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Two Alaskan teachers have been recognized with Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching K-6 cycle.
Cori Ferenczy, of Airport Heights Elementary School in the Anchorage School District is a recipient in the mathematics category. Jason Daniels, of Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is a recipient in the science category.
Cori Ferenczy has taught fourth grade general education at Airport Heights Elementary School since 2016. She previously taught a first and second grade combination class at Chinook Elementary School from 2015 to 2016 and taught a fourth and fifth grade combination class at Chester Valley Elementary School from 2013 to 2015, her first three years as a teacher. Cori is a general education classroom teacher who believes that all students can excel. She discovers each child’s unique learning style and teaches mathematical concepts in a way that works for them. Students learn skills and strategies through songs, books, centers, and activities that she creates. They wonder, create, and make connections to the real world by collaborating, risk-taking, explaining, and working with hands-on, real-world materials. Each child knows that he or she can be successful in the classroom. When not teaching during the school day, Cori has offered mathematics tutoring after hours. She also participates in professional development classes offered by the school district. She has twice led a group of students to participate in the school district’s Math Bee.
Jason Daniels has spent his 23-year career teaching at Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School. During his tenure, he has taught third through sixth grades. In the 2020-2021 school year, Jason taught remotely the entire year for families in three local elementary schools, teaching fourth through sixth graders. In 2012, he traveled to Australia as a Victorian international teaching fellow, teaching for a year in Wodonga, Victoria. Jason's focus on his students is evident in his classroom. Using an inquiry-based approach to learning, he places students in the driver’s seat as they ask questions and seek understanding of science topics. In Jason's classroom, students observe phenomena in the natural world, bringing the learning to life and making it relevant to their lives. Since 2018, he spends part of his summers teaching STEM at Upstream Academy to underprivileged youth. Jason enjoys sharing his ideas with other teachers. In the past, he has led "Tech Tuesday" events, professional development workshops, and a kindergarten through fifth grade science teacher collaboration. Since 2014, Jason has participated in collaborations to write, review, and adopt new state science standards. In 2021, Jason co-presented the new state science standards to teachers across the state and is assisting in the review of the state pilot science assessment. He has been on several school district curriculum committees and is currently on the 2021-2022 science curriculum committee. He has enjoyed mentoring three preservice teachers.
Established in 1983, PAEMST is the highest award kindergarten through 12th grade mathematics and science (including computer science) teachers can receive from the U.S. government. Each year, the award criteria alternates years between kindergarten through sixth grade and seventh through 12th grade teachers. This year, kindergarten through sixth grade teachers will receive Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
 ACSA Recruiting Arts Administrator to Oversee Indigenous Arts and Culture Programs and Grants
The Alaska State Council on the Arts (ASCA) is recruiting for an Arts Administrator in Anchorage to oversee Indigenous Arts and Culture programs and grants, including individual artist training and strategic program partnerships. ASCA is one of the nation’s 56 state and jurisdictional arts agencies, and the only State Arts Agency in Alaska. ASCA is a public corporation housed in the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) and exists to ensure that every Alaskan receives the cultural, civic, economic, and educational benefits of the arts. Employees are part of the Exempt service, and staff are subject to ASCA’s personnel bylaws.
The successful candidate will make a difference in the daily lives of Alaskans whose creativity is the backbone of innovation and prosperity for thriving, healthy communities across our state. As a team member responsible for a wide range of arts administrative duties, this position is the primary contact for Alaska Native Artists. In addition to working with ASCA staff to advance arts and culture in Alaska, this position will coordinate strategic partnerships to strengthen Alaska’s arts and culture infrastructure and work with other state and federal entities, constituents, and Council Trustees.
Closing date is March 10, 2022.
State Board of Education Meeting Next Week
The Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development will hold a regular quarterly meeting and a professional development workshop on March 1-2, 2022, in Juneau. Both the professional development workshop and the board meeting will be held at the Andrew P. Kashevaroff (APK) Building at 395 Whittier Street. The workshop will begin at 8:45 a.m. on March 1, 2022, and the quarterly board meeting will begin on March 1, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.
Public participation for the meeting will be in person and through the Legislative Information Office (LIO). The board will take public comment on agenda and non-agenda items starting at approximately 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 1. Oral comment is limited to three minutes per person and five minutes per group. Public comment may be made for this meeting during this time only, in person or by calling 1-844-586-9085 if you are outside of Juneau or Anchorage. For participation from Anchorage, call 563-9085 and from Juneau, call 586-9085.
This meeting will be live-streamed through the LIO at http://www.akl.tv (audio only) beginning at 8:45 a.m. on March 1, 2022 and again at 11:00 a.m. on March 2, 2022. Click on the meeting name to listen to the proceedings. When public comment is over, the meeting will continue to be broadcasted at the above website.
Topics at the business meeting include votes to approve the UAA School of Education, school construction and major maintenance lists, charter school renewals, regulations to go out for public comment, and regulations for adoption, standing reports on the department’s division, and the commissioner’s report.
The board’s meeting packet is available online at https://education.alaska.gov/State_Board by clicking on the meeting date.
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 Dive Into Alaska’s Reading Playbook with In-Depth Training Course Beginning Next Month
Tuesday, March 22 will mark the beginning of a 6-week, in-depth training course for Alaska’s Reading Playbook.
Session will occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays from March 22 through April 7 and will work through the principles of the Science of Reading as they are presented in Alaska’s Reading Playbook. The course will unpack the elements of phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
Registration is now available on AKLearns.org.
If you have not been able to attend an introductory session for Alaska’s Reading Playbook, one more session will be held on March 3.
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