Legislature(2017 - 2018)CAPITOL 106
03/09/2018 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s): Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development, Alaska Professional Teaching Practices Commission | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 9, 2018
8:03 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Harriet Drummond, Chair
Representative Justin Parish, Vice Chair
Representative Jennifer Johnston
Representative David Talerico
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Ivy Spohnholz
Representative Chuck Kopp
Representative Lora Reinbold (alternate)
Representative Geran Tarr (alternate)
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development
James Fields - Glennallen
Sandy Kowalski - Fairbanks
Lorri Van Diest - Palmer
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Alaska Professional Teaching Practices Commission
Diane Kardash - Fairbanks
Philip "Tony" Graham - Soldotna
Kent Runion - Nome
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
JAMES FIELDS, Appointee
Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development
Glennallen, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointed to the Alaska State
Board of Education & Early Development.
SANDY KOWALSKI, Appointee
Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointed to the Alaska State
Board of Education & Early Development.
LORRI VAN DIEST, Appointee
Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointed to the Alaska State
Board of Education & Early Development.
DIANE KARDASH, Appointee
Alaska Professional Teaching Practices Commission
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Alaska
Professional Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC).
PHILIP "TONY" GRAHAM, Appointee, Alaska Professional Teaching
Practices Commission (PTPC)
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Alaska
Professional Teaching Practices Commission.
KENT RUNION, Appointee
Alaska Professional Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC)
Nome, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Alaska
Professional Teaching Practices Commission.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:03:21 AM
CHAIR HARRIET DRUMMOND called the House Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 8:03 a.m. Representatives Parish,
Johnston, Talerico, and Drummond were present at the call to
order.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S): Alaska State Board of Education &
Early Development, Alaska Professional Teaching Practices
Commission
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development
Alaska Professional Teaching Practices Commission
8:03:58 AM
CHAIR DRUMMOND announced that the only order of business would
be the confirmation hearings for appointees to the Alaska State
Board of Education & Early Development and the Alaska
Professional Teaching Practices Commission.
8:04:34 AM
JAMES FIELDS, Appointee, Alaska State Board of Education & Early
Development, said he is the regional educational attendance area
(REAA) representative for the Alaska State Board of Education &
Early Development ("the board") and has served on the Copper
River School District board for nine years. He said he was
appointed to the board by Governor Sean Parnell and kept on by
Governor Bill Walker, and he has served on the board for five
years, the last three of which he has been the chair. He said
Governor Walker has appointed him for another five-year term.
He said he has enjoyed both his local and statewide roles in the
education system of Alaska.
8:06:08 AM
CHAIR DRUMMOND asked Mr. Fields why he wishes to continue in his
capacity on the board for another term.
MR. FIELDS answered that he thinks it is important to keep a
nucleus on the board for consistency in forward momentum. He
said he thinks it is an exciting time in education and he would
like to be a part of it.
8:07:26 AM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO thanked Mr. Fields for being a coach in
an upcoming tournament.
8:08:08 AM
SANDY KOWALSKI, Appointee, Alaska State Board of Education &
Early Development, stated that she is the director of Indigenous
Programs in the Rural Community and Native Education Office
within the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). She said she
has been in her present position for two months and, before
that, served in K-12 education for 28 years as a teacher, school
administrator, and district administrator - most recently as
superintendent for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School
District. Ms. Kowalski stated that it pleases her to be an
appointee because she is inspired by the work done by Alaskans
in response to the state's education challenges. She opined
that the board serves "a vital role in meeting the commitments
and recommendations laid out in the report," and she expressed
her hope that her experience in both tribal and public education
would help to lead in this effort. She continued as follows:
The recommendations outline initiatives that will more
meaningfully engage students in learning and help
prepare students for a future we cannot see and design
ourselves. The recommendations also impress upon
leaders the importance of cultural relevance and
interest-based student-centered learning for all
Alaskan students. I am excited to work with the board
... and the Department of Education & Early
Development as we work to ensure equity of access to
high-quality learning experiences for all students.
8:09:42 AM
CHAIR DRUMMOND said she is impressed with Ms. Kowalski's
experience and looks forward to her service.
8:09:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH noted that in the conflicts of interest
section of Ms. Kowalski's submitted information, it is written
that it is possible Ms. Kowalski, or any family member, would
benefit financially by any decisions made by the board or
commission.
MS. KOWALSKI said that is likely a typographical error. She
clarified that she does not believe there is a conflict.
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH noted that having a conflict of interest
is not a barrier to serving; it is expected that there will be
conflicts of interest that members will express and recuse
themselves appropriately. He said it is "curious" to see that
someone has answered "yes" to potential conflict of interest but
then answer "none" in explaining he financial benefit.
MS. KOWALSKI reemphasized that there is no financial conflict of
interest now, but acknowledged that through the university, she
would be involved with an initiative "to support teacher
education development from the perspective of an indigenous
constituency that wants to have a more responsive educational
system that retains teachers in our Alaskan communities," and
there are going to be times when she will need to disclose some
of the work she does to the board. She added, "In that regard,
... that's why it's possibly yes in one and no in the other. I
don't see a financial conflict."
