- Cama-i, quyana tailuci!
- (Central Yup’ik)
- "Greetings, thank you for coming!"
Information Exchange: Vol. 46 No. 26
Newsletter of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
July 20, 2018
Housekeeping Notice: To submit items for future newsletters, please email Sam Jordan at samuel.jordan@alaska.gov.
Last call! Commissioner Johnson to serve on CCSSO School Safety Steering Committee
The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) announced on June 19 that 12 state education chiefs, including Alaska Education Commissioner Dr. Michael Johnson, will lead a newly-formed School Safety Steering Committee to work toward creating safe and supportive school environments for all students. The initiative is an effort among state chiefs to take the lead in identifying promising practices to stem the far too frequent incidences of school violence.
Last call! Alaska Arts Education Consortium Hosting the 2018 Multicultural Arts Institute in July
AAEC has one more great opportunity to immerse yourself in the arts and learn strategies that will benefit your classroom and honor your students. The 2018 Multicultural Arts Institute will be held from Sunday, July 29 in the evening through Friday, August 3. There will be three teacher-leaders from diverse backgrounds including multicultural education, movement and poetry, and visual and media arts. 3 credits are available. Those from out of Bethel will be housed at the Lower Kuskokwim dorms.
NEW! State Board to Meet July 25 by Audio Conference
The State Board of Education and Early Development will hold a special meeting on July 25 by audio conference, originating from the first-floor board room at 801 West 10th Street in Juneau. The meeting will begin at 2:00 p.m. The work session and a business meeting will focus on the adoption of proposed regulation changes related to assessment achievement level scores on the Performance Evaluation for Alaska's Schools (PEAKS) assessments in grade 9 math.
NEW! GCI Awards Scholarships to 70 Alaskan Students
Seventy Alaska students from 33 communities have each been awarded a $2,000 scholarship from GCI for their tuition and books during the next academic year. The 2018 GCI Scholarship Program is a $140,000 investment in Alaska's next generation of leaders.
NEW! Seeking nominations for Governor's Arts & Humanities Awards
This year's seven awards categories include Service to the Humanities in Education and Arts Education awards. Read a description of the awards, learn about past awardees, and submit a nomination by September 1, 2018.
NEW! Save the Date: DEED to celebrate Alaska Digital Citizenship Week September 24-28, 2018
The Alaska Digital Citizenship Week is part of an ongoing effort to support students, teachers, families and communities to know how to make safe, smart, and ethical decisions in the digital world. Curriculum resources can be found on the DEED website. For more information contact Sam Jordan at samuel.jordan@alaska.gov
NEW! Registration Open for 'Teaching Mathematical Mindsets' Workshop
The Alaska Council of Teachers of Mathematics is sponsoring an all-day workshop with internationally-known educator Jo Boaler. The workshop will provide practical strategies and activities to help teachers and administrators show students that they can enjoy and succeed in math.
NEW! Alaska Humanities Forum is seeking applicants for Leadership Anchorage
This program, in its 22nd year, deepens leadership skills through diverse group experiences and personal reflection, all in the context of the dynamic issues leaders of Alaska currently face. Participants come from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and interests for this 10-month program that meets on weekends beginning October, 2018. Applications are due September 15.
Reminder: The Civil Air Patrol Offers Educators Grants of Up to $250 for Aerospace Education
The Civil Air Patrol is offering grants that can be used for aerospace education-related items/activities such as books, materials, equipment, videotapes, aerospace-oriented field trips, and aerospace education events for youth in schools and/or community organizations and/or events.
Special Feature: The Alaska State Library to host U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith on August 29
As part of her national tour, U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith will read her own poetry and selected pieces from the new anthology, American Journal: Fifty Poems for Our Time. Ms. Smith is the author of four books of poetry, including Wade in the Water (2018); Life on Mars (2011), winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry; Duende (2007), winner of the 2006 James Laughlin Award and the 2008 Essence Literary Award; and The Body's Question (2003), winner of the Cave Canem Poetry Prize.
Save the Date: Alaska School Safety & Well-Being Summit Happening September 18-19, 2018
DEED will be hosting a comprehensive statewide School Safety & Well-Being Summit, September 18-19, 2018 at the Egan Center in Anchorage. Each district will be provided funding up to $4300 to bring in a team that may include administrators, teachers, school counselors, parents, students, community members, and school board members. DEED has planned the Summit to accommodate teams of up to six from each district. More information to come. DEED Contact: Sharon Fishel, sharon.fishel@alaska.gov.
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Buys E-Books for Young Alaskans
Alaskans statewide can now read Sesame Street e-books and Tumblebooks e-books, graphic novels, read-alongs and other materials. The Alaska State Library is managing these new subscriptions, along with four other services that bring books to Alaskans of all ages: Ready to Read Resource Center, Alaska Digital Library, Alaska Mail Services, and the Talking Book Center.
The Alaska Association for Career and Technical Education Seeks Conference Exhibitors and Sponsors
The Alaska Association for Career and Technical Education (AK ACTE) invites you to share your knowledge and expertise with your peers and colleagues at the annual Professional Development Conference "Growing Stronger Together 2018" on October 23-24, 2018 at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage Alaska. Submit your proposal by August 15, 2018. For more information contact Cathy LeCompte at 907-617-0735.
