Take 5 minutes to review these 5 important education bills
Talk to 5 friends, colleagues, or family members about these topics, and then:
Five action ideas
Contact your state legislator via phone, email, or attend a town meeting
Testify at a legislative hearing in a LIO office, make a phone call, or write a letter
Listen to a committee hearing, and track bill movement with SMS alerts from #AKleg
Talk to elected officials in city and borough government, and your school principal or site council about these bills
Advocate for a state fiscal plan; speak up to share your positive stories about education. Help the public understand the positive value and outcomes happening in KPBSD
Student teams from around the district tackled this year’s ‘STEM Design Challenge’ called the ‘Toothpick Bridge Challenge’ for the past few months (either at school, virtually, or a combination), with the final results determined in late February. This year’s team challenge was to build a bridge from only toothpicks and glue that is able to support a maximum amount of weight. The weight was a suspended five-gallon bucket, in which up to 20 quarts of water were individually added until either the bridge structure failed or the bridge was able to hold the full five-gallon (20 quart) volume capacity of the suspended bucket (41.7 pounds).
Facilitated by the district’s gifted education program (Quest), the STEM Design Challenge has been a substitute for the annual ‘Mind A-Mazes’ district challenge the past couple of years, and has given students around the peninsula an opportunity to work collaboratively on a STEM competition which they could work on at home or school. This year’s challenge was created and coordinated by Quest teachers Brandon Young and Brian Bailey. Teams were required to follow a variety of specific rules for construction and testing, with each team then submitting a single video submission of their bridge weight test results.
Students were encouraged to research various bridge design types, specifically trusses, when designing their bridges. Geometric principles of design (including measurement of angles) and physical principles such as tension and compression were also explored by numerous teams during the research, design, construction, and testing portions of the challenge. Whether teams’ bridges held a few quarts or over 20 quarts of water, they all were able to attempt a challenging engineering task and share their results with other teams from around the district. Some of the winning teams are even designing additional weight tests to see just how much MORE their toothpick bridges can hold beyond the 5 gallons of water – adding barbells, bricks, or even people!
Out of 30 team entries from around the KPBSD, the top results and winning teams whose bridges were all able to hold the maximum five-gallon water bucket weight results are:
1st place teams (tie) – Elementary Division
Nikiski North StarElementary – “M&M’s” Morgan Hooper, Mia Settlemyer, Isabella Durfee Mountain View Elementary – “Maci and Marley” Maci Miller, Marley Mesa Nikiski North Star Elementary – “Gold Nuggets” Emily Porter, Autumn Warner, Logan Kimbell
1st place teams (tie) – Middle/Senior Division
Nikiski Middle – “Baffingly beautiful babbling bridge building bailey bros” Rainy Jenness, Ryenne Douglas, Sadie Porter, Eden Nightingale, Halle Blades Kenai Middle – “Team Lucario” Dylan Fry, Wyatt Hansen, Oscar Marcou, Elloree Smith Nikiski Middle – “Corn on the Cob” Adalynn Choate, Milly Hornung
Thank you to Brian Bailey for contributing this story, and the coaches, judges, students, and everyone who assisted and supported the teams!
The following school board meetings and work sessions will be held in the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers at 144 Binkley Street, Soldotna, AK unless otherwise noted.
PLEASE NOTE: The meetings are open to the public. The public is invited to attend in person and to listen and participate as noted below.
(877) 853-5257 Conference ID: 708 024 188 When prompted for an Attendee ID, press #.
Work Sessions (Public Listening) 1:00 p.m. Board Policy Review 1:15 p.m. K-5 Math Adoption 1:45 p.m. Legislative Bills 2:45 p.m. Finance Work Session 3:45 p.m. Student Council Resolutions 4:30 p.m. Board Discussion
6:00 p.m. Business Meeting: (Public Listening and Participation will be as noted on the Agenda in BoardDocs )
If you would like to pre-register to testify telephonically (optional) or if you have any technical difficulties or questions, contact Lisa Gabriel at lgabriel@kpbsd.k12.ak.us, 907-714-8836, Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The 2022 ASTE Teacher of the Year journey began for Billeen Carlson in 2008 as a substitute teacher in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, then in 2017 after earning her Master of Arts in Teaching degree, she began teaching as a secondary (6-12 grade) generalist teacher at Nikolaevsk School. She is a Homer High School alumni [Class of 1994], and graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage.
