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PLEASE NOTE – VENUE CHANGE!
Due to Typhoon Halong’s impact in Western Alaska, the Egan Convention Center is serving as an emergency shelter for displaced residents.
AASB’s Annual Conference will now be held at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center, 600 W 7th Avenue, Anchorage.
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LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY
Coming Together for Alaska Students
Lon Garrison, AASB Executive Director
As Alaskans, resilience is part of who we are—and last week showed us why. When we discovered that the Egan Center, our chosen venue for the 72nd Annual Conference of the Association of Alaska School Boards, was still housing evacuees from Western Alaska, our team swiftly responded.
Working closely with the staffs at both the Egan and Dena’ina Centers, we devised a solution. Thanks to this teamwork, the conference will proceed as scheduled—now at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage.
Keynote Speakers: Inspiring Leadership and Connection
Our keynote lineup reflects AASB’s commitment to supporting students academically, culturally, and personally.
Jeff Utecht, an internationally recognized educator and consultant, will challenge us to think about leadership in the era of generative artificial intelligence. His message is about more than technology—it’s about how school leaders can harness innovation to empower teachers, improve learning, and prepare students for an unpredictable future.
Ben Mallott, President of the Alaska Federation of Natives, will ground us in the cultural heart of education. He will speak to the importance of community, identity, and the power of local governance in shaping responsive, meaningful education systems. His discussion on Tribal compacting offers a vision for how communities can design educational pathways rooted in culture and self-determination.
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BOARD DEVELOPMENT
Get Ready for AASB’s 72nd Annual Conference!
Jenni Lefing, Membership Services Manager
We hope you’ll join us November 13–16 in Anchorage for AASB’s 72nd Annual Conference and Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) — Alaska’s largest gathering of education leaders. This annual event brings school board members, superintendents, and student leaders together to share ideas, address challenges, and explore ways to strengthen education across our state.
As we shared last week, the Egan Convention Center, our original venue, is serving as a shelter for Alaskans displaced by Typhoon Halong in Western Alaska. We’re grateful that Anchorage can provide this vital support to these communities in this time of need.
Thanks to the hard work of the Anchorage Convention Center staff, our conference will proceed as scheduled- now at the Dena’ina Center. While there may be minor adjustments to our schedule, our overall program remains the same.
Like your own school boards and staff, AASB remains resilient and adaptable, and we look forward to welcoming you to the Dena’ina Center in just a few weeks!
| | Yup'ik Elder Liz Sunnyboy from the Bethel region interacts with student attendees during the 2022 Youth Leadership Institute. | | |
CONDITIONS FOR LEARNING
AASB’s annual Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) is fast approaching!
Chookán (Lakrisha) Brady, Youth & Cultural Education Coordinator
Registered students will participate in 4 days of growth in their leadership journey as Alaska’s youth. This consists of both full group activities and breakout sessions focused on leadership, resilience, sense-of-identity, and more. Registered chaperones will also have the opportunity to learn alongside peers, including but not limited to best ways to support youth beyond the institute.
Take a look at what our 2022 YLI looked like!
Interested in registering? Click Here
If you have any questions, please contact Chookán (Lakrisha) Brady.
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Discover how Alaska schools and families are partnering through the Alaska Family Engagement Center’s weekly "Spotlight" newsletter, featuring stories, tools, and trainings.
Past editions are available here.
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Join us November 13-16 for AASB’s Annual Conference in Anchorage! As Alaska’s largest gathering of education policymakers, the conference provides school board members with opportunities to learn from experts, connect with peers, and enhance board-superintendent collaboration.
This year’s program includes expert keynote speakers, roundtables, like-sized district forums, shared meals, and over 15 breakout sessions on timely education topics. Plus, the Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) returns, bringing high school students together to build leadership skills and inspire change in their schools and communities.
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PLEASE NOTE - VENUE CHANGE!
Due to the impacts of Typhoon Halong in Western Alaska, the Egan Convention Center is currently being used as an emergency shelter for displaced residents.
AASB’s Annual Conference will now be held at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center, 600 W 7th Ave, Anchorage.
| | | | Don't Miss These Featured Presenters! | | Jeff Utecht, global education consultant and keynote speaker, has worked with over 75,000 educators worldwide to strengthen leadership, move beyond traditional teaching methods, and prepare students for the future. | Ben Mallott is President of AFN and a lifelong advocate for Alaska Native and rural communities. A former aide to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, he now chairs the Alaska Humanities Forum and serves on several statewide boards. | | | | Shape Policy, Support Students, and Celebrate Leadership! | | |
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New Resolutions Documents Available!
Two key AASB Resolutions documents are now available for members to review in preparation for the November 13 committee meeting at the Dena’ina Center:
Members are encouraged to stay engaged in AASB’s advocacy work by reviewing the materials in advance. Click the links or visit the AASB website for more information.
