- Cama-i, quyana tailuci!
- (Central Yup’ik)
- "Greetings, thank you for coming!"
Information Exchange Vol. 48 No. 7
February 14, 2020
DEED Spotlight on Teachers: Kim Ivie, Kindergarten, Midnight Sun Elementary in North Pole
Kim Ivie wants her students to be excited about letters, books, and reading! Her goal is to showcase how literacy can open up a wonderful world of possibilities. Ms. Ivie uses a variety of tactile-kinesthetic, auditory, and visual activities to foster student interaction with reading. She has found that teaching concepts through movements, interaction, and songs helps students connect with and remember the lessons, with an added bonus in hearing them sing as they work. A couple of Ms. Ivie’s original songs have even been made into books!
Some of Ms. Ivie’s creative classroom activities for her students include:
- Acting out a story as it is being read
- Making letters using their bodies
- Spelling out words using play-doh, Legos, or alphabet gummies
- Using paintbrushes to “paint” letters in the air
- Building consonant-vowel-consonant words with cookies or bottle caps
- Using song and dance to teach concepts
Thanks for fostering a love of reading with your students, Ms. Ivie!
Want to share how you support reading? Tell us by tagging @alaskaDEED on social media, using #akreads, or emailing rochelle.lindley@alaska.gov.
Last Call! The Alaska Statewide Special Education Conference
ASSEC is committed to providing high quality professional development relevant to the cultural, rural, and remote characteristics of our great state. Join fellow special educators, administrators, paraprofessionals and families to learn more about disabilities and education from nationally recognized speakers and local experts. Pre-conference February 15-16, and main conference February 17-19 in Anchorage.
Last Call! The Snapdragon Book Foundation offers Grants for Books for Schools
The Snapdragon Foundation was established to provide funds to improve school libraries for disadvantaged children. Schools that serve PreK through grades 12 are eligible to apply. Applications are due February 16.
Last Call! Inter-Tribal Agriculture Council Offering Paid Internships
The Inter-Tribal Agriculture Council is offering paid internships to American Indian students in high school and college who are passionate about promoting the regeneration of natural resources within their communities. Applications are due February 20.
Last Call! Alaska Society for Technology in Education 2020 Conference
The ASTE is hosting its 40th annual conference February 22-25 in Anchorage at the Hotel Captain Cook. The theme for this year is Securing our Future – securing life, health, and wellness; device security; digital citizenship; and securing funding for school, teacher, and state.
Last Call! Alaska Close Up
Alaska Close Up, a program of SERRC - Alaska's Educational Resource Center, brings 7th-12th grade students and chaperones into Juneau to instill a sense of civic duty and to inspire them to participate effectively as informed, responsible citizens of our state. The program teaches participants about state government through hands-on activities and arranged field trips that include meeting with legislators, visiting various government sites, and holding their own mock committee and legislative simulations. The session will take place Feb. 23-28, 2020, in Juneau.
NEW! New Per-Pupil Expenditure Data Available to the Public
In September 2019 DEED released a new online data portal for Alaska’s families entitled The Compass: A Guide to Alaska’s Public Schools. As of February 2020, DEED has added data relating to per-pupil expenditures of federal, state, and local funds to the online portal.
NEW! DEED FY2022 Capital Improvement Project Grant Application Workshop
DEED is offering free workshops on the FY2022 Capital Improvement Project grant application and utilizing department-provided tools for capital project administration processes. The workshop will be held May 7 and 8 at the Anchorage BP Energy Center. Registration on the Facilities CIP webpage.
NEW! 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.
NEW! 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.
NEW! President’s FY2021 Federal Budget Proposal
President Trump released his FY2021 Federal Budget Proposal this week. The U.S. Department of Education issued a press release outlining the impacts on education.
NEW! 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.
NEW! February is CTE Awareness Month
Did you know that February is Career and Technical Education Awareness Month? To celebrate, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District shared with us the great CTE opportunities in their district. Consider using this month to highlight the CTE opportunities in your district!
NEW! 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! 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.
NEW! Alaskans Honored with Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
Zoe Nelles of Palmer and Caleb Song of Anchorage were named Alaska’s top youth volunteers for 2020 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. As State Honorees, each will receive a $1,000 scholarship, an engraved silver medallion, and a trip to Washington D.C. for the program’s national recognition events. Anna Devolld of Soldotna and Natalie Fraser of Anchorage were named Distinguished Finalists and will receive bronze medallions at local ceremonies.
Reminder: February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month (TDVAPM) is a national effort to raise awareness about abuse in teen and 20-something relationships and promote programs that prevent it. Stand Up Speak Up Alaska invites you to further focus on student safety and well-being this February during TDVAPM. The promotion of healthy relationships and prevention of abusive ones can keep students from experiencing negative academic and health outcomes now and in the future. See the attached flyer for more information.
