Education

Mayoral candidate Beth Weldon, with family and friends, react as they watch Election results come in at the Assembly chambers on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Mayoral candidate Beth Weldon, with family and friends, react as they watch Election results come in at the Assembly chambers on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Harborview Elementary School students load up on fruit at a free school breakfast on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

Donation keeps free school breakfast going

Breakfast on Friday was served with a check for $24,000.

Harborview Elementary School students load up on fruit at a free school breakfast on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees Kim Raum-Suryan, left, Alicia Schuler, middle, and Aleria Jensen speak to Sayeik Gastineau Community School students about ocean conservancy on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. Gastineau is one of two Juneau schools to start an Ocean Guardian program, which will work to clean up local shorelines and advocate for ocean issues. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

Juneau schools launch Ocean Guardian program to combat marine mess

Students at Sayéik Gastineau Community School rummaged through trash at a school assembly on Friday. A shark, a dolphin, a salmon and a warrior looked… Continue reading

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees Kim Raum-Suryan, left, Alicia Schuler, middle, and Aleria Jensen speak to Sayeik Gastineau Community School students about ocean conservancy on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. Gastineau is one of two Juneau schools to start an Ocean Guardian program, which will work to clean up local shorelines and advocate for ocean issues. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)
Opinion: Alaska, Chicago and accountability

Opinion: Alaska, Chicago and accountability

What is Chicago doing that Alaska is not?

Opinion: Alaska, Chicago and accountability
Assembly candidates answers questions during a Special Native Issues Forum at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. From left: Garrett Schoenberger, Carole Triem, Tom Williams, Don Habeger, Wade Bryson, Michelle Bonnet Hale and Loren Jones. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Education topics stand out at Assembly forum

Candidates circled back to educational topics during the first public forum of election season.

Assembly candidates answers questions during a Special Native Issues Forum at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. From left: Garrett Schoenberger, Carole Triem, Tom Williams, Don Habeger, Wade Bryson, Michelle Bonnet Hale and Loren Jones. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Assembly candidates answers questions during a Special Native Issues Forum at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. From left: Garrett Schoenberger, Carole Triem, Tom Williams, Don Habeger, Wade Bryson, Michelle Bonnet Hale and Loren Jones. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Education topics stand out at Assembly forum

During the first public forum of election season, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly candidates kept circling back to the topic of improving education.… Continue reading

Assembly candidates answers questions during a Special Native Issues Forum at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. From left: Garrett Schoenberger, Carole Triem, Tom Williams, Don Habeger, Wade Bryson, Michelle Bonnet Hale and Loren Jones. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Program aims to help students find career path

Program aims to help students find career path

The MATCH program helps people begin their education with a job in mind and then build skills that relate to that job.

Program aims to help students find career path
Former University of Alaska Southeast Chancellor John Pugh speaks to the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Committee of the Whole on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. Pugh spoke in favor of the Assembly approving a ballot measure that would ask voters if they wanted the city to partially fund the construction of a new Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

No initiatives will appear on municipal ballot

For the first time since 2015, no ballot initiatives will go before voters in this fall’s municipal election.

Former University of Alaska Southeast Chancellor John Pugh speaks to the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Committee of the Whole on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. Pugh spoke in favor of the Assembly approving a ballot measure that would ask voters if they wanted the city to partially fund the construction of a new Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Dr. Bridget Weiss, Interim Juneau School District Superintendent, left, and Harborview Elementary School special education teacher Steve Byers, center, speak with Office Max store manager Adam Dordea on Thursday, August 16, 2018, during a store fundraising event for elemenary schools. Office Max pledged to donate up to $10,000. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Program collects school supplies for teachers

Adam Dordea has the same interaction over and over during back-to-school season. Dordea, the store manager at Office Max, said teachers come in all the… Continue reading

Dr. Bridget Weiss, Interim Juneau School District Superintendent, left, and Harborview Elementary School special education teacher Steve Byers, center, speak with Office Max store manager Adam Dordea on Thursday, August 16, 2018, during a store fundraising event for elemenary schools. Office Max pledged to donate up to $10,000. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this June 2017 photo, a pedestrian walks by City Hall. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire File)

Early childhood education funding will not appear on October ballot

Despite the majority of sitting City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members being in favor of putting a child care funding initiative on the October… Continue reading

In this June 2017 photo, a pedestrian walks by City Hall. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire File)
Kevin Allen, pictured in 2016 as a candidate for Juneau School Board.

