Legislature(2021 - 2022)DAVIS 106

04/02/2021 08:00 AM House EDUCATION

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Audio Topic
08:12:14 AM Start
08:13:18 AM University of Alaska Board of Regents
10:00:53 AM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Consideration of Governor's Appointees: TELECONFERENCED
- State Board of Education: Sally Stockhausen
- Professional Teaching Practices Commission:
Jennifer Stafford, Adam Reid, & Jamie Burgess
- University of Alaska Board of Regents: Dale
Anderson
-- Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
               HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                             
                         April 2, 2021                                                                                          
                           8:12 a.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Harriet Drummond, Co-Chair                                                                                       
Representative Andi Story, Co-Chair                                                                                             
Representative Mike Prax                                                                                                        
Representative Ronald Gillham                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Tiffany Zulkosky                                                                                                 
Representative Grier Hopkins                                                                                                    
Representative Mike Cronk                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Sally Stockhausen - Ketchikan                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
PROFESSIONAL TEACHING PRACTICES COMMISSION                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Jennifer Stafford - Eagle River                                                                                            
     Adam Reid - Anchorage                                                                                                      
     Jamie Burgess -Nome                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA BOARD OF REGENTS                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Dale Anderson - Juneau                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
No previous action to record                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SALLY STOCKHAUSEN, Appointee                                                                                                    
State Board of Education                                                                                                        
Ketchikan, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT:   Testified  as an  appointee  to the  State                                                             
Board of Education.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
JENNIFER STAFFORD, Ph.D., Appointee                                                                                             
Professional Teaching Practices Commission                                                                                      
Eagle River, Alaska                                                                                                             
POSITION STATEMENT:   Spoke as  an appointee to  the Professional                                                             
Teaching Practices Commission.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
ADAM REID, Appointee                                                                                                            
Professional Teaching Practices Commission                                                                                      
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:   Spoke as  an appointee to  the Professional                                                             
Teaching Practices commission.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
JAMIE BURGESS, Appointee                                                                                                        
Professional Teaching Practices Commission                                                                                      
Nome, Alaska                                                                                                                    
POSITION STATEMENT:   Spoke as  an appointee to  the Professional                                                             
Teaching Practices Commission.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
DALE ANDERSON, Appointee                                                                                                        
University of Alaska Board of Regents                                                                                           
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:   Spoke as an appointee to  the University of                                                             
Alaska Board of Regents.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:12:14 AM                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                              
CO-CHAIR  HARRIET DRUMMOND  called the  House Education  Standing                                                             
Committee meeting  to order at  8:12 a.m.  Representatives Story,                                                               
Prax, Gillham (via teleconference),  and Drummond were present at                                                               
the call to order.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):                                                                                                       
                    CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):                                                                                
^State Board of Education                                                                                                       
                    State Board of Education                                                                                
^Professional Teaching Practices Commission                                                                                     
           Professional Teaching Practices Commission                                                                       
^University of Alaska Board of Regents                                                                                          
             University of Alaska Board of Regents                                                                          
                                                                                                                              
8:13:18 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND  announced that  the  only  order of  business                                                               
would be  the confirmation hearings  for appointees to  the State                                                               
Board   of  Education,   the   Professional  Teaching   Practices                                                               
commission, and the University of Alaska Board of Regents.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:13:57 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SALLY STOCKHAUSEN,  Appointee, State  Board of  Education, shared                                                               
that she  is an English  teacher at  Ketchikan High School.   She                                                               
said  she formerly  taught  special education  and  English as  a                                                               
