Tag: Teacher Education

New workforce data highlights the University of Alaska’s impact on preparing students for Alaska jobs & good wages

An in-depth analysis of nine major Alaska industries captures the impact that university programs have in preparing its students for jobs in Alaska’s workforce. The reports answer key questions related to the largest and fastest growing occupations that require some postsecondary education and highlights important employment indicators such as average wages earned, where UA grads work in Alaska, what industries they work in, and how they help boost the Alaska hire rate.

The workforce development and institutional research offices at the University of Alaska partnered with the Research and Analysis Section in the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development to create the reports, which demonstrate UA graduate outcomes in nine key fields — administration and finance, aviation, construction, fisheries and marine science, health, information technology, mining, oil and gas, and teacher education. The reports can be found at https://www.alaska.edu/ research/wd/reports.php.

“We are in the business of creating Alaska’s workforce,” UA Interim President Pat Pitney told the Senate Education Committee on Feb. 3, adding that 70 to 90 percent of UA graduates stay in Alaska and find employment. 

The health report, for example, shows that of more than 2,300 nursing graduates in both 2-year and 4-year programs, 89 percent remain in Alaska after graduation and are employed at an average wage of $70,000.

Teri Cothren, University of Alaska Associate Vice President Workforce Development, said: “This data demonstrates the success of our core programs and how we are contributing to Alaska’s high‐demand industries and economy.” 

In preparing the reports, the university analyzed labor market information to identify the largest and fastest-growing occupations in the nine industries, then linked related UA programs to those jobs. Detailed employment and wage information was extracted from employer quarterly reports filed with the Dept. of Labor. That means the numbers are based on a comprehensive match of all graduates who remain and work in Alaska.

“The economic value of training and education is abundantly clear in the data,” said Dan Robinson, Chief Labor Research & Analysis, Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. “More education and training also correlate strongly with lower unemployment rates.”  

Median earnings, for example, jumped from $35,328 for high school graduates to $44,619 for Alaskans with an associate degree, $57,708 for those with a bachelor’s degree, and $77,402 for holders of graduate or professional degrees. 

Read the full article here.

Source: UA News Center

An update on Educators Rising in Alaska

Educator’s Rising is excited to start the 20-21 school year of building student leadership capacity with our new officers. We are embracing our virtual capabilities to stay connected throughout these times, with monthly check-ins. Student officer involvement activities include: adding content to our social media, leadership training in communication, participation in Alaska Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO), and functioning as liaisons between rural students and our K-12 Office. Educator’s Rising Alaska’s CTE high school pathway has undergone major updates this past year to ensure alignment with the UAS Educator’s Rising Alaska dual credit course. Middle school curriculum is a new addition. We are also continuing to offer expense-paid UAF professional development credit for teachers. EdRising is working with our other K-12 Outreach programs for continuous enhancements. We would like to introduce our new student officers Ashley, Kaitlynn and Carl, for the 2020-21 school year. Below is an introduction they have written to share more about themselves:

Ashley Dahlman, one of three of this years’ Student Officers, hiking with her dog in Kenai this summer. Photo: Courtesey of Ashley Dahlman.

Hi everyone! My name is Ashley Dahlman and I am one of your EdRising State Officers for the 20-21 school year. I am in 10th grade and attend school in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. I am excited and I’m looking forward to working with you all this year! Wishing you a great year!Hi everyone! My name is Ashley Dahlman and I am one of your EdRising State Officers for the 20-21 school year. I am in 10th grade and attend school in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. I am excited and I’m looking forward to working with you all this year! Wishing you a great year!

Kaitlynn Gist, enjoying being out by Cook Inlet this summer.
Photo: Courtesey of Kaitlynn Gist.

Hello everyone! My name is Kaitlynn Gist. I am an 11th grader in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. I am interested in becoming a middle school math teacher and look forward to serving EdRising Alaska this year as a state officer. I hope you have a spectacular year and look forward to working with you!

Carl Vent, taking in a warm and green summer day in Fairbanks. Photo: Courtesy of Carl Vent.

Hi everyone, my name is Carl and I’m one of your Educators Rising State officers for the 2020-21 school year. I am in 12th grade and attend school in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. I’m very excited to be working with you all on becoming a future teacher, and hoping you guys have a successful school year!!

Source: Educators Rising Alaska

UAF School of Education to ensure graduates are prepared for distance learning

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) The Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce continues to conduct its weekly business luncheons online. Tuesday’s topic: preparing teachers for Alaska’s future at the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Education.

School of Education director at UAF, Amy Vinlove, discussed initiatives for the program, including recruiting and supporting Alaska Native students pursuing teaching degrees.

“We are currently at the mid-point in a nine [to] 10-year grant partnership, with some external funding from a philanthropic organization, to really try to build up those strategies and those support systems and consolidate them,” Vinlove said. “This has been area where UAF has been on the forefront for almost 50 years.”

Adapting to the changing times was a topic as well. The school of education is looking to better prepare their graduates for distance learning, as many teachers and students are experiencing right now through digital and assignment-based activities.

Read the article here.

Source: UAF School of Education to ensure graduates are prepared for distance learning – KTVF

Opinion: University of Alaska is Committed to Preparing Our Future Teachers

University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen, left, listens to Dr. Steve Atwater, Executive Dean of the university’s new Alaska College of Education, during an interview at the University of Alaska Southeast on Friday, August 3, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska desperately needs Alaska-trained teachers and in response to our growing teacher shortage, the University of Alaska has expanded its support of the recruitment, preparation and retention of our state’s PK-12 teachers.

To increase the recruitment and retention of teachers, the Alaska Statewide Mentoring Project (ASMP) provides mentor support, this year working with more than 150 early career teachers. UA supports Educators Rising, a national organization that helps steer high school students to the teaching profession.

More than 30 of our state’s school districts have Educators Rising activity with hundreds of Alaska students involved and thinking about becoming a teacher. UA is also offering and coordinating more professional development for teachers, and through the Alaska College of Education, we have stepped up its efforts to recruit, prepare and retain teachers for Alaska.

Read the full article here.

Source: Opinion: University of Alaska is committed to preparing our future teachers | Juneau Empire