Thunder Mountain grad will run for school board again

Kevin Allen is hoping that the third time will be the charm. Allen, a 2016 Thunder Mountain High School graduate, has run for a spot… Continue reading

Kevin Allen, pictured in 2016 as a candidate for Juneau School Board.
Wooden boards cover up damage made by a drunk driver at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018. The crash occurred July 31, police say. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Drunk driver smashes into middle school

The usual back-to-school preparations were going on at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School on Tuesday afternoon, as maintenance employees were cleaning the building and the front… Continue reading

Wooden boards cover up damage made by a drunk driver at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018. The crash occurred July 31, police say. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Juneau School District Director of Student Services Bridget Weiss, right, and Superintendent Dr. Mark Miller talk on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Weiss selected as interim superintendent

For at least this school year, the Juneau School District has its new superintendent.

Juneau School District Director of Student Services Bridget Weiss, right, and Superintendent Dr. Mark Miller talk on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Dr. Mark Miller, superintendent for the Juneau School District, gives an overview of the district’s budget at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce’s weekly luncheon at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. Appearing with Miller are Brian Holst, school board president, left, Ted Wilson, Director of Teaching and Learning, center, and Bridget Weiss, Director of Student Services, right. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

School Board poised to pick interim superintendent Monday

Less than two weeks after Juneau School District Superintendent Mark Miller’s resignation, the Board of Education is going to name his replacement. The board will… Continue reading

Dr. Mark Miller, superintendent for the Juneau School District, gives an overview of the district’s budget at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce’s weekly luncheon at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. Appearing with Miller are Brian Holst, school board president, left, Ted Wilson, Director of Teaching and Learning, center, and Bridget Weiss, Director of Student Services, right. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Dr. Christopher Blodgett speaks at a 2017 cultural education conference sponsored by the Sealaska Heritage Institute. Blodgett will be back again this year. (Brian Wallace via Sealaska Heritage Institute | Courtesy photo)

Conference aims to increase cultural, trauma awareness

This week, educators from all around Alaska and the world will be in Juneau for a conference to learn more about culturally aware approaches in… Continue reading

Dr. Christopher Blodgett speaks at a 2017 cultural education conference sponsored by the Sealaska Heritage Institute. Blodgett will be back again this year. (Brian Wallace via Sealaska Heritage Institute | Courtesy photo)
Juneau School District Superintendent Mark Miller talks Wednesday, July 25, 2018, about his time in Juneau. Miller has accepted a job as a superintendent in Sonora, California. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Interim superintendent candidates set to meet the public

The Board of Education is starting to make progress in its search for an interim superintendent, and is inviting the public to get involved. At… Continue reading

Juneau School District Superintendent Mark Miller talks Wednesday, July 25, 2018, about his time in Juneau. Miller has accepted a job as a superintendent in Sonora, California. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Pete Traxler is the executive dean of Career Education at University of Alaska Southeast. (University of Alaska Southeast | Courtesy Photo)

UAS Career Education program teaches real skills

Ever thought that college wasn’t for you? I have. I come from a quaint little farming town in the Midwest — you know the one… Continue reading

Pete Traxler is the executive dean of Career Education at University of Alaska Southeast. (University of Alaska Southeast | Courtesy Photo)
Auke Bay lab set to be demolished this fall

Auke Bay lab set to be demolished this fall

UAS will build new facility to house natural sciences building, aiming for 2020 completion.

Auke Bay lab set to be demolished this fall

Parish’s education trust fund bill passes House

Juneau Democratic Rep. Justin Parish guided his second bill across a finish line in the Alaska House of Representatives on Thursday as the House voted… Continue reading

Close up of a failed mathematics test (Thinkstock)

Alaska’s students failing, state tests show

More than half of Alaska’s schoolchildren are not proficient in math, science and English, according to the results of the state’s new standardized tests. According… Continue reading

Close up of a failed mathematics test (Thinkstock)