Second  Language, and  she has  experience at  elementary, middle                                                               
school, and  high school,  as well  as inner  city schools.   She                                                               
expressed wanting  to work with  the State Board of  Education to                                                               
use  available resources  to assist  school districts  in meeting                                                               
educational challenges.   She said  every student  should receive                                                               
an  excellent  education,  and   she  accepts  the  challenge  to                                                               
increase student  success, cultivate  safety and  well-being, and                                                               
support responsible and reflective learners.   She said it's been                                                               
a  pleasure  to watch  the  professionals  in the  Department  of                                                               
Education  and  Early  Development   as  they  work  through  the                                                               
pandemic to  ensure quality education,  and she said  she's proud                                                               
of the resilience  kids, teachers, and families have  shown.  She                                                               
expressed  optimism  that  intentional  changes can  be  made  to                                                               
benefit  students,  especially  in   light  of  the  trauma  many                                                               
children  have faced  during the  pandemic.   She expressed  hope                                                               
that the  "reading bill" (HB  164 and  SB 111) would  continue to                                                               
place emphasis on  quality reading instruction and  that it would                                                               
help facilitate quality instruction for  teachers in how to teach                                                               
reading.   She  said  those  working at  the  state level  should                                                               
receive  input  from  as  many voices  as  possible,  and  should                                                               
improve  partnerships  with  families, communities,  and  tribes.                                                               
She said  she hopes  to increase  career and  technical education                                                               
(CTE)  as  well as  dual  credit  opportunities for  high  school                                                               
students,  and  she discussed  students  who  didn't do  well  in                                                               
traditional classes  but transformed into motivated  young adults                                                               
when  enrolled  in technical  education  courses  such as  diesel                                                               
mechanic classes.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
8:20:15 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STORY thanked  Ms. Stockhausen  for her  service,                                                               
and  she asked  Ms.  Stockhausen whether  meetings  of the  State                                                               
Board of  Education have  included discussions  of elements  of a                                                               
quality reading  program and what  kind of instruction  should be                                                               
expected at the university level.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS.  STOCKHAUSEN replied  that those  types of  conversations are                                                               
ongoing,  but that  she  doesn't believe  there's  been a  formal                                                               
discussion.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY  said she hopes for  cooperation between the                                                               
State Board  of Education and  the University of Alaska  Board of                                                               
Regents.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:22:15 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX ask Ms. Stockhausen  to elaborate on "trauma-                                                               
informed education."                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MS. STOCKHAUSEN  discussed raising  awareness of the  issues kids                                                               
are facing and red flags that  may be displayed in the classroom.                                                               
She  said   qualified  professionals,  including   mental  health                                                               
counselors,  are  needed on  site.    She said  social  emotional                                                               
learning  (SEL)  standards  need  to  be  in  place,  along  with                                                               
leadership  and  guidance for  school  district  to be  aware  of                                                               
issues, pointing  out that  many students  will return  to school                                                               
after the pandemic needing more support than they did before.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX said,  "The other  concern is  the state  if                                                               
facing  financial challenges.   Do  you have  any thoughts  about                                                               
what  might  need  to  be  done going  forward  in  the  area  of                                                               
education, given the fiscal environment?"                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. STOCKHAUSEN replied,  "Out of adversity comes  times of great                                                               
growth," and  she said  that she's  learned so  many new  ways of                                                               
teaching that  she'll continue after returning  to the classroom.                                                               
She expressed  that evaluating the  best use of funding  could be                                                               
the answer, because teachers can't  control how much funding they                                                               
receive, but  they could control  how the money in  the classroom                                                               
is used.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:27:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GILLHAM asked  Ms.  Stockhausen about  "tricking"                                                               
the students into reading.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS.  STOCKHAUSEN  clarified  that   she  often  teaches  hesitant                                                               
readers, but  that she uses  motivation and enthusiasm  to engage                                                               
them.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GILLHAM related how his  son took advantage of CTE                                                               
