Tag: Education

Teacher of the Week: Siray Abbey

Less than three years into her teaching career, Siray Abbey is already making a big impact in the Anchorage School District.

“It brings me so much fulfillment and so much joy. I love molding these little humans into good people,” explained Abbey.

A resource and special education teacher at Gladys Wood Elementary School, KTVA 11’s Teacher of the Week said she takes a holistic approach when it comes to teaching.

“I really try and connect with my students and create real genuine connections that impact them and make them feel loved and cared for when they’re here at school.” Abbey said making those connection has been the secret to her early success in the classroom.

“When they look at you and know that you care about them, they are so much more happier and so much more willing to learn,” explained Abbey.

Prior to working at Gladys Wood, Abbey spent two years at Nunaka Valley Elementary School teaching pre-school special education. She is currently in the process of getting her master’s degree at UAA and expects to graduate in 2018.

Source: Teacher of the Week: Siray Abbey – KTVA

Education Grad Named Alaska Teacher of the Year

Ben Walker ’06, a seventh grade science teacher at Romig Middle School in Anchorage, is the 2018 Alaska State Teacher of the Year. “I really enjoy the fact that every day is different. Every kid is different. Every kid is different every day.”

Read the full article here.

Source: Education grad named Alaska Teacher of the Year – Green & Gold News

Anchorage Science Teacher Named 2018 Alaska Teacher of the Year

Ben Walker teaches seventh-grade science in the same Romig Middle School classroom that his mother once did.

For 11 years, his wife taught science in the classroom next door.

“Science runs in this family,” said Anchorage School District Superintendent Deena Bishop.

So does teaching.

And earlier this month, Walker earned the highest teaching honor awarded by the Alaska education department.

Alaska Education Commissioner Michael Johnson named Walker the 2018 Alaska Teacher of the Year at a surprise, school-wide assembly Thursday morning at the West Anchorage middle school in front of a crowd of energetic students, co-workers and family members, including his two children, who clapped and cheered in response to the news.

Read the full article here.

Source: Anchorage science teacher named 2018 Alaska Teacher of the Year – Alaska Dispatch News

Science, Culture Camp Energizes Rural Alaska Teachers

Teachers and teaching aides from six villages in the Bering Strait School District immersed themselves in a science and culture camp in Unalakleet, Alaska, in August to learn how to integrate science and Native knowledge in the classroom.

The camp was offered as professional development for teachers by the Raising Educational Achievement through Cultural Heritage Up (REACH Up) program, part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks K-12 Outreach Office. Funded in 2015, the program provides Native students and teachers with place-based, culturally relevant science, technology, engineering and math curricula, and engages Native youth to come up with solutions to local climate change issues.

Read the full article here.

Source: Science, culture camp energizes rural Alaska teachers – UAF News and Information

ANSEP Summer Bridge

Incoming UAA Freshman Augustine Hamner and ANSEP COO Mike Bourdukofsky visit with Morning Line host Danny Preston. Credit Koahnic Broadcast Corporation

Recent East High School graduate Augustine Hamner spent her summer in an extraordinarily productive way – taking an advanced math course and working for a major corporation.

This was all part of Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program’s Summer Bridge component, which is the most recent step she’s taken with ANSEP to prepare her for college.

Augustine has been actively involved with ANSEP since the 8th grade. The confident & well-spoken incoming college freshman reminisced about building her own computer so many years ago, and plans to major in Mechanical Engineering when she starts courses in a couple of weeks at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

This summer, she got hands-on experience interning for BP. Augustine says she worked within an Integrity Management team of six chemical engineers, helping analyze corrosion data from pipeline inspection and maintenance devices called a Pigging Barrel and a Smart Pig. She also managed to squeeze in Calculus II, completing the course in just five weeks.

ANSEP Chief Operating Officer Mike Bourdukofsky says that through ANSEP, 26 high school graduates like Augustine had the opportunity to take a college math or science course while gaining career experience through paid STEM field internships.

Listen to the interview here.

Source: As Heard on Morning Line: ANSEP Summer Bridge | knba