ASTE President Bill Burr said, “We were honored have celebrate Billeen as the ASTE Teacher of the year. She is a true example of the power of teaching for her students. She is moving education forward by giving students choice and voice.”
“I am thrilled that Ms. Carlson was named the ASTE educator of the year,” said Superintendent Clayton Holland. Ms. Carlson brings a high level of enthusiasm and a willingness to step in and help students and staff from across the district with remote instruction and the use of technology to maximize the effectiveness of instruction and learning. Congratulations to Billeen on this much deserved recognition!”
“I was surprised to receive this award,” said Billeen. “Our district is full of experienced, technologically savvy educators who put students first. Of the team who attended ASTE, most presented on tools and strategies to the statewide audience. As far as districts in the state, the Kenai was the most highly represented. As a district, we should be proud of our level of educational competency.
I would particularly like to thank my administrator, Mike Sellers, who has encouraged me to ‘fail forward’ at every step in my growth as an educator. I have felt empowered to learn and apply my learning to the benefit of my students. I would also like to thank Amanda Adams who lit a fire under me about collaborating with my colleagues and sharing my expertise. She made me feel like I had something to add to the bigger conversation and that I had better get off my tuckus and add it.”
With all of the chaos and hardships surrounding education in the last couple of years, I have been blessed with the right skills, the right mindset, and the right level of resiliency to rise above our challenges.
Billeen carlson
Thoughts from the 2022 ASTE Teacher of the Year
Career path influences I was blessed by a series of deeply caring and inspirational teachers during my time as a student in the KPBSD. Jim Holcomb & Nina Faust were particularly supportive while I was in high school. They helped me believe in myself and encouraged me to develop my strengths rather than hammering on my deficits.
In the right place at the right time I love the challenge of working with diverse groups of students in challenging environments. The pandemic shut down provided me the opportunity to leverage my technology skills to the benefit of my students and colleagues. I also enjoy working with students to personalize their learning experiences and to help them meet performance standards in non-traditional ways. With all of the chaos and hardships surrounding education in the last couple of years, I have been blessed with the right skills, the right mindset, and the right level of resiliency to rise above our challenges.
Challenges and solutions I know firsthand that, in order to be a successful adult, people need to know how to advocate for themselves and how to manage their own learning; I have loved our school district’s push to provide these skills for our students. Our communities on the Kenai Peninsula are particularly hard hit by stressors and Adverse Childhood Experiences—it is important for our students to be deliberately taught resiliency skills and to learn how to learn and how to advocate for themselves as they move into adulthood.
Insight for K-12 students Set goals, be an advocate for yourself and others, take ownership of your learning, and be confident that hard work will pay off. And know that the inverse is also true.
Billeen attended Chapman School (1990), Homer High School (Class of 1994), earned an Associate of Arts degree in English from Kenai Peninsula College (2004), a Bachelor of Arts in History (2010) and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) for Secondary Education with a social studies focus (2012) from the University of Alaska Anchorage UAA.
What is ASTE and why is it important for learning? An ASTE staff blog post explains, “Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away the landscape of education and learning was limited to the classroom that a student and teacher were sitting in. It depended on the books and tools at their disposal, and it depended on the capacity and endurance of the teachers and students to seek beyond what was in that room. There were borders, boundaries, and geographical distances isolating humans. Technology has continually diminished these barriers offering us a glimpse into the depths of what is possible. Expanding worldviews. Building relevance. Finding common ground to solve problems faced by not one person or culture, but by us all.”
“Thank you to all of our staff and families who provided input regarding early release days. From the more than 1,800 survey responses, it is clear that the early release days provided benefit to our students by allocating time for our staff to plan, review data, and collaborate. The extra time has been much needed this year with all the disruptions caused by COVID-19. We also heard how it has been a hardship on many working parents who struggled to make arrangements for their childcare when school ended 90 minutes earlier than normal, and acknowledge that difficulty.
Given all the input, and with the impact of COVID in schools waning, the KPBSD will add three additional Friday Early Release days on March 18, 25 and April 1, 2022. On these three days, school will end 90 minutes earlier than usual, and buses will also run 90 minutes earlier than normal. Then for the rest of this school year, we will return to the regular weekly school schedule. Thank you for everything you do to support student learning.”