training.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:29:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND  pointed  out   that  CTE  education  will  be                                                               
explored during  future meetings of the  House Education Standing                                                               
Committee.   She then  asked Ms. Stockhausen  whether she  was at                                                               
the  Copper River  School District  during the  time Commissioner                                                               
Dr. Michael Johnson was the superintendent.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. STOCKHAUSEN  replied that Commissioner Johnson  was a fourth-                                                               
grade  teacher in  2002, and  he became  principal the  following                                                               
year.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR   DRUMMOND  asked   whether  Commissioner   Johnson  was                                                               
principal at the school Ms. Stockhausen taught at.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MS. STOCKHAUSEN replied that he was principal from 2004-2007.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR   DRUMMOND  commented   on  working   with  Commissioner                                                               
Johnson.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS. STOCKHAUSEN said, "He is who he is, and he is sincere."                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND  asked  about  the structure  of  the  special                                                               
education classes Ms. Stockhausen taught in Ketchikan.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MS. STOCKHAUSEN responded that the  structure varies depending on                                                               
the needs of  the students, from small reading  groups to one-on-                                                               
one help in study halls.   She said the special education program                                                               
was  largely  comprised  of  kids who  were  working  on  meeting                                                               
graduation requirements.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND   asked  Ms.   Stockhausen  whether   she  was                                                               
referring to regular  education students who were  unable to read                                                               
at their grade level.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS.  STOCKHAUSEN clarified  that  she was  referring to  students                                                               
with individual education plans (IEPs).                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND  asked  whether  such  students  had  or  have                                                               
developmental delays that kept them  from learning to read at the                                                               
same level as their classmates when in elementary school.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. STOCKHAUSEN replied  that, over 10 years  of teaching special                                                               
education, there  were cases of such  developmental delays; other                                                               
cases were  of children with  IEPs for other reasons,  who needed                                                               
differing levels of support.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND commended Ms. Stockhausen  on her work, and she                                                               
said she appreciated the comments  about controlling how money is                                                               
used in the classroom.   She then noted Ms. Stockhausen's earlier                                                               
remark  regarding increased  presence of  professionals from  the                                                               
community to work with students  who have experienced trauma, and                                                               
she asked  Ms. Stockhausen  whether she  knows how  the Ketchikan                                                               
School District pays for such help.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS.  STOCKHAUSEN mused  that  the agencies  may  have received  a                                                               
grant to  work in  the schools,  and she  said she  would respond                                                               
later with an answer.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:37:35 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JENNIFER  STAFFORD,   Ph.D.,  Appointee,   Professional  Teaching                                                               
Practices  Commission  (PTPC),  shared   that  she  has  been  an                                                               
educator  for 17  years,  and  that she  has  the experience  and                                                               
passion  necessary  for  improving the  standards  and  practices                                                               
within the profession.  She  said her strengths as an educational                                                               
leader lie in  her experience and sincere desire  to grow highly-                                                               
functional educators.  She shared  her background, which includes                                                               
teaching in  a one-room  schoolhouse that  contained kindergarten                                                               
through  eighth  grade,  teaching elementary  school  in  Alaska,                                                               
achieving her master's degree  in educational administration, and                                                               
work  on  her  doctorate  in  education.   She  said  she  enjoys                                                               
teaching  younger  students  to  read,  as  well  as  identifying                                                               
interventions  to assist  struggling  students.   Her  experience                                                               
extends  to  a  broader  understanding  of  how  communities  can                                                               
influence an educator's  perspective, she said, and  she has been                                                               
a  board member  for Alaska  Family Services  and the  Matanuska-                                                               
Susitna  Borough Health  and Social  Services Board  to represent                                                               
the  school  district, and  has  been  active in  many  community                                                               
organizations.   She  said she  has been  able to  analyze school                                                               
problems through  a broad understanding  of ethical,  social, and                                                               
economic  influences, and  she has  worked with  individuals with                                                               
many backgrounds.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
8:41:33 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND  asked  Dr.  Stafford  whether  she  is  being                                                               