Take action and get involved:
- Thursday 2/24-2/28 - Chalk About Love Week
- Friday 2/28 - Live Lunchtime Chat with Alaskans - Dial in: 1-669-900-6833. Meeting ID: 866 252 951
Reminder: 2020 Poverty Guidelines Released
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services released the U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines for 2020.
Reminder: The U.S. Department of Education invites applicants for Indian Education Formula Grants
The Indian Education Formula Grants to Local Educational Agencies (Formula Grants) program provides grants to support local educational agencies, Indian Tribes and organizations, and other eligible entities in developing and implementing elementary and secondary school programs that serve Indian students. Part I of the application is due March 9, Part II of the application is due March 21.
Reminder: Alaskans Recognized for their Commitment and Dedication to School Nutrition
Elizabeth “Libby” Edelman of Valdez, AK was recognized at the 52nd Annual Alaska School Nutrition Association (AKSNA) Conference with the Dean Hamburg Award. Also recognized with the President’s Award were Walter Williams of Dillingham, Tanya Dube of Anchorage, and Adriane Schwartz of Juneau.
Special Feature: Alaska Reads Act website
DEED launched a new Alaska Reads Act page on its website! Visit education.alaska.gov/akreads to learn more about the Alaska Reads Act.
You can learn more about the bill and its progress, read recent news articles discussing the Alaska Reads Act, check out what’s being said on social media about #akreads, or leave us a comment with your feedback.
DEED Awarded a Grant from the EPA to Test for Lead in School Drinking Water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded DEED $111,000 to initiate a testing program for lead in drinking water at schools and child care facilities, prioritizing facilities serving children under six-years old and in underserved and low-income populations.
Initial FY22 Attendance Area Report for District Review
District requests for changes to the attendance area report utilized to determine space eligibility for FY2022 school construction projects are due by March 1. Contact Sharol.Roys@alaska.gov for more information.
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.
The SHLB Coalition Releases 2020 Policy Roadmap
The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition released its 2020 Policy Roadmap outlining the path forward for community anchor institution (CAI) broadband. Schools, libraries, healthcare providers, and other CAIs rely on high-quality broadband to provide essential services to their communities.
2020 AIA Frank Maier High School Design Competition
The American Institute of Architecture (AIA), Alaska, is seeking entries for its 2020 AIA Frank Maier High School Design Competition. This year’s competition is titled “Equality Exchange” and challenges students to think about the rights of Alaska’s citizens. Submissions are due April 18. Please see the attached flyer for more information, or contact Richard Rearick at Richard.rearick@uiccs.com or (907) 273-1824.
Nominate an Outstanding Alaska Secondary School Principal and Assistant Principal
The Association of Secondary School Principals is accepting nominations for Regional Principal of the Year and Regional Assistant Principal of the Year. Nominations can be made by anyone in the community of school. Nominations are due February 28.
King Tech High School Students Selected as CTE Presidential Scholar Candidates
Congratulations to Austin Chase of Eagle River and Xochitl Davis of Anchorage on being selected as CTE Presidential Scholar Candidates for 2020! Both Austin and Xochitl attend King Tech High School in Anchorage. The program was established to recognize and honor some of the nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. A full list of 2020 candidates is available.
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.
DEED Announces Federal Literacy Development Sub-Grant Recipients
DEED announced in October 2019 that it received a $20.7 million five-year federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education to expand the state’s efforts to improve literacy skills for all students. In addition to using grant funds to develop and implement a comprehensive state literacy program, competitive sub grants were offered to school districts for projects to advance literacy skills.
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.
- In-Person Training in Anchorage for All Sponsors:
February 27, 2020 - 8:30AM to 4:30 PM - All SFSP Administrators
- 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
New Application Process for Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) Program
The U.S. Department of Education closely evaluated the SRSA application process and determined that the applicant burden could be significantly reduced while maintaining appropriate accountability in our grantmaking procedures. The Department will conduct webinars for school district staff on March 19 and April 2 to demonstrate the new process for submitting the SRSA application. More information is detailed in the attached letter from the Department.
AK|NEXT Statewide Youth Leadership Program
Do you know a high school student who would like to spend a week in Juneau this summer as part of a free youth leadership program? Applications are now open for AK|Next. The program is seeking students who want to make a positive impact in their community and connect with other youth from different cultures and communities across Alaska. Applications are due February 29.
Building a Strong Future for Evidenced-Based Improvement in ESSA Implementation
To better understand the Center on Education Policy’s (CEP) implementation research on the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) this webinar will focus on the challenges and opportunities for states and districts as they implement evidence-based interventions to support low-performing schools under ESSA.
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.
