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Teacher Certification has made a few changes to the Alaska Reads Endorsement application to simplify the process.
The form has been split into three separate endorsement applications:
If educators complete a DEED offered professional learning course they do NOT need to turn in an application. Their certificate is on record with DEED and the appropriate AK Reads endorsement will be added to their certificate prior to the July 1, 2025, deadline. You will receive an email with a link to TEACH AK where you can view, download, and print your updated certificate.
The Alaska Reads Act Reading Teacher only requires the signature from an administrator or district representative.
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The Teacher Certification Team is hosting virtual informational sessions. Each session will include updates and a question-and-answer session.
Date/Time
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Audience
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Topics
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Registration
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May 1st
1:00 – 2:00 pm
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Districts and Education Preparation Providers
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- Emergency Cert Plan (June 1st)
- TEACH AK online application process.
- AK Reads Act endorsement info.
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May 1st
4:00 – 5:00 pm
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Teachers
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- Certification information for teachers new to Alaska.
- TEACH AK online application process.
- AK Reads Act endorsement info.
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Click here to recommend topics for future sessions.
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The Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO), through its Privacy Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), will offer a three-day virtual webinar series on student privacy and data security. The webinar series will provide the education community with opportunities to learn more about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), data security, data breach preparedness and response, transparency, and more. Register at the links below.
Day 1: FERPA 101 and Data Security Best Practices, April 10, 2024, 2-4pm ET covers the basics of FERPA and provides training on current data security best practices for education data systems.
Day 2: FERPA 201 and Transparency, April 17, 2024, 2-4pm ET dives into scenarios faced by schools and districts and highlights PTAC’s research on transparency.
Day 3: Incident Response and Vetting Educational Technology, April 24, 2024, 2-4pm ET leads participants through a simulated data breach and explores how to assess online educational technology for privacy protections and general FERPA compliance.
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 Alaska State Poetry Out Loud Finalists pictured from left to right: Penelope Richards, Mona Koko, Julia Wang, Clark Milstead, Silas Somers, Eleanor Kandoll, Mina Yee, Lumi Fermin. Photo: Ron Gile.
The Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Competition, presented in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. In Alaska, Poetry Out Loud is a program of the Alaska State Council on the Arts and the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council.
On March 11th, eight Alaska State Poetry Out Loud Finalists gathered for the Alaska State Competition in the Capital City of Juneau. KTOO Public Media, in partnership with Alaska Poetry Out Loud, webcast the Alaska State Finals on ktoo.org beginning at 5pm.
We are happy to announce the results of the competition, and Mona Koko of West Anchorage High School is the Alaska State Poetry Out Loud Champion for 2024; Penelope Richards of Eagle River High School is the Runner-up.
Six other Alaska Poetry Out Loud State Finalists performed recitations with great distinction and skill, and these finalists are:
- Julia Wang of Fairbanks BEST Homeschool
- Clark Milstead of Homer High School
- Eleanor Kandoll of Petersburg High School
- Mina Yee of Skagway School
- Lumi Fermin of Thunder Mountain High School in Juneau
- Silas Somers of Upstream Learning in Glennallen
Alaska State Council on the Arts Chairman Benjamin Brown said, "It is truly inspiring and heartwarming to see Poetry Out Loud in its 17th year with such a talented array of young Alaskans participating. Poetry Out Loud is one of the most impressive and impactful activities the Alaska State Council on the Arts offers Alaskans, and the benefits are clearly on display. All Alaskans can be proud of all the students who participated this year, and we all look forward and send our best wishes to the Alaska State Champion competing in the national finals in our nation's capital in May."
The 2024 Panel of esteemed Alaska Poetry Out Loud judges were: Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Toya Brown, Marian Call, Amanda Filori, and Nicole Metzgar. The Scorekeeper was Reggie Schapp. The Key Note Speaker for Alaska Poetry Out Loud 2024 is past Alaska State Poetry Out Loud Champion, Asya Gipson, with Master of Ceremonies Doniece (Donnie) Gott.
Special Appearances for the ceremonies included remarks and welcoming with Phil Huebschen representing the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council, Tlingit culture-bearer Ḵinkaduneek Paul Marks, and Benjamin Brown and Andrea Noble representing the Alaska State Council on the Arts. Mentors for the Alaska State Poetry Out Loud Finalists are:
tripp j crouse, Brett Dillingham, Na Mee, and Don Rearden.
The Bond Reimbursement and Grant Review Committee of the Department of Education and Early Development will meet in Juneau on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 10 and 11, 2024. The primary topics of the meeting include review and approval of the FY2026 Capital Improvement Project application and support materials; revisions to the Program Demand Cost Model for Alaska Schools and Life Cycle Cost Analysis Handbook publications; and updates from the design ratios and school space subcommittees. The agenda and meeting packet will be available prior to the meeting on the BRGR Committee webpage.
The Department of Education & Early Development, Facilities section, is offering a free workshop on the FY2026 CIP Grant Application on April 26, 2024, at the Atwood Conference Center in Anchorage. This full-day workshop will review the FY2026 capital improvement project application, discuss the changes from prior year applications, offer tips to assist districts in submitting an application that reaches its full scoring potential, and provide an opportunity to ask specific questions on current or upcoming projects. Workshop is open to school district or municipal personnel and interested members of the public.
More information on the CIP Application & Support page.
Upcoming Meetings
The Commission will meet on April 11-12, 2024 to consider disciplinary actions against certificate holders, to conduct administrative reviews, and to discuss other Commission business.
The public is welcome. The meetings may be in person, but will also be held virtually by Zoom. More information, including a Zoom link, can be found online: PTPC
Learn More!
Have additional questions, concerns, or just want to learn more? Melody Mann, PTPC's Executive Director, is available to present information about PTPC to educators around the state. Send her an email to schedule an informational presentation.
A great deal of the Code for Ethics for Educators is related to professional communication with students, the public and with colleagues. Know your obligations to uphold the Code of Ethics of Educators.
Communication whether in person or via any communications device is expected to be professional, responsible, reasonable, and appropriate.
It’s important to consider how one might have to defend one’s communication as educationally sound, or for student or staff health or safety.
Locate, review, and become familiar with School Board Policy and communication expectations.
DEED is committed to providing information, resources, and leadership to schools, districts, parents, and the public in order to support an excellent education for every student every day. Staff at DEED are engaged in meaningful professional work in support of Alaska’s most valuable resource – its children.
DEED values collaboration and relationship building, creativity and innovation, and mission-driven work guided by the Alaska’s Education Challenge. The daily work environment at DEED is energetic, collaborative, fast paced, and challenging as staff work together to support Alaska’s school districts and students.
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