It is our great pleasure to announce that attorney John Sedor has joined AASB as a Training and Outreach Specialist. We have long been fans of John’s unique brand of enthusiasm, energy, and expert legal and presentation skills, and we're thrilled to welcome him as a member of our team!

Learn more about "the man behind the caricature" and his upcoming schedule of presentations, seminars and training sessions for school districts.

4 Minute Read

Lon Garrison has been promoted from within the AASB team to Director of Membership Services. For the past four years Lon has served as the AASB School Improvement Coordinator. His new responsibilities will include board development at both in-district workshops and the conference, charter school governance, comprehensive policy services, paperless meetings, and leading superintendent searches.

Lon served nine years on the Sitka School Board, five as board president, and on the AASB Board of Directors for eight years, one year as president.

The 2019 Champion Gathering was held in Anchorage on September 16-17 as a pre-conference session before the DEED Safety and Wellbeing Summit. The Gathering originated in 2016 with CRESEL partner districts. This year STEPS partner districts were welcomed into the state-wide learning community.

2 Minute Read (Photos)

Q: When do boards have committee and working sessions? How is this different from executive session, as both seem to be private?

1 Minute Read

Both girls and boys in Angoon participated in the Skate like A Girl camp. Kids had a chance to construct their own skateboard, learn a few tricks, and stretch themselves in new ways.

While skate parks are common in urban settings, it was a novel experience for the Angoon students. The camp allowed them to combine STEM skills and physical exercise while developing the grit needed to do something new.

The Legislature Needs Your Help to Create a Super Majority

By Mike Bradner, Speaker of the House (1975-76),

House of Representatives (1966-1976), Publisher of

Alaska Legislative Digest and Alaska Economic Report

Our schools are on Governor Dunleavy’s chopping block in 2020. We know this because the governor and his sidekick, OMB Director Donna Arduin, have said so. This is pretty frightening given the governor’s brutal treatment of University funding.

The question is what can “we” do, and how can “we” do it!



4 Minute Read

A genda in Robert’s Rules

Ann Macfarlane, Professional Parliamentarian

Taking the time to construct a powerful agenda will make a big difference to your meetings. Avoid these agenda mistakes:

3 Minute Read

The iPhone 11 – Not your Father’s Flip-Phone

John M. Sedor of Sedor, Wendlandt, Evans & Filippi, LLC

Part one of a series on Technology and the Law

“Technology” – the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes. A simple and common-sense definition. I remember a technology that was prevalent when I was in school – the mimeograph/ditto machine – that churned out blue ink smeared copies and didn’t generate much controversy or many lawsuits. But today’s technologies seem to be different.



4 Minute Read

Dr. Barb Amarok has accepted the position of Director of Northwest Campus. Dr . Amarok has served on the Nome Public Schools Board of Education since 2010, three years as president and vice president for one. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Alaska School Boards, and received the Alaska Federation of Natives Educator of the Year Award in 2015.

2 Minute Read

Dr. Elizabeth Siddon of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center is a recipient the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. Dr. Siddon is a nationally recognized expert in Bering Sea ecosystems, a member of the Juneau School District Board of Education, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Alaska School Boards.

2 Minute Read

Yukon-Koyukuk School District Superintendent, Kerry Boyd, has been named Alaska’s 2020 Superintendent of the Year by the Alaska Superintendents Association. Ms. Boyd is starting her twelfth year as Y-K Superintendent. ASA will advance Superintendent Boyd’s candidacy to the 2020 National Superintendent of the Year program.

3 Minute Read

AASSP is pleased to announce that Frank Hauser has been named as Alaska’s 2019 Principal of the Year. Mr. Hauser has been the school principal of Robert Service High School in Anchorage for three years and a school administrator for fifteen years. He is a graduate of the University of Alaska and received his Masters from UAF.

2 Minute Read



Registration Now Open!

Choose a two-week window

for students and staff between

January 20 - March 20

The Inside Scoop

Each month Commentary highlights Alaska school and district news to honor student achievements, help promote local events and activities, and recognize the contributions and accomplishments of youth in your district. Add us to your school or district newsletter mailing list.

Millions of people around the world joined a protest on Friday to demand action on climate change. Many of the young people who particpated were inspired Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old from Sweden who became famous for skipping school to sit outside her country’s parliament to demand action on climate change.

3 Minute Read

The largest cross-country meet in Nome in twelve years took place this past Saturday. After a strong showing at the Unalakleet Invitational earlier this month, Nanook Coach Jeff Collins says his team continued its success over the weekend.