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Support this year's June Nelson Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser!
Honoring longtime Kotzebue school board member June Nelson and a favorite conference tradition- the Friday Night June Nelson Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser - featuring a live and silent auction- raises funds to award up to 15 students $1,500 each for college or trade school.
If you would like to donate an item to this year's auction, please email aasb@aasb.org or bring it to the Annual Conference, where items will be accepted at the check-in desk.
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Honoring Excellence in Education
Thanks to all school boards and superintendents who submitted nominations for this year’s awards! We're grateful for your time and thoughtful recognition of the individuals and boards who exemplify leadership and service in education.
The Awards Committee will carefully review the nominations, and winners of the School Board of the Year and the Carl Rose Governance Award will be announced at the AASB Annual Awards Luncheon during the Conference.
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Annual Conference Sponsor Guest Articles
Connect with us at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center!
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Email | Website
609-658-5765
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Personalized College & Career Counseling
Now Free for Alaska Families
Bob Block, Co-founder, College Guidance Network (CGN)
The Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB) and Alaska Pacific University (APU) are proud to announce a new partnership with College Guidance Network (CGN). Together, we’re bringing Alaska families free access to Eva, a new AI-powered college and career counselor available through the CGN app.
Navigating the path after high school isn’t easy—for students or parents. This partnership ensures that every family in Alaska has personalized support, expert-backed guidance, and real-time answers whenever they need them.
The College Guidance Network’s (CGN) AI-enabled platform is built on insights from 400+ top college and career experts. to create personalized roadmaps, complete with customized checklists, live office hours, and 24/7 guidance from Eva, your AI Counseling Assistant. Designed to support school counselors, CGN helps engage parents and teens as they navigate this important postsecondary journey. Join hundreds of schools and thousands of families by downloading CGN.
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Free support to quit tobacco is available!
Naomi Davidson, MSW, LCSW, Healthy Schools Specialist, State of Alaska, Department of Health
Bea Pullekines, MPH, Youth Specialist, State of Alaska, Department of Health, Tobacco Prevention and Control Program
You are invited to help promote the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout on November 20, 2025. This national event encourages people who use tobacco to quit for the day. You don’t have to go it alone. Alaska’s Tobacco Quit Line offers free, confidential coaching and nicotine replacement therapy and is available 24/7!
Alaska’s schools can receive free resources to help address youth tobacco and nicotine use. Almost 1 in 4 (23%) used a tobacco product according to the 2023 Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey data. This includes all types of tobacco products, like e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and nicotine pouches.
Alaska’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Program launched a tobacco toolkit. Toolkit materials help educate about the health risks of tobacco and nicotine. They also promote Not Buying It and AK Live Vape Free.
Not Buying It is a statewide campaign that encourages young Alaskans to live tobacco- and vape-free lives. AK Live Vape Free is a confidential text messaging program. Teens ages 13-17 can join for free by texting VAPEFREE to 873373.
All materials are free and can be shipped anywhere in Alaska at no cost to schools.
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The Changing Nature of Technology Allows for New Models of Support
Chris Romine, Lynx Education
How we as educators approach and support technology has changed a great deal over the years. In the early days of IT where labs of desktop computers had dedicated spaces in our schools there were local resources for the students to access. Technology for students was installed on each computer or a local server at the site itself, requiring local personnel to setup and upkeep the lab. Network resources were not critical to delivering classroom level content.
Also, users were almost all new to technology and often did not own a laptop or cell phone at home. Things like smart phones that we take for granted, did not exist yet. Professional development was a daily requirement for IT staff helping teaching professionals integrate these amazing tools into their classrooms.
But change has come quickly in the last 20 years for technology, its users, and those that support them. Now households are full of smart technology, connected to and constantly communicating with the internet. We carry laptops, tablets and smartphones with most professional users applying all of these technologies to their workplaces. This has made most users very savvy with the day to day use of devices. Our teachers are no longer looking for basic tech support at a local level with the frequency of the past. Instead, they are performing much more complicated tasks utilizing many technologies and integrating them together to create a lesson in the classroom.
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Whether you’re just getting started on your board or want to brush up on the basics,
AASB’s First-Term Board Member Webinar Series is for you!
This series of seven webinars will be held from October through February and will cover topics such as conducting effective meetings, school finance, working with your community, school law, and more.
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COMING UP NEXT:
Conducting Effective Meetings & Roberts Rules of Order Basics
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
12:00 – 1:00 pm
Do your board meetings run smoothly? Does everyone get an equal chance to participate? Does your meeting agenda make sense, and is it effective? Are you new to using Robert’s Rules of Order?