– Superintendent Clayton Holland
The primary purpose of the early release for students and maximum day for staff is to provide:
Time to plan instruction: the learning gap between students is larger and additional time is needed to plan to meet those needs. Time for collaboration: grade level and subject matter teams, special education, intervention Time to communicate with parents and other important stakeholders Time to review student data in a manner that guides instruction Time for secretaries to catch up on data entry Time for nurses to input data without disruption Time to clean buildings Time for trainings that staff haven’t been able to engage in Time available for students to address individual instructional needs (make-up tests, receive targeted intervention, etc…)
For nine years, we have designated six school days a year as a minimum day — with a 90-minute early release for students, while staff works a maximum day.
To address the learning gaps many students are experiencing since the pandemic began, there is value and additional time needed to plan, collaborate, review data, and design targeted instruction to meet the individual needs of our students. This is largely why we added three additional early release days prior to spring break, and moved them all to Friday.
The shortened school days affects families, so through this survey, families and guardians can offer feedback to help us improve. Our nearly 1,200 school staff will also take a survey, and share their perspective and thoughts. All of your responses will help guide future early release days. Thank you in advance for your time, and the many ways everyone has needed to be flexible these past few years. My team and I would appreciate your thoughts.
Sincerely, Superintendent Clayton Holland Start Survey
12-16-21 Friday Early Release Day letter
Addition of Three Friday Early Release Student Days
Dear KPBSD Parents and Guardians,
I’m writing to give you advance planning notice about three additional early release days for students that will begin on Friday, January 21, 2022. In addition, previously scheduled Wednesday early release days will shift to Fridays.
While schools across the nation struggled to stay open this fall, I am extremely proud of our staff whose dedication kept schools open, buses running on schedule, and meals served, every day. More than 1,000 KPBSD employees continue to step up and help when we have staffing and substitute shortages. I am proud of everything we have accomplished together, and especially thankful to you as parents and guardians who made sacrifices to adapt, and keep our students learning.
This has been a heavy lift for everyone. I’ve found there’s a significant need moving forward to plan, collaborate, review data, and design targeted instruction to meet the individual needs of our students and address the learning gaps many are experiencing. We need to catch up with student contact updates and deep cleaning of our schools. Therefore, after talking with our principals, school board, and hearing from staff, KPBSD is adding three additional 90-minute early release for student days in the third quarter, and moving early release days to Friday from the previously scheduled Wednesday dates.
The first Friday early release day for students is Friday, January 21, 2022. From then until spring break, there will be a 90-minute early release student day every week, except for already scheduled parent-teacher conferences or inservice days. I know that childcare is a concern for some of you. Boys & Girls Club will open early during the afternoon on these Fridays. I’ve instructed principals to work with families who have no other options for childcare during the three additional early release days. Your school will have more information after we return from winter break.
Near Spring Break in March, we will evaluate the value of the student early release days through staff and parent surveys, and reviewing student data.
The primary purpose of the early release for students and maximum day for staff is to provide:
Time to plan instruction: the learning gap between students is larger and additional time is needed to plan to meet those needs
Time for collaboration: grade level and subject matter teams, special education, intervention
Time to communicate with parents and other important stakeholders
Time to review student data in a manner that guides instruction
Time for secretaries to catch up on data entry
Time for nurses to input data without disruption
Time to clean buildings
Time for trainings that staff haven’t been able to engage in
Time available for students to address individual instructional needs (make-up tests, receive targeted intervention, etc…)
Wednesday, 1/19/22, Early Release moved to Friday, 1/21/22
Friday, 1/28/22, Early Release
Friday, 2/4/22, Early Release
Friday, 2/11/22, Early Release
Wednesday, 2/16/22, Early Release cancelled; Friday, 2/18/22, is previously scheduled Parent–Teacher Conferences
Friday 2/25/22, Early Release
Friday 3/4/22, Previously Scheduled Inservice–no school for students
Variance calendar for Kachemak-Selo, Razdolna, and Voznesenka schools
We recognize families will need to make arrangements on the additional three early release dates, and thank everyone for the willingness to help our KPBSD schools improve through these early-release dates. Kindly contact your school principal with questions.