2 Minute Read

From helping educate the public about autism, advancing STEM efforts, supporting rehabilitation of juvenile offenders, serving veterans, caring for classmates in need and aiding those who suffer from disabilities, Alaska youth are doing remarkable work to improve lives in our local communities. Alaska Communications is proud to celebrate six youth for their outstanding community service. Congratulations to these youth heroes:

3 Minute Read

Sixteen-year old Joycelyn Katcheak of Stebbins is the first wrestler ever in Bering Strait School District history to receive a four-year college wrestling scholarship.

1 Minute Read

“You’re really not competing for the medal: you’re really competing to better yourself, to beat your own personal goals, but it’s not really about coming out on top,” explains Nome coach Vanessa Tahbone. In Western Alaska, the school athletics season ends with a highlight for many students and spectators alike: Native Youth Olympics (NYO).

2 Minute Read

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos toured several alternative education programs in Alaska. This is her first trip to Alaska as the nation’s education secretary. DeVos, a proponent of school choice, said her mission includes learning about Alaska schools and continuing to “encourage rethinking education.” DeVos was in Wasilla at two public alternative schools within the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District.

3 Minute Read

The Alaska Public School system will give U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos plenty to think about when it comes to her stance on education. "In Alaska, we do it right," 2019 Alaska Teacher of the Year Danielle Riha said. "Our charter schools are part of the public school system. There is no fighting over funding going to private schools." Anchorage Education Association President Tom Klaameyer echoed Riha's statement. "I think we do a phenomenal job of offering not only charters but alternative schools," Klaameyer said.

3 Minute Read

The state education board received a stark assessment of teacher turnover.Of the state’s 54 school districts, 25 have had their current superintendents in place for less than two years.

The Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District is creating a workforce training program for peninsula residents. Tim Dillon is the executive director of the economic development district, and he said it’s critical for young residents to learn basic job skills and explore different trades.

2 Minute Read

The Skagway School will fund start-up of FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), a competitive high school robotics program, which will run independently from the school. The school board approved one-time funding of the program. The FTC program is an extension of the existing FIRST LEGO League robotics program, which the school sponsors for junior high students.

2 Minute Read

More than 60 high schools in Alaska are currently on a wait list to build an eSports program and compete as an official varsity sport. The Alaska Schools Activities Association has partnered with PlayVS to build an interscholastic electronic sports league with three gaming options: League

of Legends, Smite and Rocket League.

3 Minute Read

The Anchorage School District received a donation of high-end guitars that were bound for Hong Kong before they were confiscated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, officials said. The district estimated the 10 guitars have a combined value of nearly $54,500, The electric guitars were commercially shipped from the East Coast and declared as clothing.

2 Minute Read

The Kodiak Island Borough School District Board of Education voted unanimously to begin a review of the graduation requirements at Kodiak High School. According to Superintendent Larry LeDoux, the current graduation requirements are outdated and may leave students unprepared for the job market.

2 Minute Read

It took a little longer than planned, but a window of clear weather allowed the old Napakiak school fuel tanks to be moved to Bethel. The U.S. Coast Guard ordered the Lower Kuskokwim School District to empty the tanks to prevent an environmental disaster as the eroding Kuskokwim riverbank advanced towards the fuel site.

2 Minute Read

The Yakov E. Netsvetov School in Atka has struggled with low enrollment in recent years. But this month, 10 students showed up for the first day of classes, helping the school avoid a shutdown — and hinting at greater stability for the small Unangax̂ community in the western Aleutian Islands.

3 Minute Read

Teachers and students returned to public school on the Kenai Peninsula after educators called off a strike early in the morning. The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and two educator unions reached a tentative contract agreement.

3 Minute Read

A New Stuyahok teacher is among three finalists for the 2020 Alaska Teacher of the Year award. Ben Griese of "Chief" Ivan Blunka School in New Stuyahok has devoted 10 years to serving the communities within Southwest Region School District, most notably as a pre-K and K-12 special education teacher at "Chief" Ivan Blunka School in New Stuyahok. Griese dedicates himself to supporting the unique needs of the students, staff, and communities in his district.

3 Minute Read

The latest development in the West Valley football controversy unfolded at the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District board meeting Thursday night. Superintendent Karen Gaborik announced the two-year suspensions of the seven assistant coaches who were present at the preseason football training incident at the UAF Pool that left three students hospitalized. The school board voted unanimously to uphold Gaborik’s decision.

3 Minute Read

Ketchikan school administration officials have walked back a proposed cell phone policy that had explicitly warned students they could expect no privacy on their devices while on school grounds.

3 Minute Read



Q: At what age can a qualified voter, who has been a resident of Alaska for at least seven years, run for Governor?

A: 30 years old ( Article 3, Section 2, Alaska Constitution )

Download a Free Copy of Alaska's Constitution