Schools

This photo shows Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021, during the window that school officials were administering PEAKS tests to students on campus. This week, the Department of Education and Early Development said only about 64% of Alaska’s eligible students took the tests in 2021. Locally, test participation was even lower. As a result of the low participation, DEED cautions against comparing 2021 PEAKS data to previous years at the statewide level. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

State officials release PEAKS test data

A peek at PEAKS.

This photo shows Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021, during the window that school officials were administering PEAKS tests to students on campus. This week, the Department of Education and Early Development said only about 64% of Alaska’s eligible students took the tests in 2021. Locally, test participation was even lower. As a result of the low participation, DEED cautions against comparing 2021 PEAKS data to previous years at the statewide level. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Signs on the doors at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé remind those entering the building to wear masks. The Juneau School District Board of Education voted on Tuesday unanimously adopted additional COVID-19 mitigation measures. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau schools add COVID-19 mitigation layers

School board candidates react.

Signs on the doors at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé remind those entering the building to wear masks. The Juneau School District Board of Education voted on Tuesday unanimously adopted additional COVID-19 mitigation measures. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Bridget Weiss, seen here outside of Harborview Elementary School on Sept. 8, 2021, was named by Time Magazine as one of 29 educators or school staff across the country to be recognized for their exemplary efforts in the face of the pandemic. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Time in the spotlight: Juneau school superintendent named as year-saving educator by magazine

The Juneau School District was on of 29 educators and staff named nationwide.

Bridget Weiss, seen here outside of Harborview Elementary School on Sept. 8, 2021, was named by Time Magazine as one of 29 educators or school staff across the country to be recognized for their exemplary efforts in the face of the pandemic. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A completed ballot is dropped into the ballot drop box in the Don D. Statter Harbor parking lot on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

WATCH: Municipal candidate forum

School board, Assembly candidates talk issues ahead of Oct. 5 election.

A completed ballot is dropped into the ballot drop box in the Don D. Statter Harbor parking lot on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale, pictured here in November 2020. The school board’s decision to prevent the basketball team from going to the Region V state tournament because of a district policy that precluded traveling to regions with high levels of coronavirus risk is one of the issues that prompted Kyle Scholl to run as a write-in candidate. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Write-in candidate seeks school board seat

Board decision on basketball tourney sparks run

Juneau Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale, pictured here in November 2020. The school board’s decision to prevent the basketball team from going to the Region V state tournament because of a district policy that precluded traveling to regions with high levels of coronavirus risk is one of the issues that prompted Kyle Scholl to run as a write-in candidate. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
This July 30 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Aaron Spratt. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire File)

Get to know a candidate: Aaron Spratt

He’s seeking a seat on the school board.

This July 30 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Aaron Spratt. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire File)
This Aug. 2 photo shows school board candidate Amber Frommherz. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)

Get to know a candidate: Amber Frommherz

She’s running for school board.

This Aug. 2 photo shows school board candidate Amber Frommherz. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)
This Aug. 13 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Ibn Bailey. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Get to know a candidate: Ibn Bailey

He’s seeking a school board seat .

This Aug. 13 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Ibn Bailey. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
Elizabeth Siddon, current president of Juneau’s Board of Education, is running for a second term on the board. She is the only incumbent on the ballot, which has attracted six candidates for three positions. (Courtesy photo / Elizabeth Siddon)

Get to know a candidate: Elizabeth Siddon

Incumbent defends seat on the school board.

