Greetings Alaskan Admins,
I hope this finds you celebrating many successes as this school year moves quickly toward the holiday season.
This is a great time of year to check in on the culture of your building, and with individual staff to assess morale. With the busyness of classrooms and the many events the season brings, it is important to maintain a positive, connected community. How can you do this?
First, ensure you are communicating your goals to your staff, and thanking them for the hard work they do each and every day. Being a visible presence also helps build both student and staff morale, and is an incredible investment that can result in positive relationships.
Does your school have a Sunshine Committee or similar staff-led organization? This is a great place to provide positive staff recognition and engaging and supportive staff social events.
Finally, it is important to remember that this time of year, while full of celebrations and gatherings, can be difficult for many within our school communities. Providing resources and being available to support one another goes a long way in creating a positive culture for our staff and students.
Wishing you the very best as you continue your work creating amazing cultures within your school, and ensuring staff and students know they are welcome and valued. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out if I can help in any way.
Rick Dormer
AASSP President
Principal, Ketchikan High School
Principal: Metlakatla High School
Position & School:
I am in my third year as the principal of Metlakatla High School. I came here after serving as the Director of Climate and Culture at Dillingham Middle/High School for a semester.
School Website/Facebook page and link:
Years served as an administrator:
3
Schools served as an administrator:
Metlakatla High School and Dillingham Middle/High School
Why did you decide to become an administrator:
In my life I had great school administrators that were impactful and caring. They may have actually saved my life. I felt the need to pay this forward and serve a community where I could also continue to learn.
What is your definition of a successful school?
I believe that a successful school would demonstrate high academic standards in an atmosphere that is inclusive of all students. It should be the goal of school to model and create opportunities to demonstrate self advocacy, self-reliance, and the ability to participate in society in a positive manner.
Biggest struggle and how to fix:
My biggest struggle is definitely maintaining the constant juggle of being an administrator, and balancing this with my own mental health.
Favorite quote:
"What's perceived, is". Everyone's truth is their own.
What advice would you give those entering the field of school administration?
Invest in those around you. You don't always get to pick your team, so serving those that serve with you can maintain a positive environment.
Last book you read?
"Leading with the Heart". Coach K's book
Anything else you would like to share?
I'm a proud veteran of the US Army.
Dear Alaska Principals,
As we reflect on the recent 2024 elections, it is clear that significant changes in state education leadership present opportunities for public education in Alaska. The most current election results, and this infographic from Education Commissions of the States, highlight the shifts in governance that will undoubtedly impact schools and communities across the country. There are 7,800 more ballots to count, according to the Alaska Div. of Elections. Once those votes are tallied, the state will conduct the ranked-choice tabulations for nine contests where no candidate has secured 50% plus one. That ranked-choice tabulation is calendared for Wed Nov 20, time TBA. To add to the intrigue, the uncounted ballots will also impact the final result of Ballot Measure 2, which is an extremely close election.
As you may know and as the infographic reveals, in Alaska, the election resulted in a change of leadership in the State House, which underscores the importance of our collective voice in advocating for the needs of our schools. The new majority coalition lists education funding and reform to the state retirement system as their priority.
Given these changes, it is imperative that we, as educational leaders, strengthen our advocacy efforts to support public education. The decisions made by our state leaders will have a profound impact on funding, the retirement system, major maintenance, and student outcomes. We must be vigilant and vocal in our efforts to influence policies that benefit our schools and communities. The ACSA Joint Position Statement committee is finalizing this year's legislative priorities, and we will mail each of you a copy soon. The JPS will help you create talking points to share with your legislators. Thank you to these principals who sat on the JPS committee that drafted them: Lilly Boron, Heather Conn, Rick Dormer, Jena Fabian, Eric Filardi, Josh Gill, Mike Nigus and Brendan Wilson.
Advocacy is not just about reacting to changes but about shaping the future of education in Alaska. We need to build relationships with newly elected officials, educate them about our schools' unique challenges and opportunities, and collaborate to develop policies that support high-quality education for all students.
During the legislative session, ACSA will keep you informed about the movement of legislation that will impact our schools and students. Please join us every Friday at 1:30 p.m. on Zoom starting January 10th for the weekly ACSA Legislative update meeting. We will run through bill heard during the week, and occasionally have legislators join us to discuss their bill.
Update on the Windfall Elimination Provision
In addition to our advocacy for public education at the state level, it is crucial to address the ongoing issue of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These provisions unfairly reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits for many of our dedicated public servants, including teachers. The Social Security Fairness Act aims to repeal these provisions, ensuring that our educators receive the full benefits they have earned.
Please contact Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan to express your support for the Social Security Fairness Act, which passed the House and was supported by Rep. Mary Peltola. By advocating for the passage of this legislation, we can help alleviate the financial hardships faced by our retired educators and make teaching a more attractive and viable career choice.
Join Us at the ACSA Legislative Fly-In
I invite you to meet with your state legislators in person and join us at the ACSA Legislative Fly-In, scheduled for March 29-April 2 in Juneau. This event is a critical opportunity for us to come together, share our experiences, and advocate for the needs of our schools at the state level. By participating in the Fly-In, you will have the chance to meet with legislators, learn more about the legislative process, and engage in discussions that will shape the future of education in Alaska. Your presence and participation are vital. Together, we can ensure that our voices are heard and that the needs of our students and educators are prioritized. You can register for the ACSA Legislative Fly-In here.
As principals and educational leaders, it is our responsibility to advocate for the needs of our schools and communities. By strengthening our advocacy efforts and participating in events like the ACSA Legislative Fly-In, we can influence policies that will support high-quality education for all students in Alaska.
Thank you for your dedication and commitment to public education. I look forward to seeing you in Juneau and working together to advocate for the future of our schools.
Please reach out if we can be of assistance.
Be well,
Dr. Lisa S. Parady
Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals
Email: alaskaprincipal@alaskaacsa.org
Website: alaskaprincipal.org
Location: 234 Gold Street, Juneau, AK, USA
Phone: 907-586-9702
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alaskaprincipals
