03/03/2025 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Professional Teaching Practices Commission | |
| HB57 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 57 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 3, 2025
8:04 a.m.
DRAFT
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Rebecca Himschoot, Co-Chair
Representative Andi Story, Co-Chair
Representative Ted Eischeid
Representative Jubilee Underwood
Representative Rebecca Schwanke
Representative Bill Elam
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Maxine Dibert
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
PROFESSIONAL TEACHING PRACTICES COMMISSION
HEIDI BARNES - Wasilla
KIMBERLY BERGEY - Palmer
- CONFIRMATION(S): ADVANCED
HOUSE BILL NO. 57
"An Act relating to wireless telecommunications devices in
public schools; and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 57
SHORT TITLE: COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) FIELDS
01/22/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/22/25 (H) L&C, EDC
01/29/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
01/29/25 (H) Heard & Held
01/29/25 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
01/31/25 (H) L&C AT 9:15 AM GRUENBERG 120
01/31/25 (H) Heard & Held
01/31/25 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
02/05/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/05/25 (H) Moved CSHB 57(L&C) Out of Committee
02/05/25 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
02/10/25 (H) L&C RPT CS(L&C) 5DP 1NR
02/10/25 (H) DP: CARRICK, SADDLER, COULOMBE, HALL,
FIELDS
02/10/25 (H) NR: NELSON
02/24/25 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
02/24/25 (H) Heard & Held
02/24/25 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/03/25 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
WITNESS REGISTER
HEIDI BARNES, Appointee
Professional Teaching Practices Commission
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during her confirmation hearing
to the Professional Teaching Practices Commission.
KIMBERLY BERGEY, Appointee
Professional Teaching Practices Commission
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during her confirmation hearing
to the Professional Teaching Practices Commission.
REPRESENTATIVE ZACK FIELDS
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, answered committee
questions on CSHB 57(L&C).
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:04:15 AM
CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT called the House Education Standing Committee
meeting to order at 8:04 a.m. Representatives Himschoot,
Schwanke, Underwood, Eischeid, Story, and Elam were present at
the call to order.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
^Professional Teaching Practices Commission
Professional Teaching Practices Commission
8:05:30 AM
CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT announced that the first order of business
would be two confirmation hearings to the Professional Teaching
Practices Commission (PTPC).
8:06:25 AM
HEIDI BARNES, Appointee, Professional Teaching Practices
Commission, Testified during her confirmation hearing to the
Professional Teaching Practices Commission. She began her
testimony by explaining her background in Alaska public
education and said that she is "passionate about teaching
because of the positive impacts that I directly make on students
lives, getting to make a positive experience at such an early
age".
8:07:54 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY asked Ms. Barnes to give an overview of the duty
of the PTPC and what her goals would be while serving on the
PTPC. She asked what challenges she sees that educators are
facing both as a profession and in the classroom. She asked Ms.
Barnes to elaborate on what her leadership duties might entail.
MS. BARNES answered that the duty of the PTPC is to discipline
members of the teaching profession and said that she wants to
continue to help shape the future of teaching in "other
capacities". She shared her understanding that educators today
are facing job instability and "very large classroom sizes".
She said that she is taking more leadership roles within her
school currently and explained how that might translate to the
PTPC.
8:12:57 AM
REPRESENTATIVE EISCHEID asked Ms. Barnes what the genesis of her
application to the PTPC was. He asked if a teacher is wrong to
teach a district-approved curriculum in the face of public
scrutiny.
MS. BARNES answered that she "wants to be a part of the
advancement of our profession" and said that she cares about the
integrity of the teaching profession. She said that she was
recommended to apply to the PTPC by a previous educator and
colleague. She replied that she didn't know if she could say
whether or not it was wrong for a teacher to teach a certain
curriculum in the face of public scrutiny.
8:20:01 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ELAM asked Ms. Barnes what else she is involved
in beside her teaching profession.
MS. BARNES answered that she is currently serving on her son's
baseball team board and said that she does volunteer work.
8:21:45 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SCHWANKE asked Ms. Barnes if she has had any
experience with hands-on, place-based learning models.
MS. BARNES replied that her entire experience as a kindergarten
teacher was in giving kinesthetic instruction.
8:23:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ELAM asked Ms. Barnes how she might respect a
school district's approved curriculum and an individual student
families own religious views at the same time.
MS. BARNES replied that she didn't know how to answer such a
question.
8:27:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE UNDERWOOD asked Ms. Barnes what grade levels she
has taught during her teaching career.
MS. BARNES answered that she taught 3rd grade for four years,
taught as a substitute teacher for five years, then moved to her
position as a kindergarten teacher for the previous 6 years.
8:29:06 AM
CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT asked Ms. Barnes if ethics could be divided
into conservative ethics and progressive ethics.
MS. BARNES answered that there are "just ethics" and said that
she doesn't believe that "any of that plays a part" in
influencing ethics.
8:31:11 AM
CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT thanked Ms. Barnes and
8:31:30 AM
CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT announced that the committee would hear from
Kimberly Bergy, the second appointee to the Professional
Teaching Practices Commission.
8:31:55 AM
KIMBERLY BERGEY, Appointee, Professional Teaching Practices
Commission, Testified during her confirmation hearing to the
Professional Teaching Practices Commission. She began her
testimony by explaining her background in Alaska public
education and said that she viewed the opportunity to continue
her service on the PTPC as an opportunity to provide "exemplary
service back to my peers".