Save the Date: 13th Annual School Health & Wellness Institute set for October 29-31, 2018
This year's Alaska School Health & Wellness Institute will be held at the BP Energy Center in Anchorage from October 29-31, 2018. Registration is FREE and opens August 15. Travel scholarships will be available. Contact Wendy Hamilton with questions at wendy.hamilton@alaska.gov.
Project Learning Tree is offering grants of $1,000 for STEM education projects that focus on the environment and community engagement
Project Learning Tree offers GreenWorks! grants up to $1,000 to schools and youth organizations for environmental service-learning projects that link classroom learning to the real world. Students implement an action project they help design to green their school or to improve an aspect of their neighborhood's environment. The annual grant program is open to schools and youth organizations. The deadline for the GreenWorks grant program is Sept. 30.
Now Showing through the Alaska Library Catalog: At the APK TV Show
More than 90% of Alaskans search for library books and other materials through the Alaska Library Catalog, a combined catalog serving more than 80 libraries. Now Alaskans can find the At the APK television show by searching this Catalog. This television show is the result of a partnership between the Alaska Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums and Juneau's KTOO public television station. Authors, artists, and historians do lectures in conjunction with their exhibits held at the Andrew P. Kashevaroff (APK) building, which houses the State Library, Archives and Museum. KTOO has produced thirteen shows in this series since late 2017 with more to come.
Save the Date: SERRC Alaska Close Up Sessions set for February/March 2019
Students from across the state have the opportunity to get hands-on experience with Alaska State Government with a residential camp in Juneau. Students experience each branch of government with intensive lessons, mock hearings, and interactions with elected officials and public servants. 2019 dates are set for:
1. February 10-15, 2019: Alaska Close Up and Government Internship (Grades 9-12)
2. February 24-March 1, 2019: Alaska Close Up, Jr. Alaska Close Up and Government Internship (Grades 7-12)
SERRC LEAP Academy Postponed Until Spring 2019
In the Spring of 2019, SERRC will provide a professional learning opportunity for educators focused on understanding and addressing the effects of poverty on learning. LEAP Academy is part of the Leading Educational Access Project created by a Massachusetts educational service agency. The training will also touch on ACES and culturally responsive teaching.
Save the Date: SERRC Career Connections sessions set for April 2019
Students from all over Alaska have the opportunity to participate in meaningful career exploration in one of Alaska's urban centers. Students are introduced to a variety of career paths and learn valuable workplace skills and behaviors in these Juneau-based residential camps. Students will learn about post-secondary training opportunities that can contribute to well-paying careers in a variety of fields. 2019 dates are set for:
1. April 7-12, 2019: Career exploration and job shadowing
2. April 21-26, 2019: Career exploration and job shadowing
Alaska Staff Development Network is the New Regional Partner for Code.org
The Alaska Staff Development Network (ASDN) is now part of Code.org's nationwide network of Regional Partners to advance computer science education in K-12 schools across Alaska. ASDN will provide quality professional learning to educators throughout Alaska through district partnerships and by building a positive statewide computer science educator community. Elementary, middle, and high school teachers interested in upcoming professional development opportunities or in becoming a facilitator for Code.org curricula during the 2019-20 school year are encouraged to join the ASDN Code.org interest list. Applications will be available in the fall of 2018.
College Board Hosting Counselor Workshop at UAS Sept. 6, 9 am to noon
Open to all counselors and educators, this free workshop provides updates on College Board programs, as well as tools, tips, and resources designed to make it easier for you to clear a path to college and career success for your students. Take advantage of this FREE opportunity to network with colleagues and share best practices. Complimentary continental breakfast.
Alaskan Families Can Continue Learning All Summer With BrainPOP and Sesame Street eBooks
DEED and the Alaska State Library have provided all Alaskan families with unlimited access to BrainPOP and Sesame Street eBooks through the SLED database. Please share the attached flyer with specific directions on BrainPOP with students and families.
Sister School Exchange Program Accepting Applications for Cross-Cultural Exchange in Alaska
The Sister School Exchange Program (formerly Rose Urban Rural Exchange) is currently accepting applications for secondary educators who want to lead students on a cross cultural exchange in Alaska next school year. The program operates throughout the school year, matching a teacher and five students from a rural system community with a teacher and five students from urban Alaska. These teams work through a 6-8 week curriculum on cross-cultural understanding, and then take turns visiting and hosting each other. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Alaska Native Education Program, the Sister School Exchange has engaged in cross-cultural exchanges in Alaska for the last seventeen years.
Special Milk Program Looking for Sponsors
DEED's Child Nutrition Programs unit is looking for school districts, private schools, residential child care institutions, youth shelters, and non-profit camps to participate in the Special Milk Program. Sponsors are reimbursed with federal funds for each ½ pint of milk served to eligible students (age 0-18) that do not have access to any other federally funded meal program (National School Lunch/Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Food Program or the Summer Food Program). For more information please contact Debbie Soto at debbie.soto@alaska.gov or (907) 465-8712.
Info Exchange Housekeeping:
This newsletter is available weekly and in archived form on the DEED Information Exchange page. To submit news items, call Sam Jordan at 907-465-6469 or email samuel.jordan@alaska.gov.