Elizabeth Siddon, current president of Juneau’s Board of Education, is running for a second term on the board. She is the only incumbent on the ballot, which has attracted six candidates for three positions. (Courtesy photo / Elizabeth Siddon)
Elizabeth Siddon, current president of Juneau’s Board of Education, is running for a second term on the board. She is the only incumbent on the ballot, which has attracted six candidates for three positions. (Courtesy photo/Elizabeth Siddon)

Siddon sets sights on a second term

Three open seats attract six candidates

Elizabeth Siddon, current president of Juneau’s Board of Education, is running for a second term on the board. She is the only incumbent on the ballot, which has attracted six candidates for three positions. (Courtesy photo/Elizabeth Siddon)
Dominique Smith, principal at Health Sciences High and Middle College, a charter school in San Diego, conducts a training session on building relationships, equity and school-based restorative practices for Juneau’s teachers, principals, and other certified staff members on Aug. 12. (Courtesy Photo/Kristin Bartlett, Juneau School District)

Teachers take a turn as students

Training class focuses on equity, restorative practices

Dominique Smith, principal at Health Sciences High and Middle College, a charter school in San Diego, conducts a training session on building relationships, equity and school-based restorative practices for Juneau’s teachers, principals, and other certified staff members on Aug. 12. (Courtesy Photo/Kristin Bartlett, Juneau School District)
Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire This Aug. 13 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Ibn Bailey.

Bailey seeks school board seat

Local business owner says he brings unique perspective

Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire This Aug. 13 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Ibn Bailey.
A sidewalk-based message welcomes students and staff back to Sít’ Eetí Shaanàx-Glacier Valley School ahead of the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 16.

Teachers share excitement about return to classrooms

There’s nothing like in-person instruction for teaching

A sidewalk-based message welcomes students and staff back to Sít’ Eetí Shaanàx-Glacier Valley School ahead of the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 16.
This July 30 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Aaron Spratt. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

First-time candidate seeks school board seat

Spratt criticizes current board’s COVID policy

This July 30 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Aaron Spratt. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Vanessa Dickinson adjusts second grade student Kanani Dickinson’s mask ahead of the first day of school. Kanani Dickinson is a student at Auke Bay Elementary School. Vanessa Dickinson said she’s excited the 7-year-old is back in school. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Full-time, in-person learning returns for Juneau’s students

School is in session.

Vanessa Dickinson adjusts second grade student Kanani Dickinson’s mask ahead of the first day of school. Kanani Dickinson is a student at Auke Bay Elementary School. Vanessa Dickinson said she’s excited the 7-year-old is back in school. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes Monday, students will attend each weekday, and COVID mitigations will be in place. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Hello, school: Juneau’s students make full-time return to classroom

What a difference a year makes.

Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes Monday, students will attend each weekday, and COVID mitigations will be in place. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Signs on the doors at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé remind those entering the building to wear masks. At Tuesday night's Juneau School District Board of Education meeting, the school board unanimously approved a policy that requires masks inside school buildings and makes them optional outdoors. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

School board OKs mask plan for fall

Students to mask inside, optional outside

Signs on the doors at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé remind those entering the building to wear masks. At Tuesday night's Juneau School District Board of Education meeting, the school board unanimously approved a policy that requires masks inside school buildings and makes them optional outdoors. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The second of two summer school terms offered by the Juneau School District started on July 6. Harborview School, shown here in May 2020, is one of the locations offering the program. Summer sessions offer an opportunity for students to brush up on content they may have missed over three semesters marked by COVID-19-related schedule disruptions. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Hitting the books this summer

In-person summer programs offer catch-up opportunity

The second of two summer school terms offered by the Juneau School District started on July 6. Harborview School, shown here in May 2020, is one of the locations offering the program. Summer sessions offer an opportunity for students to brush up on content they may have missed over three semesters marked by COVID-19-related schedule disruptions. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes in August, Juneau teacher Kelly Stewart will be the interim assistant principal, district officials announced on Friday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Local teacher named assistant principal at TMHS

Kelly Stewart accepts interim role

Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes in August, Juneau teacher Kelly Stewart will be the interim assistant principal, district officials announced on Friday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes in the fall, John Luhrs will serve as the interim principal. The search for a new assistant principal continues. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Interim principal named at TMHS

Veteran educator John Luhrs will step into the post

Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes in the fall, John Luhrs will serve as the interim principal. The search for a new assistant principal continues. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)