Commissioner Michael Johnson of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development offered updates about how school systems are working to support everyone involved in the education process during a press briefing held by Governor Mike Dunleavy on Thursday evening.
His primary focus was to key in on three points of support that the Department is working on: supporting students, supporting teachers, and supporting families.
Commissioner Johnson on supporting educators: “One example of how districts are addressing this issue of support for educators comes from the Delta/Greely School District. Superintendent Shaun Streyle has looked to his innovative teachers to be creative and provide support for their colleagues. They’ve created a YouTube channel that already has 17 videos on it created by these teachers to support their colleagues and the use of distance learning tools. The Department has also been communicating with community organizations across the state that provide services to homeless youth and youth who have been impacted by domestic violence. The Department continues to work with those organizations to identify ways that we can be a resource and support them during this unusual time.”
He then offered examples of how students are being supported: “The creativity and dedication of Alaska’s educators is truly inspiring. For example, Hannah Johnston is a music teacher at Homestead Elementary in Anchorage. Using her school’s Facebook page, Mrs. Johnston is sharing a lesson in her virtual classroom where she teaches a music concept through story and song every morning to her students. Another example is a teacher in Hughes who is reading stories to her youngest students over CB radio. The Department is not giving up on student learning. We’re committed to supporting districts to provide opportunities for students all across the state.”
The Commissioner also discussed some of the ways schools are supporting families: “In Chugach School District, their focus program has started a Facebook page called ‘Support For Sudden Homeschoolers’ which has a lot of offerings and ideas on how to work with your students at home. They even set up a table outside of their office that they’ve manned for families to stop by and pick-up packets of materials and ideas to help them get started.”
He lauded the many resources found on the state’s new AKLearns.org website, but noted that the state is working with one major corporate partner to provide support to those with technological needs: “The Department is also working on options for communities that don’t have connectivity. We’re working with Apple to obtain some pre-loaded iPads, particularly for early-elementary students that don’t have internet capabilities so they can continue on the pathway to reading proficiency.”
Webinars are also a method by which the Department of Education can communicate with teachers, districts, and families while following CDC guidelines. Commissioner Johnson: “In terms of health and safety for our students, the Department has been consulting with school counselors across the state to identify the top mental health needs students’ families are dealing with during this pandemic, as well as to see the interventions that are impacting students at this time. The Department will be conducting statewide webinars next week to support school counselors in their efforts to address students’ mental health issues during this stressful time. The Department is also launching webinars for educators in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Services that will begin next week, focusing on healthy activities that counselors can recommend to students for doing at home to stay healthy and fit while they’re at home.”
He ended by saying that the Department of Education is working with as many partners as possible to ensure the learning process does not suffer.