This webinar, hosted by AASB’s Tiffany Jackson, will help new and more experienced members gain a better idea of how meetings should proceed and what you can do to help!
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Sign up for this year's
Alaska School Climate & Connectedness Survey
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We invite your school districts to participate in the 2026 School Climate & Connectedness Survey (SCCS). Each year, the majority of Alaska school districts collect and use school climate data to improve and strengthen school environments, relationships, and connections between students, staff and families. Participating in SCCS also opens up additional opportunities for grant programs through AASB to support initiatives to improve school climate.
Questions? Contact the School Climate team at sccs@aasb.org
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2026 Statewide SCCS Window: January 26 – March 20, 2026
Districts select 1 four-week window for students & staff
Window 1: January 26 - February 20, 2026
Window 2: February 23 - March 20, 2026
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Parental Religious Opt-out and the U.S Supreme Court
Part 3 of the series, Judicial Roundup: Corralling Cases That Affect Schools
Allen Clendaniel of Sedor, Wendlandt, Evans & Filippi, LLC
This year, our firm’s educational lawyers are focusing on important cases that affect school districts in Alaska and throughout our country. This month we write about the recent United States Supreme Court case, Mahmoud v. Taylor, which addresses parents’ right to opt out of instruction based on religious objections.
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How to be objective about subjective comments
Ann Macfarlane, Professional Parliamentarian
What can you do when your colleagues on a board or council say things that you find offensive? What if they are making subjective statements that hurt your feelings? We are living in tough times for civility. People feel free to say things during meetings that can be offensive and challenging.
Robert’s Rules of Order offers a simple solution to the problem of subjective, offensive or hurtful remarks during a meeting. It works like this:
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Would you like to take the very best possible minutes for your school board, council, or other nonprofit body? Our Live Zoom Workshop on Meeting Minutes and the Role of the Clerk is our most popular offering. Get the tips, guidelines, and principles that make for excellent minutes. Learn the language that the clerk can use to speak up, and when it is appropriate. Connect with colleagues across the nation to share your experience.
This workshop will be held Thursday, November 13 at 10:00 am Pacific time (9:00 am Alaska time) and is 2.5 hours long. We will open the workshop 30 minutes early to give an opportunity to talk informally. You may ask questions at that time, or send them in the chat during the workshop. We will also hold breakout groups so we can learn from and with our colleagues. One IIMC credit is available.
Your registration incudes a recording available for 60 days,extensive reference materials, and a 50% discount coupon for our popular "Wait! Wait! Cheat Sheet." I look forward to seeing you there!
Questions? Email Ann Macfarlane, Professional Registered Parliamentarian
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Is there a reduction in force policy for classified staff?
Answer: Each category of personnel is governed by different rules. Classified personnel is typically governed by a district’s classified employment policies, employee handbooks, and any Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that may apply. There are no statutory provisions specifically addressing classified layoff.
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Your Personal AI College and Career Counselor
The Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB) and Alaska Pacific University (APU) are proud to partner and support our prospective families by partnering with College Guidance Network to provide free access to a new AI college counselor platform and mobile app.
The app provides families with trusted FAQ support from 400+ of the top college and career experts on topics like college admission, financial aid, parent-teen communication, and much more.
Get the answers you need by downloading the free app today!
Learn More Here | Download the App
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National History Day 2026
Theme and support Materials
National History Day® (NHD) has released its 2026 theme: Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History, in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Each year, thousands of students worldwide participate in NHD by creating research projects that build skills in communication, project management, and historical thinking.
The top two entries in each category at state affiliate contests advance to the NHD National Contest, held each June at the University of Maryland, College Park, where about 3,000 students compete. For more information email alaskahistoryday@gmail.com.
Teacher Resources | Overview Video
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Applications Open for 2026
Young People’s Continental Congress
Applications due November 14, 2025
Student-teacher teams are invited to apply for the 2026 Young People’s Continental Congress, taking place July 19–25, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA. This program offers a unique opportunity to study history and civics, connect with peers nationwide, and explore how the ideals of the founding era continue to shape our democracy.
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–11 in 2025–26, and teachers of grades 4–12 from any subject area (including school librarians).
Learn more and apply at nhd.org/ypcc2026
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Tanana Middle School’s Heather Johnson Named 2026 Alaska Principal of the Year
The Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP) has named Heather Johnson, principal of Tanana Middle School in Fairbanks, 2026 Alaska Principal of the Year.
Johnson has spent her entire career in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, beginning as a substitute teacher in 1996. She later served as assistant principal at West Valley High School before becoming principal at Tanana Middle. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of Alaska Anchorage.
AASSP President David Nogg and Fairbanks Superintendent Dr. Luke Meinert praised Johnson as a compassionate, innovative leader whose energy and collaboration create a welcoming school where students feel safe, supported, and a true sense of belonging.
