 The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), in collaboration with Microsoft and Prodigy Learning, is excited to announce that the Cyber in Minecraft credential program is available to public schools across Alaska at no cost.
Cyber in Minecraft, like Coding in Minecraft, is a credential program with a comprehensive curriculum delivered through Minecraft Education. This program consists of three immersive courses where students engage in a Minecraft environment to build and validate their cybersecurity knowledge, covering key topics such as Digital Citizenship, Networking, and Security.
As part of this initiative, DEED is offering free licenses along with virtual teacher professional learning sessions at the following sign-up portal.
Join Us!
The District Communication Hub
Audience: Districts and Educational Agencies
Description: Join us to explore the District Communication Hub, launched alongside TEACH-AK: The Educator Application & Certification Hub for Alaska. This new online system is designed to streamline the certification and renewal process for educators by providing real-time information to districts. Come learn how to navigate the Hub and support your educators.
The Teacher Application &
Certification Hub Alaska (TEACH-AK)
Audience: Educators
Description: Join us to explore this new online system designed to simplify the certification and renewal process for educators. This presentation will guide you through the key features of the TEACH-AK dashboard, where you can view, download, and print your active certificates. You'll gain a clear understanding of the renewal process, how to add endorsements, how to monitor the status of your current certificate, and more! By the end of this session, you’ll have the knowledge, and tools needed to confidently navigate TEACH-AK and efficiently manage your certification needs.
 The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) has developed a free, teacher-facilitated curriculum designed to meet the Alaska Safe Children’s Act requirements for students in grades 7-12. This comprehensive and user-friendly curriculum focuses on preventing violence and promoting healthy relationships by addressing topics like dating violence, abusive behaviors, fostering positive relationship habits, and community resources. Developed with input from school districts and national experts, the curriculum offers engaging, developmentally appropriate content through interactive learning experiences, ensuring consistent and effective education for students across Alaska.
As an added bonus--to support schools with implementing this curriculum, the 2024 ASCA Curriculum Committee developed implementation guides for teachers and schools & districts.”
“If Bree’s Law curriculum was not offered, I think many students would not be aware that they have power to stand up for themselves when someone crosses their boundaries. I think they might always be hesitant to tell someone because they may not know that this is an option. Just knowing that they have the right to do these things is powerful.” – Educator in Alaska
For more information reach out to EED.AlaskaSafeChildrensAct@alaska.gov
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Professional Boundaries and the PTPC |
The Professional Teaching Practices Commission’s intent is to serve as a preventative and
positive force in helping to enhance the professional performance of all educators so that the public’s right to the best education possible for all of Alaska’s students is adequately protected.
https://education.alaska.gov/ptpc/pdf/Professional%20Boundaries%20and%20the%20PTPC.pdf
https://education.alaska.gov/ptpc/pdf/Communication%20and%20PTPC.pdf
Melody Mann (she/her)
Executive Director
Professional Teaching Practices Commission
https://education.alaska.gov/ptpc
I can be reached between 8-4:30 weekdays. Contact me by phone or email to set an appointment.
 Register for the
Alaska Out-of-School Time Conference
The tenth annual Alaska Out-of-School Time Conference is the largest convening of afterschool and summer educators in the state and is designed to support the professional development of out-of-school time providers from across Alaska. Themed Thriving through Transformation, the conference aims to strengthen the out-of-school time workforce, link arms, and move forward towards change and growth. Past conference attendees have included staff from programs such as 4-H, tribal youth programs, Boys and Girls Clubs, 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), the Positive Youth Development Afterschool Program (PYDAP), faith-based groups, licensed school-age childcare, summer camps, school district afterschool and summer programming, and more.
This year’s conference will feature more than 24 interactive workshops, 2 preconference workshops, program site visits, a vendor exhibit hall, a networking reception, and much more!
Join us on November 21-22, 2024, at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel, Fairbanks to learn, explore, and connect!
Interested in sharing knowledge or skills with the Alaska’s out-of-school time educators? Consider submitting a workshop proposal here!
For more information, and to register, please visit www.akostconference.org. Early bird registration closes 9/30/24.
This conference is a partnership between the State of Alaska Department of Education & Early Development, the State of Alaska Department of Health, and the Alaska Afterschool Network.
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Implementing EEP Standards for State Approved High-Quality Early Education Program and 0.5 ADM funding
Registration required. Click the link for recordings, additional information and to register.
Who:
Administrators and/or Program Coordinators
When:
Next session November 14, 10:00 a.m.
Topic:
EEP Standards Section 1 Learning Environment and Section 5 Assessment
Q&A: AK Reads for Early Education Programs
Registration required. Click the link for additional information and to register.