appointed to the classroom teacher position on PTPC.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
DR. STAFFORD replied that is correct.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:41:49 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY  asked Dr.  Stafford what  she is  hoping to                                                               
accomplish while on the commission.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
DR. STAFFORD  responded that she  hopes to improve  the standards                                                               
and practices  in the  profession, as well  as bring  a teacher's                                                               
perspective to the commission.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY  asked how  teachers view the  commission in                                                               
terms of being helpful.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
DR. STAFFORD expressed  that many teachers don't  know much about                                                               
the  commission,  but  that  they  may  need  to  work  with  the                                                               
commission if an ethical issue arises.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:44:52 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND asked  Dr. Stafford whether she  is currently a                                                               
classroom teacher.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
DR. STAFFORD  replied that  she is  a classroom  teacher, mentors                                                               
and  coaches   new  teachers,  and  helps   teachers  figure  out                                                               
interventions for struggling students.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND  pointed  out   that  PTPC  consists  of  five                                                               
classroom  teachers,  one   principal,  one  superintendent,  one                                                               
representative  of the  Office of  the Commissioner  of Education                                                               
and  Early  Development,  and one  representative  of  an  Alaska                                                               
institution of higher  learning.  She asked  Dr. Stafford whether                                                               
she is a  full-time classroom teacher who  coaches other teachers                                                               
in addition to her classroom work.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
DR. STAFFORD clarified that she  taught at Knik Elementary School                                                               
last  year, and  she is  now at  Tanaina Elementary  School as  a                                                               
classroom teacher as well as a "teacher leader."                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND asked  Dr. Stafford  whether  she teaches  the                                                               
same group of students every day.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
DR. STAFFORD replied yes.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND  asked  whether  Dr.  Stafford  teaches  third                                                               
grade.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
DR. STAFFORD replied, "Mostly kindergarten."                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND commented that  the requirements for service on                                                               
the commission  don't define  what a classroom  teacher is.   She                                                               
then asked Dr. Stafford how  well-prepared her kindergartners are                                                               
to work with a teacher to learn to read.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
DR. STAFFORD  responded that many  students this year  don't know                                                               
letter names or sounds, or how  to write their names, and that it                                                               
has  taken them  a long  time  to settle  in.   She said  several                                                               
students  have needed  extra  support to  learn  letter names  or                                                               
sounds, which is the first step to learning to read.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND asked  Dr. Stafford  whether she  can see  the                                                               
difference between  students who have had  preschool versus those                                                               
who have not.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
DR. STAFFORD  replied that it  depends on a student's  home life,                                                               
but kids with  preschool experience have already  learned side by                                                               
side  with their  classmates  and are  able  to collaborate  with                                                               
their peers and function in  a classroom, including being able to                                                               
pay attention.   She said that  for the most part,  students with                                                               
preschool experience enter kindergarten  "higher" than those with                                                               
no preschool.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND  asked Dr.  Stafford to  describe how  the time                                                               
away  from school  due to  the  COVID-19 pandemic  worked in  the                                                               
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
DR. STAFFORD described using Zoom  and Google Classrooms, and she                                                               
noticed  a 20  percent  participation rate.    She said  students                                                               
entered  the current  school year  far behind,  but were  able to                                                               
improve within  the first few months.   She commented on  the low                                                               
participation  rate among  students who  had to  quarantine while                                                               
school was in session.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:53:08 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX shared his  understanding that the commission                                                               
must handle  ethical complaints,  and he  asked Dr.  Stafford how                                                               
she would "fit in" to that position.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
DR. STAFFORD replied that she is still learning.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:54:47 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND  asked  Dr. Stafford  whether  the  commission                                                               
meets four times a year.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
DR. STAFFORD  confirmed that  the commission  meets four  times a                                                               
year.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND  surmised that Dr.  Stafford has taken  part in                                                               