8:33:41 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY asked Ms. Bergey why she is choosing to continue
to serve on the PTPC and asked what she believed to be the
biggest challenge that is facing educators today. She asked how
teachers are initially introduced to their code of ethics upon
their hiring as a teacher. She asked how often the PTPC meets
and how often alleged teaching ethics violations are brought
before the commission.
MS. BERGEY replied that the PTPC plays a critical role in
ensuring the integrity of the work that teachers do and said
that she wants to be a good member of the PTPC. She said that
she views communication with families and the various pressures
that teachers face as the biggest challenges facing education
today. She answered that all teachers must acknowledge the code
of ethics upon their licensure as a teacher. She explained that
the amount of alleged teaching ethics violations brought before
the commission varies year by year.
8:41:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SCHWANKE asked Ms. Bergey what her experience is
with regards to teaching with hands-on, place-based teaching
models and asked her to explain a situation where place-based
teaching models might not have worked.
MS. BERGEY answered that place-based learning can be very
helpful for some students, not all students.
8:44:11 AM
REPRESENTATIVE EISCHEID asked Ms. Bergey if she is currently
serving as a teacher or as a superintendent on the PTPC. He
asked if it is normal for the PTPC to make decisions when less
than a quorum of members is present.
MS. BERGEY replied that she serves as a principal representative
on the PTPC. She said that during an administrative hearing, a
quorum is not necessary to make action on agenda items.
8:47:17 AM
CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT asked Ms. Bergey if the PTPC is able to get
clear background checks on teaching candidates who are applying
from overseas. She asked for clarification on the information
displayed on her resume and asked what her role as a principal
is while working for a homeschool program. She asked if someone
could serve on both the PTPC and the State Board of Education.
MS. BERGEY answered that the PTCS uses a separate background
check system for international teachers hired in Alaska. She
said that she deals with students who are "not compliant" and
works to help families who are experiencing difficulty with
their education experience. She explained that the work of the
PTPC is to adjudicate teachers' compliance with teaching ethics,
while the work of the State Board of Education is to implement
education policy.
8:54:42 AM
CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT stated that the House Education Standing
Committee has reviewed the qualifications of the governor's
appointees and recommends that the following names be forwarded
to a joint session for consideration: Heidi Barnes and Kimberly
Bergey, Professional Teaching Practices Commission. She said
that signing the report regarding appointments to boards and
commissions in no way reflects an individual member's approval
or disapproval of the appointee, and the nomination is merely
forwarded to the full legislature for confirmation or
rejection].
8:55:00 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:55 a.m. to 9:01 a.m.
HB 57-COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
9:01:59 AM
[Due to technical difficulties, the call back to order was not
captured on the recording but was reconstructed from the
secretary's log notes.]
CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT announced that the final order of business
would be CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 57(L&C), "An Act relating to
wireless telecommunications devices in public schools; and
providing for an effective date." [Before the committee was
CSHB 57(L&C).]
CO-CHAIR STORY asked Representative Fields if there should be a
sunset clause associated with CSHB 57(L&C) and asked if a
student on an Individual education Plan (IEP) should be allowed
an exception for cell phone use. She asked why CSHB 57(L&C)
does not direct school boards to implement the proposed cell
phone ban. S
9:02:17 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ZACK FIELDS, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, answered committee questions on CSHB 57(L&C). He said
that it would not be effective to apply a sunset date and said
that he doesn't see the dangerous effects of social media
addiction in children changing within the next three to five
years. He clarified that Section 1 of the proposed legislation
directs school districts to implement the policy of CSHB 57(L&C)
and shared his preference for the bill to go into effect in the
fall of 2025.
9:06:25 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ELAM shared his appreciation for the proposed
legislation
9:07:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE EISCHEID echoed Co-Chair Story's idea for CSHB
57(L&C) to include a follow-up report on the effects of the
proposed legislation.
REPRESENTATITIVE FIELDS shared his agreeance that it could be
beneficial for the Department of Education and Early Development
9:08:34 AM
REPRESENTATIVE UNDERWOOD shared her understanding that the model
policy of the proposed legislation would be the baseline for all
other policy adopted under CSHB 57 (L&C).
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS said that Representative Underwood's
understanding was correct.
9:09:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SCHWANKE shared her opinion that the legislators
must tread carefully when creating laws that local school boards
might be able to handle on their own.
9:10:50 AM
CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT asked how school districts around Alaska
would get the proposed policies off the ground.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS shared his understanding that school
districts would each adopt their own individual policy that
concerned the implementation of the proposed legislation.
9:11:58 AM
CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT opened public testimony on CSHB 57(L&C).
after ascertaining that there was no one who wished to testify,
she closed public testimony.
9:12:39 AM
CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT announced that HB 57 would be held over.
9:13:34 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Education Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 9:13 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Heidi Barnes PTPComm Resume.pdf |
HEDC 3/3/2025 8:00:00 AM |
Governor's Appointment |
| Kimberley Bergey PTPComm Resume.pdf |
HEDC 3/3/2025 8:00:00 AM |
Governor's Appointment |
| Article 5 ProfTeachingPracticesAct_AS 14.20.370-.630.docx |
HEDC 3/3/2025 8:00:00 AM |
Prof Teaching Practices Act |
| PTPC Mission & Bd.docx |
HEDC 3/3/2025 8:00:00 AM |
|
| EDC Him. Gov App BEED_PTPC_2.10.25 memo.doc |
HEDC 3/3/2025 8:00:00 AM |