If you know of someone in your region doing an outstanding job increasing the arts, please nominate him/her for this award. Nominations due Feb.14, 2018, winners announced March 2018.
Attention Graduating Seniors - 2018 Spike Jorgensen Scholarship Seeking Applications
The Coalition for Education Equity of Alaska (CEE) will award two scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each to two deserving graduating seniors that reflect the need for financial assistance to further their academic goals. March 28, 2018 deadline for new scholarship applications. See attached flyer for details.
PAEMST Award Nomination Period Now Open
Nominations for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are open for teachers of grades K-6 through April 1, 2018. Contacts: Sandy Schoff, state coordinator for mathematics or Joey Jogliotti, state coordinator for science.
Info Exchange Housekeeping:
This newsletter is available weekly and in archived form. To submit news items, call Erin Hardin at 907-465-6535 or email erin.hardin@alaska.gov.
Contact Us
- Erin Hardin: (907) 465-6535