Digital Community: Alaska Teacher Placement Forum
The Alaska Teacher Placement Forum is one facet of the ATP organization, which is run by the University of Alaska and dedicating to placing teachers appropriately in the state. On the ATP main site, teachers can create a job application that is viewable by all of Alaska’s school districts. The forum functions in building a community among teachers in the state, and in allowing questions about teaching or the hiring process to be answered.
The forum is an important tool that helps to improve teacher retention by educating the educators. The forums are full of people who have never been to Alaska, and want to know more about teaching here. It allows teachers to do their “homework,” with questions ranging from housing to Praxis exams to job searches to grocery store questions.
It also is a way to see growth and learn from others mistakes. For instance, one potential teacher asked in June 2015, “Also, Is it ok to get to Nulato a week early? My old man (the Scotsman), my cat (Inspector), and I want to get a good start on this new experience.”
Two months later, she wrote:
“I also feel that if school districts in general want to really improve their teacher recruitment and retainment sitution, they should get us up to Alaska by June, so that we have time to work out all the transitional issues, AND work on our classroom, AND work on the school. Here in Nulato, the school itself could use some help with reorganizing. We were given a tip about instruments somewhere in the building, and sure enough, with some ladder climbing, we found 10 guitars and 4 violins. One of the guitars was hand made and in very good condition. I wonder what other treasures we could find. But alas, I have no time. Inservice requires me to return to Fairbanks tomorrow, and I only got here 3 days ago.”
There are many current teachers and administrators on the forum, including Southeast Island School District’s superintendent, Lauren Burch. It is through the Alaska Teacher Placement forum that I first heard about SISD, which eventually led to my getting hired with the district. Here is what he said on March 17, 2015:
“Of keen importance for us is a letter of interest that outlines your other attributes besides a teaching certificate. Small districts need people with other interests and talents that would be of value for students. SISD offers many activities for students that need other skills. Gardening, hydroponic and aquaponic greenhouses, archery, kayaking, a restaurant, mountain biking, wilderness activities and climbing to name a few. We are deep in southeast Alaska, and teachers and families that stick tend to have an interest in the lifestyle and opportunities available here. So interests besides the classroom are important to us. We can be interested in just about anything that you can offer students that you have a passion for. We are keenly interested in those other attributes. There are 300,000 out of work elementary teachers in America. We want to know what makes you special.”
In my more recent posts on the forum (of which, admittedly, there are far fewer than I would like) I answered questions on several subjects. Here is one of my posts regarding teaching while training, the grueling option that I am going though right now:
I work at Southeast Island School District and did this very thing. I'm enrolled in the UAS teaching program (Masters). I applied for an initial certification from the state of AK last spring, and was hired while that was happening.
Keep in mind, I also have a Masters in Experiential Education (non-certificate program) from MSU Mankato (a GREAT program for teachers looking to teach outside the box, by the way). So in that way, as a new teacher, I had some more qualifications as well as non-traditional teaching experience. But yes, it can be done and many people have done it.
I had one superintendent (not from Southeast Island, elsewhere in the state) tell me that it was impossible to hire me (he didn't know this existed). I had to call my professor from UAS and have him explain that, yes, as per the state licensure requirements, there is nothing illegal about hiring a teacher who is getting their initial licensure in the program enrollment category. I don't think he was interested in my non-traditional background and I'm happy to be working here in SISD instead.
By the way, it is incredibly busy. I teach six separate classes, have a family, and do my Masters work on top of that. I would only recommend it to those who are SURE they want to teach and walk in understanding it will be the hardest year of their life.
Keane Richards
This next post of mine is in response to a teacher’s question about mathematics grades and also the teaching load in rural Alaska:
Hi there! First of all know I'm a new teacher in a rural district (Southeast Island). There are lots of differences here because the schools are so small. The school I'm in (Naukati) has only 19 students, so it's a two teacher school.
1. I'm not sure about this one. I teach 8th grade math and Algebra 1. I am currently bringing my 8th grader into Algebra 1 because she's ahead with 8th grade. If she gets through Algebra 1, and does well, she'll be able to start Algebra 2 next year (but won't receive credit for Algebra 1 in high school - impossible for 8th grade, I was told by my principle). In so far as teaching beyond your "credentials," I think that's really up to your principal and superintendent. It's simply impossible in a two-teacher school like mine to be credentialed in every subject needed to be taught.
2. In rural AK you can expect to teach a lot of things. For instance, I teach Math, Earth Science, Entrepreneurship, PE, English, and Civics. (!) I love it, but when you consider your planning time - remember it's a lot tougher if you're teaching six individual subjects . 6-8 math, Algebra, and Geom would be a lot easier than what a lot of rural folks have to go through. That said, obviously it's important to realize limitations and that the more planning time you have, the more you'll probably like your job, the better you'll do, and the better lessons you'll have. Which brings me to...
3. In my district we have a four day school week. Meaning that every other Friday we can a planning period. This is SO HELPFUL for teachers. However, we do not get a period off during the week to plan... So it seems to depend. I suspect most new teachers like me live and breath lesson planning all throughout their day. I'm only now getting used to it.
Keane Richards
And below, I attempt to educate a teacher who is wondering whether it just might be a good idea to visit Alaska before coming to teach up here.
Hi sbrady,
One of the things I highly recommend is to think about what teaching here is like. Not at all to say that this is you, but a lot of people I've heard about come up to Alaska to teach because "it's an adventure." From what I hear they do not last long, which is hard on them, the district, and most of all the kids.
That said, some people move up here from the lower 48 and absolutely love it. Just keep that in mind before you sign up with, say, a rural district (which is often the case at job fairs). Some principals have told me "one year is better than no years" but I feel that you should find a community you can put years into and really make a difference with the kids.
My advice is to talk firsthand with some of the folks here once you get a good idea where you might be. I'd also highly encourage you to come up to Anchorage for the job fair, and drive around the state and see what you see. The road system is a lot different than off of it, but it's something that you probably won't regret even when you don't get a job, and if no one offers you a position before then, I suspect that it'll mean a lot more to have you there in person.
Just my thoughts. Keep in mind I'm a new teacher (though have lived almost all my life in AK).
Keane Richards
All in all, I’m glad to be a part of the forum. While engaging in a digital community is very difficult given obvious time constraints, it is never a waste of time to hear what others are thinking about education and jobs in the state, or help others in learning about it.