an initial  meeting, but has  not necessarily reviewed  any cases                                                               
or complaints.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
DR. STAFFORD  replied that  a few cases  have been  reviewed, but                                                               
that she is still new and is learning the process.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:56:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND noted that no one  is waiting to testify on the                                                               
appointees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:56:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADAM   REID,    Appointee,   Professional    Teaching   Practices                                                               
Commission, shared  that he has  been teaching at King  Tech High                                                               
School  for the  past  20 years,  and  that he  has  a degree  in                                                               
environmental science from Creighton University.   He said he has                                                               
served as a  department chair, a building leader, and  as part of                                                               
the literacy team, implementing  literacy strategies into the CTE                                                               
curriculum.   He  said  he currently  serves  on three  nonprofit                                                               
boards relating to youth sports,  which he believes has given him                                                               
the ability to  look at each case presented to  the commission in                                                               
an impartial  manner.  He said  he hopes to continue  serving the                                                               
teaching profession.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:59:24 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND noted that her  service on the Anchorage School                                                               
Board ended  in 2003,  when the  King Career  Center was  still a                                                               
program  for students  who were  bussed  from their  neighborhood                                                               
high schools.   She commented on King  Career Center's transition                                                               
to  fully-accredited  high school,  and  she  asked Mr.  Reid  to                                                               
relate the details of the transition.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR. REID  said that  while King  Tech High School  is now  a full                                                               
time  high school,  it still  serves  students from  neighborhood                                                               
high schools,  alternative high schools, and  homeschool programs                                                               
in a  part-time fashion of  two classes per  day.  There  are now                                                               
full-time math,  science, and social  studies teachers,  he said,                                                               
and students may  transfer to King Tech beginning  in 11th grade;                                                               
half  of the  day is  focused  on academic  coursework, with  the                                                               
other half focused on CTE  classes.  Meanwhile, he said, students                                                               
from around the district are able  to access the programs at King                                                               
Tech.  He said the goal is 150-200 full time students.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND  asked  whether the  three  academic  teachers                                                               
teach  the 150-200  students all  at  once, or  in two  different                                                               
sessions.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR.  REID  clarified  that  half of  the  students  have  morning                                                               
academic  classes and  afternoon  CTE coursework,  and the  other                                                               
half  follow the  opposite schedule.   He  pointed out  that many                                                               
students  are ahead  on credits  by their  junior year,  so there                                                               
exists  a variety  of  blended  learning opportunities  including                                                               
face-to-face  instruction  supplemented  with online  work,  with                                                               
teachers in support roles.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND asked whether there  is an equivalent number of                                                               
students that  arrive from  other schools for  their half  day of                                                               
CTE coursework.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR.  REID replied  that there  are 400-500  students per  session                                                               
that attend part time.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND  commented  on   the  King  Tech  High  School                                                               
experience.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MR. REID described  teachers working together to  develop kits to                                                               
assist CTE students with hands-on learning in a remote setting.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:06:04 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STORY  asked  Mr.  Reid  to  expand  on  literacy                                                               
strategies in the curriculum.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR.  REID explained  that CTE  and other  teachers have  attended                                                               
training  on  various  literacy strategies,  some  of  which  was                                                               
designed  to  bring  more  writing  and  speaking  into  the  CTE                                                               
coursework.  He described encouraging  students to work in groups                                                               
to present what they're learning in alternative methods.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY  asked Mr. Reid  what kind of  training he's                                                               
received since he's been on the commission.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MR. REID replied  that he's received no formal  training on legal                                                               
policies, though commissioners  have access to the  legal team at                                                               
the Office of the Governor.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked  why Mr. Reid feels  he's qualified to                                                               
fill the role on the commission.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. REID pointed to the different  boards on which he serves, and                                                               
