Did you know that 50% of the latest UAS Educational Leadership graduates are Indigenous, including a clan leader, several culture bearers, and a mayor?

August 27, 2024

Did You Know the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) School of Education recently celebrated a significant milestone, conferring 14 students with their master’s degree in Educational Leadership (EDLD). With a 15-year history of developing educational leaders across the state, the EDLD program has a robust mission of building careers centered around Alaska’s needs.

What is the M.Ed. Educational Leadership Program?: The M.Ed. Educational Leadership program at UAS prepares candidates to become school administrators in Alaska. The program equips future leaders with the skills necessary to excel in both rural and urban districts, addressing the unique challenges of the state’s educational landscape.

Spanning one year, the program includes summer coursework on the Juneau campus and a School of Education-approved internship during the school year. This structure not only offers comprehensive learning in a short timeframe, but also fosters a strong sense of community among participants, allowing them to build lasting professional networks.

A Focus on Indigenous Leadership:
This year’s graduating class is particularly special, with 50% of the students being of Indigenous heritage. Supported by the scholarship Preparing Indigenous Teachers & Administrators for Alaska Schools (PITAAS) funding and a curriculum centered on culturally responsive teaching, these graduates are uniquely equipped to honor and elevate Alaska’s diverse cultural backgrounds.

"Our faculty in the EDLD program have worked diligently to develop curriculum and pedagogy that fosters Indigenous community recognition, appreciation, and inclusivity," said Carlee Simon, dean of the School of Education. During the graduation ceremony, graduates welcomed their families in languages such as Gwich'in, Lingít, Yup'ik, and Iñupiaq, highlighting the cultural heritages they will bring to their roles.

A Unique Pathway to Leadership: The EDLD program at UAS is not just about earning a degree. “It’s about building a lifelong network of support among peers,” said Simon. The cohort model fosters strong professional relationships that continue long after the program’s completion. Students dedicate two intensive months in Juneau to in-person coursework, creating connections that extend beyond graduation.

The program’s emphasis on cultural responsiveness ensures that graduates are well-prepared to serve Alaska’s diverse student populations. "They have integrated culturally responsive teaching practices that honor and elevate the diverse cultural backgrounds of our students, creating a learning environment where Indigenous voices are heard and valued," Simon emphasizes. This year’s graduates include future school leaders, clan leaders, mayors, and culture bearers, demonstrating the program’s broad impact on community leadership across the state.

Growing Opportunities for Future Leaders: Looking forward, the program is expanding with a new satellite cohort in Fairbanks, marking its largest group of aspiring leaders yet. This expansion seeks to make educational leadership training more accessible across Alaska. The Fairbanks cohort, a partnership with the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, represents an effort by UAS to bridge K-12 education with higher education. "We believe this type of K-12 and higher education bridge-building will have a lasting impact on Alaska learners of all ages," Simon noted.

The evolution of the EDLD program is the most recent demonstration of UAS’ mission to prepare educational leaders who are ready to inspire and improve Alaska’s educational landscape. As the program grows, it remains a cornerstone of UA’s commitment to enhancing educational outcomes across the state by preparing the next generation of school leaders to meet today’s challenges.

Go deeper:
UAS Educational Leadership program graduation packet

 

2024 graduates:

Elizabeth Tina Yatlin Blackbird
Yvonne Brooke
Genevieve Kathleen Chacho
LoAna Lynn Cooper Benton
Nathan Dutton
Kelly Marie Eastham
Melissa J Fritsch
Lillian Sisualik Gordon Stone
Rayna Lin Halverson
Michael John Aak'wtaatseen Hoyt
Attasiaq Amber Otton
Rachel Panamarioff
Tenna Dawn Qaġġuna Pili
Katharine Race Koski