Johnson will now be considered for the NASSP National Principal of the Year award.
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Petersburg’s Jaime Cabral Named 2026 Alaska Assistant Principal of the Year
Petersburg High School and Mitkof Middle School Assistant Principal Jaime Cabral has been named 2026 Alaska Assistant Principal of the Year by the Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP). He was also honored earlier this year as the 2025 Region V Assistant Principal of the Year.
Cabral has served the Petersburg School District since 2011, where he also works as Dean of Student Development, Athletic Director, and Title VI Grant Coordinator. He holds degrees from Western Oregon University and Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
AASSP President David Nogg praised Cabral’s energy and positive impact on school climate, while Superintendent Robyn Taylor highlighted his ability to make staff and students feel valued and supported.
Cabral received the award during the 59th Annual Alaska Principals’ Conference in Anchorage.
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Aleutians East – Drying fish and canning jam: Akutan teachers highlight place-based learning – Kanesia McGlashan-Price, KUCB
Anchorage – Halong student evacuees start transition to the Anchorage School District – Dani Tompkins, Alaska’s News Source
Anchorage – Anchorage teachers union, school district headed to arbitration over contract dispute – Tim Rockey, ADN
Fairbanks – Pearl Creek charter application denied by school board – Anna Lionas, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Haines – School district considers new cell phone policy – Jake Dye, Chilkat Valley News
Juneau – Frank Hauser announces resignation as Juneau School District superintendent – Jamie Diep, KTOO
Ketchikan – School district staff struggles as the board looks for a new superintendent – Sydney Dauphinais, KRBD
Kodiak – District turns to national search to find new superintendent – Steve Williams, Kodiak Daily Mirror
Mat-Su – Superintendent addresses the AK STAR participation – Katie Stavick, Frontiersman
Nome – Annual week-long Inupiaq language learning event returns to Nome – Wali Rana, KNOM
Sitka – MEHS advisory board hears complaints about staffing, programs, other concerns – Anna Laffrey, Daily Sitka Sentinel
Unalaska – Less than three months after joining the district, Unalaska principal resigns – Maggie Nelson, KUCB
Wrangell – School board decides to look for new funding, not cuts – Jonathon Dawe, Wrangell Sentinel
More Alaska School District News
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Opinion: Teaching in the Last Frontier: A Filipino POV – Justy Tuquib, ADN
Alaska cities and school districts scramble to close budget gaps after state cuts bond debt payments – Margaret Sutherland, KDLG
Federal shutdown leaves funding for several Alaska Head Start programs in limbo – Tim Rockey, Anchorage Daily News
UAA will retain interim chancellor through school year after rejecting 4 finalist candidates – Tim Rockey, ADN
Alaska education department publishes guidelines on developing AI policies in schools – Jamie Diep, KTOO
Alaska Board of Education takes no action on funding regulation change after public outcry – Jamie Diep, KTOO
State board pumps brakes on regulation limiting local school support – Lars Hanson, Alaska’s News Source
Educators cite ‘targeted retribution,’ ‘stealth raid’ on budgets as state’s effort to limit municipal funding is delayed – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Independent
State education board takes no action on controversial funding regulation change – Tim Rockey, ADN
NEA Data Brief: H-1B Visas in Public School Districts – National Education Association
Governor vetoes corporate tax bill intended to raise money for schools – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
Suit challenging use of Alaska homeschool funds for private school tuition moves forward – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media
‘Absolutely devastating’: Rural schools say $100K visa fee could make it hard to hire teachers – Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat
More State and Federal News
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Looking for a New Superintendent?
The Association of Alaska School Boards has been conducting successful and economical superintendent searches for over twenty years. Our Superintendent Search Service provides expert facilitation of the entire search process, including identifying the needs of the district, recruiting candidates, conducting background searches, facilitating interviews, and all the steps to help with the hiring process.
If you would like AASB to conduct a superintendent search for your district, or have questions, Learn More or Contact Us
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2025-2026 AASB Board of Directors
Back row, left to right: Paul Robbins, Jr., Ketchikan; Penny Vadla, Kenai; Clarence Daniel, Lower Kuskokwim; Tim Doran, Fairbanks; Amber Frommherz, Juneau.
Middle Row, left to right: Dana Mock, Delta/Greely; Annie Weyiouanna, Bering Strait; Darlene Trigg, Nome; Julia Phelan, Delta/Greely; Melanie Kasayulie, Yupiit; Frieda Nageak, North Slope.
Front row, left to right: Kasaŋnaaluk, Marie Greene, Northwest Arctic; Margo Bellamy, Anchorage.
Not pictured: Melissa Burnett, Fairbanks; Michael Swain, Bristol Bay
Meet the AASB Board
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Association of Alaska School Boards | aasb.org | |
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