he described bringing a sense of  balance and the ability to work                                                               
within a group.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:10:19 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked Mr. Reid  whether the commission spends                                                               
more time  adjudicating cases  or focusing on  better ways  to do                                                               
things.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR.  REID  responded that  the  commission  spends more  time  on                                                               
adjudicating  during  the  three official  meetings  in  January,                                                               
April,  and October.    Outside of  official  meetings, he  said,                                                               
investigating and  outreach is done by  Executive Director Melody                                                               
Man.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:12:32 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GILLHAM asked whether  the commissioners know each                                                               
other on a personal level.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR.  REID replied  that  the commission  would  normally meet  in                                                               
person, but meetings are currently via teleconference.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:14:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND asked  whether the commission meets  for a full                                                               
day.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. REID  responded that meetings  are scheduled to  comprise two                                                               
days.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND asked  whether  Mr. Reid  has adjudicated  any                                                               
cases, and if so, which was the most difficult.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR.  REID  noted   the  excellent  work  done  by   Ms.  Mann  in                                                               
investigating  cases,  and  he  described   a  case  in  which  a                                                               
teacher's license  was suspended for  a year as punishment  for a                                                               
broken  contract stemming  from  a medical  situation.   He  then                                                               
mused about a post-pandemic world  with multiple broken contracts                                                               
due to  teachers not wanting to  return to the classroom,  and he                                                               
commented that there could be some interesting conversations.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:18:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JAMIE   BURGESS,  Appointee,   Professional  Teaching   Practices                                                               
Commission,  shared  that  she is  the  superintendent  for  Nome                                                               
Public Schools and has been  nominated to fill the superintendent                                                               
seat on PTPC.  She said  she previously served as the director of                                                               
federal programs and instruction in  the Nome School District, as                                                               
well as  curriculum director  for the  Yupiit School  District in                                                               
Akiachak,  Alaska.   She  said  she holds  a  master's degree  in                                                               
biochemistry, biophysics,  and genetics, as  well as a  Master of                                                               
Education in Curriculum  Instruction.  She said she  has spent 10                                                               
years as a classroom teacher  and has launched a virtual learning                                                               
program for a 7,000-student school  district in Phoenix, Arizona.                                                               
She  said she  brings  a  broad background  in  education to  the                                                               
commission,  and prides  herself on  building relationships  with                                                               
students  and colleagues.    She expressed  that  serving on  the                                                               
commission is more  than simply passing judgement  on the actions                                                               
of teachers and administrators;  commissioners must offer insight                                                               
into  how  superintendents  can  better  train  and  support  the                                                               
ethical  practices of  educators in  their respective  districts.                                                               
She said  she takes  ethical practices  very seriously,  and that                                                               
she  would work  to make  sure  training is  easily available  in                                                               
order  to address  issues before  they arise  to the  level of  a                                                               
complaint.  She  said her personal goals are to  serve as a voice                                                               
for the  children in her  community, ensure that every  child has                                                               
access to effective  teachers, research-based teaching practices,                                                               
and safe and culturally responsive  classrooms, and that they are                                                               
well-prepared for life after school.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:23:13 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY  asked Ms. Burgess how  she currently trains                                                               
and supports teachers in ethical practices.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. BURGESS described developing  training for administrators and                                                               
teachers    on    professional   boundaries,    which    included                                                               
opportunities to  discuss what practices should  be considered in                                                               
developing  supportive relationships  with  students.   She  said                                                               
such  training  is  to  not  only make  teachers  aware  of  what                                                               
behavior  is  appropriate,  but   also  to  help  other  teachers                                                               
understand  that if  they see  something  suspicious or  suspect,                                                               
such  behaviors should  be addressed  before they  become issues.                                                               
She mentioned the isolated nature  of Alaska and many of Alaska's                                                               
schools,  and   how  such   isolation  may   allow  inappropriate                                                               