Spring 2020 AK-CASE Scholarship
Alaska Council of Administrators of Special Education (AK-CASE) is offering a $1,000 scholarship to provide support for students currently enrolled in UAA, UAS, UAF, or an online program and pursuing a career in special education or related service field. For more information please see the attached letter. Applications are due March 17.
The American Society of Human Genetics is proud to support National DNA Day through the Annual DNA Day Essay Contest. The contest is open to students in grades 9-12 worldwide and asks students to examine, question, and reflect on important concepts in genetics. Prizes offer grants for genetics materials. Submission deadline is March 4.
Education Programs Affected by the 2020 Census
Census responses drive decisions on the allocation of more than $675 billion in federal funds to states and communities. The data from the census could impact funding formulas used by these programs as soon as the 2021-22 school year, and will continue to impact school funding for the next decade. In March 2020 households will receive a notice in the mail to complete the 2020 Census. The public can begin responding to the census online at 2020census.gov, or by mail or phone. Learn more about how the 2020 Census can affect schools by visiting www.census.gov/schools or by reviewing the attached flyer.
USDA Announces School and Summer Meal Reforms
The USDA announced two proposals that will put local school and summer food service operators back in the driver’s seat of their programs. The school meals proposed rule will offer increased flexibilities for local school districts to serve children food they will want to eat. Reforms to the Summer Food Service Program will offer operators more local control to better serve children.
Applications open for Computer Science Workshops
Middle and High School teachers are invited to participate in 5-day Code.org workshops this June in Anchorage and Fairbanks. There is no cost to participate, and travel scholarships are available.
- 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
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.
Register Now for the 6th Annual AlaskaCAN! Conference
Representatives from Alaska agencies, institutions, school districts, industries, businesses, and Alaska Native organizations will meet in Anchorage on February 27–28 for the 6th annual AlaskaCAN! Conference. The theme of the Conference will be Educational Equity.
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.
Alaska State Council on the Arts Grant Opportunities
The Alaska State Council on the Arts has multiple grant categories open for application, including: organizations, individuals, and art education. Cultural Collaboration Excursion grant applications are available on a rolling deadline, with applications due 30 days prior to the planned arts excursion. Information on all available grants can be found on the website.
Save the Date! The IECMHI+CAFBHC Conference will be held March 30-April 3 in Anchorage at the Dena’ina Convention Center.
Cornell High School Summer Engineering Academy
Cornell University is seeking high school students who excel in science and math and want to learn more about engineering! There are two different one-week summer residential programs – the Curie and Catalyst Academies. Target populations include junior and senior women students of all backgrounds; and junior and senior male and female students from underrepresented backgrounds and/or first generation college students. Tuition waivers may be available. For questions email dpeng@cornell.edu. Applications are due March 2.
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.
EPA Announces Funding to Reduce Emissions from Diesel Engines
The EPA announced the availability of grant funding to implement projects aimed at reducing emissions from older diesel engines. Public school districts, regional, state, local, or tribal agencies are eligible to apply. Eligible diesel vehicles include school buses. Application deadline is February 26.
The Alaska Council of School Administrators will host its 2020 Legislative Fly-In on March 15-18 in Juneau. This is a valuable opportunity to meet with colleagues from around the state to receive policy updates on relevant topics, engage in professional development in leadership and to have unified efforts to reach legislators on important education matters during the legislative session.
2020 National Youth Science Camp Competition is Open
The 57th annual National Youth Science Camp (NYSC) competition is now open to Alaskan high school students who will graduate by June 30, 2020. NYSC is a great opportunity for seniors with a dedicated interest in scientific and engineering research. The application deadline is February 28. For more information contact Bjorn Wolter at bjorn.wolter@alaska.gov
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.
Upcoming Workshops for teachers presented by Alaska Staff Development Network and Code.org
Elementary school educators are invited to join in one-day Computer Science Fundamentals workshops. No computer science background is needed! Scroll down to the “Upcoming K-6 Workshops” section on their webpage for more information.
- Fairbanks, CS Discoveries – February 15
- Anchorage (statewide) CS Fundamentals and Deep Dive at the ASTE Conference – February 23-25
- Ketchikan – March 7
- Wrangell – CS Deep Dive – April 10
Alaska’s Stone Soup Group Offers Trainings relating to Special Needs Children
Stone Soup Group provides information, support, training, and resources to assist families caring for children with special needs. Transition Series: Supported Decision-Making Agreements and Alternatives to Guardianship includes a series of lectures on what you need to know as you and your student with disabilities prepare for adulthood. Also available via webinar. Every third Thursday at 5:30-7:00 pm, through March 19.
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
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.
This newsletter contains hyperlinks to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the reader’s convenience. DEED does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Furthermore, the inclusion of links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.