December Update
Alaska Association of Elementary School Principals
A December Note from Your AI-Assisted President 🎄🤖
‘Twas the month of December, and all through the schools,
Principals were juggling an infinite list of rules. 📚
Between concerts, reports, and a calendar full,
Even reading this newsletter deserves a medal! 🏅
Yes, I turned to AI for this cheerful prose,
Because let’s be honest, your time quickly goes. ⏳
The season’s a sprint—filled with joy (and stress),
So why not let technology help with the rest? 🤷♂️
As winter sets in and the holidays draw near, ❄️🎁
Let’s celebrate the triumphs that brought us here.
Whether it’s surviving first semester or thriving with flair,
Every success is one to declare! 🎉
But don’t forget amidst all the hustle,
To take a moment and step out of the bustle. 🌟
Spend time with friends, family, and rest,
So you can return in January feeling your best. 💆♀️💆♂️
So, here’s my holiday message, wrapped with a grin: 😊
This busy time isn’t about “all the things” you win.
It’s about connection, reflection, and joy in small ways—
Wishing you peace for the rest of your days. ✨
Warmly (and with a wink), 😉
Lori Rucksdashel
AAESP President
School Website/Facebook page and link: https://www.nomeschools.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=3652159&type=d&pREC_ID=2414752
Years served as an administrator:
I’m in my third year. My first two years were as assistant principal for Nome Elementary. Now I am principal.
Schools served as an administrator:
My internship was in Kisimġiugtuq School in Kivalina. Now I am at Nome Elementary School in Nome.
Why did you decide to become an administrator:
About four years ago, while teaching in Kivalina School. My administrator at the time, Lyle Melkerson, suggested I would make a good admin and should pursue that avenue. After some thought, I decided to go through with it and went to UAS and became a member of cohort 13.
What is your definition of a successful school?
A successful school is one that provides a supportive and inclusive environment, fosters academic excellence, encourages personal development, and prepares students to be competent and responsible individuals in society. It effectively meets the educational needs of its students, engages with its community, includes and weaves cultural values in instruction, and consistently achieves positive educational outcomes.
Biggest struggle and how to fix:
Making the school run with smaller and smaller staff and funding. Since I’ve been at Nome Elementary, we’ve lost about 5-6 positions at various levels. This has made running the school extremely difficult and challenging on the best of days. To make it work, my assistant-principal Mrs. Pardee and I are working down in the trenches daily, helping with testing, teaching, small group instruction, transitions, cleaning, you name it. I do my best to try and not pile anything on my teacher’s plates if I can at all help it, I know that their plates are already overflowing.
Biggest success achieved as an administrator so far:
Improving our student’s academic achievement overall. Our school has been moved out of the lowest 5% of comprehensive support and MAP tests have shown many grades have made fantastic growth. Our recent scores show continued progress towards our goals, and I couldn’t be happier with my students and staff for these accomplishments. They have really knocked it out of the park.
Favorite quote:
“Love all, trust a few,
Do wrong to none: be able for thine enemy
Rather in power than use, and keep thy friend
Under thy own life’s key: be cheque’d for silence,
But never tax’d for speech.”
-William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well
What advice would you give those entering the field of school administration?
Always assume the best intentions in whatever might confront you and just because you sit in that office, it doesn’t mean you’re no longer a teacher. Make every effort to stay connected to that vein because the moment you lose it, you will lose sight of what it means for your teachers to do the work they do in the conditions you can set.
Last book you read?
My reading is taken up by my EdD courses, so last book I read was: “Leadership for Learning: How to Bring Out the Best in Every Teacher” by: Carl Glickman & Rebecca West Burns
Anything else you would like to share?
Embrace your community and celebrate all your students regardless of culture, sex, gender, age, or sexual orientation. We are all humans in this great big rock in space, let’s get through this together.
Dear Alaska Principals,
Happy Holidays! Thank you for your unwavering dedication to Alaska’s students and for the hard work you do every day to lead our schools and support student success. As we approach the new year, we recognize the immense challenges you face in balancing building budgets, meeting the needs of your students, staff and communities, and fostering a positive and productive learning environment. During this holiday season, we hope you take time to rest, reflect, and recharge for the important work ahead.
The legislative session is gearing up, and your voice will be critically important in advocating for public education in Alaska. Governor Dunleavy released his proposed budget for FY26 during a press conference on the 12th.. Unfortunately, the proposed budget does not include funding increases for education, with flat funding (which equates to a cut) allocated to the Base Student Allocation (BSA) and Pupil Transportation.
The proposed education budget includes:
- Total in K-12 Education: $1.5 billion
- $1.1 billion in K-12 Foundation Formula funding
- $67.8 million for Pupil Transportation
- $2.75 million in continued support for Career and Technical Education, Teacher Apprenticeships, and Teacher Recruitment and Retention Initiatives
The overall proposed state budget is $14.2 billion, with a $1.5 billion shortfall to be covered by a draw from the Constitutional Budget Reserve (CBR). The governor’s proposed budget also includes a statutory Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) of $3,892, totaling $2.5 billion.
As you know, school districts across Alaska continue to face budget deficits resulting from years of flat funding combined with rising inflation. These challenges have forced many districts to make difficult decisions, including closing schools, increasing class sizes, and implementing other measures to balance budgets. As building leaders you often carry the weight of those decisions. Now, more than ever, it is critical for educators and public education advocates to come together and share how flat funding impacts our districts, our schools, and ultimately, our students.
The first session of the 34th Alaska Legislature begins on January 21st. Before the session starts, I encourage you to connect with your legislators to emphasize the urgent need for increased education funding through a permanent increase to the Base Student Allocation (BSA). Share the realities your schools and what students face to ensure these issues are at the forefront of the conversation from day one. Please be sure join our weekly ACSA Legislative Meetings every Friday at 1:00 p.m. during the session beginning January 10th.
Once the legislative session begins, your voice will be vital. We urge you to:
- Participate in committee meetings,
- Engage with your representatives, and
- Join us for the ACSA Legislative Fly-In, March 29th-April 2, to meet directly with legislators and advocate for the needs of Alaska’s students. REGISTER TODAY! **Please note that many principals who have attended have shared that the experience was the best professional development they had ever received.
As education leaders, we have a unique opportunity to shape the dialogue and advocate for meaningful improvements to benefit Alaska’s education system. Together, we can ensure that our students receive the resources they need to succeed.
If the ACSA team can support you in any way, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a restful break. Thank you for your leadership and continued commitment to Alaska’s schools and students.
Be well,
Dr. Lisa S. Parady
Contact Us
Email: jrinaldi@alaskaacsa.org
Website: www.alaskaprincipal.org
Location: 234 Gold Street, Juneau, AK, USA
Phone: 907.242.9989
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akprincipals