behavior.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:25:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX  asked whether  Ms. Burgess is  "applying for                                                               
the board this year."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS. BURGESS  replied that she  was nominated in January  2020, so                                                               
she is currently at the end of her first year on the commission.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX asked  whether  the primary  purpose of  the                                                               
commission is to address ethical standards.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. BURGESS  responded that  she believes  it is.   She  said the                                                               
commission meets  to review any  investigations conducted  by Ms.                                                               
Mann,  reviews any  agreements submitted  for consideration,  and                                                               
considers  any recommendations  for  action  against teacher  and                                                               
administrator  certificates, which  could  include suspension  or                                                               
revocation.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX  asked   whether  the  commission  considers                                                               
whether the standards  are appropriate, or whether  time is spent                                                               
applying existing standards.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. BURGESS  replied that  there are  opportunities to  hear from                                                               
Ms. Mann  on subjects  such as outreach  work and  newsletters to                                                               
the State Board of Education,  as well as opportunities to direct                                                               
Ms. Mann in her work as the need should arise.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:30:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GILLHAM  asked whether a  serious-enough complaint                                                               
could necessitate a special meeting of the commission.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MS. BURGESS  responded that all complaints  are considered during                                                               
schedule meetings.   If there  is a  case in which  the defendant                                                               
would  like  to  speak  to  the  committee,  usually  with  legal                                                               
representation  present,  such  sessions would  be  scheduled  in                                                               
conjunction with the regular meetings.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:32:19 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DALE ANDERSON, Appointee, University  of Alaska Board of Regents,                                                               
shared that  he has been  reappointed to  serve a second  term on                                                               
the  Board of  Regents.    He said  he's  been  a private  sector                                                               
entrepreneur as well as served  on the Commercial Fisheries Entry                                                               
Commission, the  City and  Borough of Juneau  assembly, and  as a                                                               
legislative  assistant.   He discussed  the importance  of having                                                               
strategists  with flexibility  leading the  University of  Alaska                                                               
(UA) system,  and he said the  challenge to the Board  of Regents                                                               
is ensuring  the UA  system remains  competitive in  a demanding,                                                               
uncertain  environment.    He  said   board  members  should  ask                                                               
challenging,  relevant, and  fair questions;  avoid dysfunctional                                                               
politeness; and deal  with facts and data  while appreciating the                                                               
complexities  of   running  an   educational  institution.     He                                                               
discussed enhancing  specialized courses unique to  the UA system                                                               
and  he  noted  the  difficulty  of  the  past  two  years.    He                                                               
emphasized the opinion  that the UA system is not  in a "downward                                                               
spiral,"  and  he  stated  his commitment  to  working  with  the                                                               
administration as well as faculty  and community leaders to drive                                                               
long-term, sustainable change.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:38:12 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   STORY  asked   for  a   status  update   on  the                                                               
consideration   of  consolidating   the   University  of   Alaska                                                               
Southeast (UAS) under the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF).                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR.  ANDERSON said  consolidation will  not happen.   He  said he                                                               
suggested   that   the   Board  of   Regents   research   whether                                                               
consolidation would  be a wise  move, and his suggestion  was met                                                               
with a  "voracious" reaction.   He withdrew his motion,  he said,                                                               
and there  has been a  fresh collaboration between UAS,  UAF, and                                                               
University of Alaska Anchorage  (UAA), with increased cooperation                                                               
which  he expressed  was  a result  of his  desire  to seek  more                                                               
information on the efficacy of consolidation.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STORY asked  Mr. Anderson  to elaborate  on tasks                                                               
and projects he'd like to see the UA system move forward on.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. ANDERSON discussed  wanting to be involved in  the process of                                                               
choosing "good administration"  for the UA system.   He said he's                                                               
not on the Board of Regents  to serve only one university, but to                                                               
serve  the  state as  a  whole;  however,  he  said, due  to  his                                                               
residency in Juneau, he  has a special focus on UAS.   He said he                                                               