Who: Administrators and/or Program Coordinators
Purpose:
- Improve understanding of the early learning components of the Alaska Reads Act.
- Facilitate communication between DEED and school district early education programs (EEP).
- Answer questions.
- Facilitate problem solving amongst EEP Programs.
When:
October 24, 1:00 p.m.
Contact jayne.mcfarland@alaska.gov with questions.
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Alaska schools can get free resources to help address youth tobacco, vaping, and nicotine use including new material for young students and links between tobacco use and mental health. Many Alaska students are struggling with tobacco and nicotine use.
Almost 1 out of 4 high school students (23%) used a tobacco product. This includes all types of tobacco and nicotine products, like e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and nicotine pouches. That’s according to new 2023 Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey data.
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The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released the Anonymized Threat Response Guidance: A Toolkit for K-12 Schools, a new resource to help kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools and their law enforcement and community partners create tailored approaches to addressing anonymous threats of violence, including those received on social media. The toolkit outlines steps school leaders can take to assess and respond to anonymous threats, better prepare for, and prevent future threats, and work in coordination with law enforcement and other local partners when threats arise. |
The toolkit emphasizes six key strategies for schools to consider when addressing anonymous threats:
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Build awareness about reporting to detect threats early and deter future threats.
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Develop a partnership structure that will help address threats. This includes school administrators, law enforcement personnel and mental health professionals.
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Engage law enforcement to manage threat situations and decide when to scale response actions up or down.
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Balance initial response steps to ensure the campus is safe. Most critically, treat each threat as credible, and from there, work with necessary partners to determine how to approach an immediate response.
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When appropriate, tap into multidisciplinary threat assessment teams to support interventions and expedite response if the subject who made the threat becomes known.
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Take steps throughout the school year to prepare for threats. Establish a response protocol and practice other types of emergency management activities, such as training exercises for staff.
Alaska Society for Technology in Education (ASTE) Conference 2025
ASTE 2025 will be at the Hotel Captain Cook on February 15-18, 2025. The ASTE Board for 2024-2025, under the direction of President Anthony White, has selected "StoryBytes" as the theme:
“At ASTE 2025, dive into a unique educational technology experience designed to enhance your skills and inspire new ideas. Explore a range of registration options to fit your goals. Register now and embark on a journey of storytelling, innovation, and transformation.”
The Call for Proposal to Present for the conference is now open through November 15, 2024. Registration will open after the schedule is finalized so participants can register and sign up for sessions at the same time. Please visit www.aste.org/conference for more information.
 The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the top honors bestowed by the U.S. Government to K-12 STEM teachers. Each year, up to 110 outstanding educators from across the country may be recognized by the White House for their passion, dedication, and impact in the classroom.
Learn more about this prestigious award, and how nominating a teacher for PAEMST can change their life.
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ACPE’s Kids2Careers Early Career Explorers FREE educational resources incorporate career exploration alongside traditional subjects to be used in the classroom or at home. Students build a strong foundation to better understand the importance of academics, extracurricular activities, and healthy study habits as it relates to future career goals. (Flexible grade levels.)
Download Resources Here: https://acpe.alaska.gov/PLANNING/Request
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ACPE’s Kids2Careers offers a variety of FREE resources and activities to help 5th-12th grade students explore and plan for education and career training options after high school. In addition to Postsecondary Planning Tools, Success Steps for Students and Guiding Steps for Families, Educators can apply for any or all of the following: 6-Lesson Classroom Curriculum, Postsecondary & Career Prep Panel Discussions (tiered for different grades), and Postsecondary Pathway Presentations to help Juniors and Seniors track time sensitive steps and familiarize with helpful planning tools. (Distance delivery options and flexible grade levels.)
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Learn More & Apply Here: https://acpe.alaska.gov/K2C/Educators
Keys to Literacy Professional Development
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Keys to Literacy: Keys to Beginning Reading course
Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (DEED) is excited to announce a new K-3 Alaska Reads Act course. A Keys to Literacy asynchronous course is now live and available on Alaska DEED’s e-learning platform.
This course is approved by the DEED to meet the regulatory statute requirements outlined in the Alaska Reads Act. Upon successful completion of this course, educators must submit their course certificate to AK Teacher Certification to add the K-3 AK Reads Act Reading Endorsement to their Teacher Certificate.
Keys to Beginning Reading is a 45-hour course designed by Keys to Literacy founder Joan Sedita, and tailored specifically for Alaska educators. It is a practical course that provides the background knowledge needed to teach all the components of beginning reading instruction. The instructional practices are designed to easily transfer to classroom lessons and can be integrated with any reading curriculum or published reading program.
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