Legislature(2023 - 2024)DAVIS 106
02/06/2023 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): Overview of Programs by Alaska State Council on the Arts (asca), Professional Teaching Practices Commission (ptpc) | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
February 6, 2023
8:01 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Justin Ruffridge, Co-Chair
Representative Mike Prax
Representative CJ McCormick
Representative Tom McKay
Representative Rebecca Himschoot
Representative Andi Story
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Jamie Allard, Co-Chair
OTHER REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT
Representative Dan Ortiz
Representative Julie Coulombe
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION(S): OVERVIEW OF PROGRAMS BY ALASKA STATE COUNCIL ON
THE ARTS (ASCA)~ PROFESSIONAL TEACHING PRACTICES COMMISSION
(PTPC)
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
MELODY MANN, Executive Director
Professional Teaching Practices Commission
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During the presentation: Overview of
Programs by Alaska State Council on the Arts and Professional
Teaching Practices Commission, offered a PowerPoint, entitled
"Professional Teaching Practices Commission."
ANDREA NOBLE, Executive Director
Alaska State Council on the Arts
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During the presentation: Overview of
Programs by Alaska State Council on the Arts and Professional
Teaching Practices Commission, offered a PowerPoint, entitled
"Alaska State Council on the Arts."
LAURA FORBES, Fine Arts Administrator
Alaska State Council on the Arts
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During the presentation: Overview of
Programs by Alaska State Council on the Arts and Professional
Teaching Practices Commission, offered a PowerPoint, entitled
"Alaska State Council on the Arts."
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:01:07 AM
CO-CHAIR JUSTIN RUFFRIDGE called the House Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 8:01 a.m. Representatives Prax,
McCormick, McKay, Himschoot, and Ruffridge were present at the
call to order. Representative Story arrived as the meeting was
in progress.
^PRESENTATION(S): Overview of Programs by Alaska State Council
on the Arts (ASCA), Professional Teaching Practices Commission
(PTPC)
PRESENTATION(S): Overview of Programs by Alaska State Council on
the Arts (ASCA), Professional Teaching Practices Commission
(PTPC)
8:02:56 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that the only order of business
would be the Overview from the Professional Teaching Practices
Commission (PTPC), and the Alaska State Council of the Arts
(ASCA).
8:03:49 AM
MELODY MANN, Executive Director, Professional Teaching Practices
Commission, during the presentation: Overview of Programs by
Alaska State Council on the Arts and Professional Teaching
Practices Commission, offered a PowerPoint, entitled
"Professional Teaching Practices Commission."
8:06:58 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:06 a.m. to 8:09 a.m.
8:09:09 AM
MS. MANN showed slide 2, titled "Mission, Vision, and Purpose,"
and explained the Professional Teaching Practices Commission
(PTPC) supports the Department of Education and Early
Development (DEED), and stated that her hope is that it leads to
greater retention of qualified educators. Slide 3, titled
"Strategic Priorities: Alaska's Education Challenge,"
highlighted the Five Shared Priorities, and would be discussed
throughout the following slides. MS. MANN proceeded to Slide 4,
titled "Budget Organizational Chart," and pointed out that PTPC
stands independently from the rest of the programs in DEED.
MS. MANN moved to slide 5, titled "Professional Teaching
Practices Commission (PTPC)," and explained there are four
things the PTPC is authorized to do: develop and enforce the
Code of Ethics for the education profession, investigate
violations, sanction educators for misconduct, and conduct
background checks.
8:13:25 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT questioned the role of the Commission
in educating educators about the Code of Ethics, and asked how
much outreach the Commission does, and if there is room for more
outreach to reduce violations?
MS. MANN responded that a favorite part of her position is
outreach, and there is a broad network of groups the PTPC works
with including the university system, various associations and
school boards throughout the state, and NEA-Alaska. She added
that the PTPC presents workshops state-wide.
MS. MANN continued on slide 6 titled "Role of the Professional
Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC) Executive Director," where
she summarized her role as the executive director of PTPC.
8:18:47 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked for confirmation on a comment about
there having been no administrative hearings, but the next slide
["Professional Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC) Actions in
FY2022."] would show 29 complaints for investigations.
MS. MANN explained the process on complaints is that first it
must be determined if it's appropriate for PTPC to open an
investigation, and if an investigation is opened, PTPC
determines if there is evidence to warrant a sanction. As
executive director, she explained, she has authority to try and
settle the sanction; this would result in no administrative
hearing.
8:21:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX questioned the number of background checks
versus applicants and asked which group Ms. Mann focuses on.
MS. MANN responded that she conducts background checks only when
there are records with a criminal history. In response to a
follow-up question, she explained the amount of time it takes to
complete background checks is quick if the information is
disclosed honestly.
8:23:54 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCKAY offered his understanding that the
Department of Public Safety did background checks - and there
are different levels.
8:24:27 AM
MS. MANN responded the PTPC policy has a 5 to 10 year look back.
She explained she had not seen felony convictions. If teacher
certificates are revoked, teachers will be barred from working
in certain sectors of education.
8:29:16 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE wanted clarity on the types of background
checks being performed.
MS. MANN explained teacher certification requires fingerprints,
which reveal any criminal history, and applicants are required
to disclose any convictions. Her job is to match an applicant's
criminal history with the disclosure on the application.
8:30:53 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:30 a.m. to 8:31 a.m.