is interested  in expanding the undergraduate  fisheries program,                                                               
partially through construction of  the oceanography and fisheries                                                               
campus  on  the  location  of the  previous  National  Oceanic  &                                                               
Atmospheric  Administration (NOAA)  lab.   A  long-term goal,  he                                                               
said,  is  development  of  a maritime  academy.    He  described                                                               
himself as a  "fiscal conservative" and he said he  wants to stay                                                               
"within  that realm,"  and  that he  will be  part  of the  audit                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:48:08 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX  said,  "I'm concerned  about  the  business                                                               
model  ... of  a  politically-driven  organization providing  the                                                               
funding, as opposed to a  more business-oriented institution that                                                               
gets  its funding  direct  from  the customers."    He asked  Mr.                                                               
Anderson about the business model for the university.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR. ANDERSON said the full  amount of a university's budget being                                                               
covered by student  payments would "never happen,"  and there has                                                               
to be  a subsidy from the  state or federal government.   He said                                                               
there  is a  new fundraising  program through  the University  of                                                               
Alaska Foundation, as  state funding is expected  to diminish; in                                                               
this  way, he  said, residents  of  the state  could support  the                                                               
existence  of  a  wanted  university.    Athletic  programs  have                                                               
experienced reductions,  he said,  with students being  forced to                                                               
raise funds to support activities.   He then asked Representative                                                               
Prax whether he's curious about a specific area.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX  opined that the  UA system would  be "better                                                               
off and more stable" if it was forced to operate as a business.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. ANDERSON  share his opinion  that his business  background is                                                               
an advantage in serving  on the Board of Regents.   He said he is                                                               
known to look  for different funding opportunities,  and that the                                                               
board is looking for ways of  bringing in money from "outside" to                                                               
lessen UA's dependence on government funding.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:54:37 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND  asked Mr.  Anderson to discuss  the idea  of a                                                               
maritime  academy.   She then  asked whether  he knows  about the                                                               
maritime  training  center  at the  Alaska  Vocational  Technical                                                               
Center (AVTEC) in Seward.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. ANDERSON  said he's aware of  the program.  He  said he wants                                                               
to expand the program at AVTEC  to focus on the north Pacific and                                                               
Northwest Passage.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND commented  about having  the Board  of Regents                                                               
work  with  the Department  of  Labor  and Workforce  Development                                                               
regarding AVTEC.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. ANDERSON expressed his agreement.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND asked  Mr. Anderson whether he  is the longest-                                                               
serving member of the Board of Regents.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. ANDERSON replied  that Mary K. Hughes  is the longest-serving                                                               
member.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:58:13 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND opened  public testimony  on the  confirmation                                                               
hearing for the  governor's appointees to the  various boards and                                                               
commissions.  After  ascertaining that no one  wished to testify,                                                               
she closed public testimony.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:58:30 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STORY stated  that the  House Education  Standing                                                               
Committee  has  reviewed  the qualifications  of  the  governor's                                                               
appointees   to  the   following  boards   and  commissions   and                                                               
recommends their names  be forwarded to be considered  by a joint                                                               
session of  the legislature:   Sally Stockhausen to the  Board of                                                               
Education and  Early Development;  Jennifer Stafford,  Adam Reid,                                                               
and  Jamie   Burgess  to  the  Professional   Teaching  Practices                                                               
Commission; and Dale  Anderson to the University  Alaska Board of                                                               
Regents.  She stated that this  does not reflect intent by any of                                                               
the  members to  vote for  or  against any  of these  individuals                                                               
during any further sessions for the purposes of confirmation.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:59:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:00:53 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no  further business before the  committee, the House                                                               
Education Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 10:01 a.m.                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
4.2.2021 EDU Complete Committee Packet.pdf HEDC 4/2/2021 8:00:00 AM
Dale Anderson Resume University Regent Appointee.pdf HEDC 4/2/2021 8:00:00 AM
Jamie Burgess Resume PTPC Appointee.pdf HEDC 4/2/2021 8:00:00 AM
Adam Reid PTPC Appointee.pdf HEDC 4/2/2021 8:00:00 AM
Jennifer Stafford Resume PTPC Appointee.pdf HEDC 4/2/2021 8:00:00 AM
Sally Stockhausen Resume Board of Education Appointee.pdf HEDC 4/2/2021 8:00:00 AM