Sincerely,
Clayton Holland Superintendent of Schools Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Every Child Has a Right to be Safe, Seen, and Celebrated!
*variance: Kachemak-Selo, Nanwalek, Nikolaevsk, Razdolna, and Voznesenka schools are in session and have a different spring break
“March is a time of hope and optimism on the Kenai with increasing daylight and warming weather. I wish all of our staff, students, and families a wonderful Spring Break and hope you make the time to get outside and do those things that make living here great. I look forward to seeing you all again when the last quarter of school begins on March 14th.”
A Kenai Central High School graduate [Class of 1990] and a teacher at K-Beach Elementary for 24 years, Jason Daniels received national recognition as the Science Awardee for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST). His Mom and Dad were educators in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, and inspirations for his career.
“The Presidential Award is a symbol of teaching excellence,” said Mr. Daniels. “I work with many excellent teachers who are deserving of recognition and I am humbled to receive this honor. The award process is a reflective journey of professional development and I am a better teacher as a result. It honors my students and families, colleagues, and administrators that believed in me and I am thankful for their support. The greatest reward in my teaching is to see my students succeed in their learning.”
“Mr. Daniels is an outstanding longtime educator with the KPBSD and I can think of no one more deserving of this recognition,” said Superintendent Clayton Holland. “He is not only an exceptional educator who makes learning real and relevant to his students, he is an even better person who develops positive and trusting relationships with his students, their parents, and his colleagues. Please join me to celebrate Mr. Daniels.”
K-Beach Elementary Principal Janae Van Slyke said, “Mr. Daniels is an outstanding educator who personalizes his instruction to meet the needs and interests of individual students. Mr. Daniels creates an immersive classroom experience focused on mathematics and science inquiry. His students are engrossed in science and learning how it impacts their daily lives. This honor is well deserved!”
In his words…
Early life inspirations
My parents inspired my career path. They were both teachers. They came to Alaska in 1969 from Oregon and settled in Seldovia. I was born there—actually in Homer because there was no hospital in Seldovia. My Mom’s teaching superpower was her love for her students. She earned a reputation by her colleagues for her nurturing caring teaching style. I joked that she treated her students better than she treated me! All kidding aside, she was a great role model for putting kids first. My Dad went on to get his principal endorsement and was the first principal to open the doors at Redoubt Elementary. I learned a great deal from him as well. As a marine science teacher in Seldovia, he introduced me to science at an early age in the tide pools near Seldovia. I was hooked on science from then on. My Dad demonstrated the traits of a strong leader who was dedicated and who always strived to be the best educator he could be. To this day he gives me advice, whether requested or not, about how to handle challenges in teaching. I joke with him that he has never stopped teaching.
Advice to my younger self, or a current K-12 student
Stand on your own two feet. Do not worry what others are doing. Start now to decide what you want to do with your life. Start thinking of small things you can do now to get you to your goal. You are not too young to start pursuing your passions.
Favorite part of the school day
Certainly one of my students’ favorite parts of school and one of mine as well is the opportunities to experience STEM through hands on learning. English and Language Arts are an important part of science learning, and there is nothing more engaging, exciting, and sometimes surprising, in my experience, than getting your “hands dirty”. Whether it is taking apart an owl pellet, solving a real world-engineering problem, or walking to Slikok Creek to conduct water quality tests, experiential learning adds color to an otherwise pastel science learning canvas.
On teaching science
Teaching science can be scary and intimidating for some teachers. It is not a core subject, so not as much attention is spent in teaching it. I would like teachers who are nervous about jumping in and teaching STEM to know that it can start with one good lesson. One good lesson will turn into another … and another, until you look back and realize ‘I’ve got this, and the kids are getting something out of it, and I’m enjoying the engagement and deep thinking and learning that is happening here.’ Start with one good lesson.
Fun and Play
My wife and I like to get together with friends and be social, we like to bike, kayak, camp, work around the house, grow veggies, and travel.
Thankful
I want to thank my colleague Suzanne Klaben, my principal Janae Van Slyke, my PAEMST and teaching mentor Diane McBee, and many other partners in teaching over the years who have supported me, encouraged me, and inspired me.
Mr. Daniels earned a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from UAA, and an MEd in educational technology from UAS. He is a National Board Certified Middle Childhood Generalist, and holds a master teacher certificate with an endorsement in educational technology.