8:31:59 AM
ANDREA NOBLE, Executive Director, Alaska State Council on the
Arts, during the presentation: Overview of Programs by Alaska
State Council on the Arts and Professional Teaching Practices
Commission, offered a PowerPoint, entitled "Alaska State Council
on the Arts." began on the slide [2], titled "Agenda," and
explained what will be discussed. She proceeded to slide [3],
titled "DEED Organizational Chart," and pointed out the Alaska
State Council on the Arts (ASCA) is one of 56 state arts
agencies, and the only one in the nation that is a public
corporation. She advanced to Slide [4], titled "Mission,
Vision, Purpose," and explained the council has an 11-member
board of trustees appointed by the governor and pointed out the
limited number and types of ASCA staff members. In addition to
the shared mission of education, DEED is ASCA's administrative
partner for all operational aspects that would require more
staffing if these responsibilities were covered in-house.
8:35:20 AM
MS. NOBLE continued on slide [5], titled "ASCA's Strategic
Plan," and summarized Goal 1 - "Build an Alaskan arts and
culture sector for the near future." She highlighted the
importance of investing in networks of artists, organizations,
and agencies in the council's work to serve all communities and
people of Alaska. MS. NOBLE followed on slide [6] which
featured Goal 2 in ASCA's Strategic Plan: "Illustrate the value
of the arts through arts-integrated approaches." She explained
the arts as a healing process for trauma, and ASCA's involvement
in launching workshops, partnerships, and competitions.
8:40:21 AM
MS. NOBLE moved onto slide [7], which featured Goal 3 in ASCA's
Strategic Plan: "Grow Alaska's creative economy and develop the
workforce of tomorrow."
8:40:30 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX referred back to the art plates [Artistic
License Plate on slide 6] and asked if it is a source of revenue
or just promotional for the artist.
MS. NOBLE explained that last year a requested regulation was
approved, in order to charge a $3 fee so that ASCA can begin to
generate revenue from the sales of the art plates.
8:43:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked for an idea of the amount of time
spent on each program?
MS. NOBLE explained she does not have that answer on hand but
can provide a written response to the question after consulting
with her program officers and directors.
MS. NOBLE continued onto slide [8], which featured Goal 4 in
ASCA's Strategic Plan: "Enable all Alaskans to lead expressive
lives and celebrate successes." Also featured on the slide is
the Governor's Arts and Humanities awards, and Ms. Noble noted
looking forward to this year's 53rd Annual Awards on May 11 in
Anchorage, as the event celebrates individual Alaskans who have
made notable contributions to the arts and humanities. Ms.
Noble moved on to slide [9], which featured Goal 5 in ASCA's
Strategic Plan: "Strengthen ASCA's role as a cultural policy
leader in the state and locally." In summarizing, she stressed
that the two funding sources of private foundation and earned
revenue extend the impact of the state's public investment in
the arts - without these two sources, ASCA could not do the
extended work described so far.
8:47:43 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked if ASCA is interfacing with the
visitor industry, cruise ships in particular, to promote Alaskan
art.
MS. NOBLE responded that was a high point in ASCA's last
strategic plan, and in the Alaska Travel Industry Association,
there is now an additional goal for alignment with the ASCA.
She said ASCA has also been engaged in the Department of
Commerce, Community, and Economic Development's strategic
planning.
8:49:44 AM
LAURA FORBES, Fine Arts Administrator, Alaska State Council on
the Arts, during the presentation: Overview of Programs by
Alaska State Council on the Arts and Professional Teaching
Practices Commission, offered a PowerPoint, entitled "Alaska
State Council on the Arts." joined the presentation on slide
[10], titled "Strategic Priorities: Alaska's Education
Challenge," which is a summary of the following five slides.
Ms. Forbes moved on to slide [11], titled "1. Support all
students to read at grade level by the end of third grade." In
addition to a wide variety of activities, the arts residency
goals also include integration of the arts with other curricula
including language arts, math, and other academic content areas.
8:52:58 AM
MS. FORBES advanced to slide [12], titled "2. Increase career,
technical, and culturally relevant education to meet student and
workforce needs." The slide features a link to an approximate
3-minute video related to the Sitka Stop-Motion Animation Youth
Cultural Camp, which she briefly discussed.
8:55:16 AM
MS. FORBES moved to the next slide [13], "3. Close the
achievement gap by ensuring equitable educational rigor and
resources." She briefly summarized the four programs featured
on the slide: Youth Cultural Heritage Program; New Visions
Network; Alaska Arts Standards; and Statewide Teaching Artist
Roster. Ms. Forbes proceeded to slide [14], titled "4. Prepare,
attract, and retain effective education professionals." The
slide featured the Munartet Project - Five Years Teaching in and
Through the Arts and Cultures in Kodiak, Alaska. MS. FORBES
pointed out the project is directly aimed at supporting teacher
recruitment and retention, and on sharing learning through this
cohort model.
8:59:36 AM
MS. FORBES moved onto the final slide in her presentation [15],
titled "5. Improve the safety and well-being of students through
school partnership with families, communities, and tribes." The
graphic shown on the slide was created for the first meeting of
the Alaska Arts Education Data Project in 2022. The graphic
contemplates the eco-system of individuals, organizations, and
the agencies involved in the arts education endeavors of Alaska.
9:03:46 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Education Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 9:04 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| DEED ASCA Overview H ED FIN SUB 02.06.23.pdf |
HEDC 2/6/2023 8:00:00 AM |
DEED ASCA 02.06.23 |
| DEED PTPC Overview H ED FIN SUB 02.06.23.pdf |
HEDC 2/6/2023 8:00:00 AM |
DEED PTPC 02.06.23 |