8:13:06 AM
CHAIR DRUMMOND expressed thanks to Ms. Kowalski and said she is
excited by her experience in indigenous languages. She noted
that as a member of the House Community and Regional Affairs
Standing Committee, she recently had taken part in a "spirited
discussion" regarding the emergency state of Native languages in
Alaska. She asked Ms. Kowalski for comment.
MS. KOWALSKI said she had heard some of the debate on line. She
said she feels that Alaska Native Languages are in a state of
emergency, and that is part of the work she is doing in her
current position with the university.
CHAIR DRUMMOND stated support for Ms. Kowalski's appointment.
8:14:39 AM
LORRI VAN DIEST, Appointee, Alaska State Board of Education &
Early Development, stated that she is a retired Matanuska-
Susitna (Mat-Su) Borough School District educator. She said she
is a lifelong Alaskan, who grew up in Seward. Her father was a
teacher in the Kenai Peninsula School District for over 25
years, and she chose to follow his footsteps. She earned a
Bachelor of Science in mathematics, with a teaching credential
from Seattle Pacific University, and returned to Seward High
School to teach. She married and moved to Palmer, Alaska, where
she was one of the original staff to open Colony High School,
where she taught math, became a secondary guidance counselor,
and coached girls' basketball. Later she transferred to Teeland
Middle School, where she was the lead counselor. She said she
spent her last six years in the Mat-Su School District working
as the curriculum coordinator and being an integral part of a
curriculum team that established a review cycle for curriculum
to review and develop guidelines for curriculum review steps.
She said her job was to facilitate teacher leaders in updating
and writing area standards and selecting classroom materials to
assist in teaching those standards. Ms. Van Diest stated that
in 2010, she retired from the district to become full-time
teacher and mother to her children, and since two have completed
their formal education, she has worked part-time as substitute
counselor for the Mat-Su School District and president of the
local community council.
MS. VAN DIEST expressed excitement at the opportunity to serve
on the board. She said she is able to offer her experience as a
public educator, teacher, counselor, curriculum coordinator, and
homeschool educator. She related that she has served on boards
in the past and understands the importance of "hearing various
opinions while remaining a team player." She said she looks
forward to working with Commissioner Johnson and the staff of
DEED. She thanked the House Education Standing Committee for
considering her appointment to the board.
8:17:31 AM
CHAIR DRUMMOND asked Ms. Van Diest if she has followed the
development of Alaska's education challenge and could offer any
"words of wisdom."
MS. VAN DIEST said she had not, but since applying to the board,
she has "done a plethora of reading" and is impressed with the
work that has been done. She noted that her friend, John
Harmon, who previously served on the board, encouraged her to do
so. She said she has been in communication with him to find out
about the work that has been done. She stated, "Alaska is going
in a great direction, and I want to be part of that work."
CHAIR DRUMMOND noted that a lot of talent is being lost from the
board this year.
8:19:09 AM
CHAIR DRUMMOND noted that the committee would next hear from the
appointees to the Alaska Professional Teaching Practices
Commission.
DIANE KARDASH, Appointee, Alaska Professional Teaching Practices
Commission, stated that she is currently a faculty member of the
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), with the School of
Education's Elementary Program, and she is also serving as an
accreditation coordinator for the school. She said she has been
a teacher for almost 30 years in California and Alaska. She and
her husband have lived in Fairbanks for 22 years. Ms. Kardash
said she taught in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School
District in grades K-1 through 3, then transferred to UAF, where
she teaches classes related to literacy development, as well as
courses related to assessments, foundations, physical education,
and health. She said she assumed the higher education
representative's position on PTPC last May to complete a term,
and she looks forward to the legislature's confirmation, so she
can continue to serve. She stated her strong support for "the
professional and ethical expectations the State of Alaska has
for its teachers." She said the School of Education strives for
young teachers to understand not only their pedagogical teaching
responsibilities but also their professional and ethical
responsibilities. She said testing season is approaching, and
having teachers understand what their professional
responsibilities are to make that testing experience go well for
students is important. Ms. Kardash expressed appreciation for
the opportunity to serve.
8:22:02 AM
CHAIR DRUMMOND noted that Ms. Kardash had declared in her
written information that she may have a potential conflict of
interest should her husband be brought before the PTPC. Chair
Drummond stated, "I understand that you would need to recuse
yourself. I don't imagine there's any additional benefit."
MS. KARDASH responded no. She said her husband has taught in
Fairbanks for the last 22 years, and they have two children who
have gone through the school system in Fairbanks, one of whom
attends UAF.
CHAIR DRUMMOND told Ms. Kardash [the committee] would pass her
name on to the full body.
8:22:57 AM
PHILIP "TONY" GRAHAM, Appointee, Alaska Professional Teaching
Practices Commission (PTPC), stated that he has been the
principal at Soldotna High School, in the Kenai Peninsula School
District, for three years, and before that he was the assistant
principal for six years. Before moving to Alaska, he served as
a superintendent for six years and a K-12 principal for a few
years - an administrator for 16 years total and an educator for
20 years total. Mr. Graham said he was humbled to be selected
as appointee. He emphasized that every decision he makes is for
the children in the school. He said he loves his work because
of the children, and he is looking for ways to protect and serve
those children.
8:24:42 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH thanked Mr. Graham for his work, and he
asked him if he is confident that he would be able to serve the
full term to which he has been appointed.
MR. GRAHAM said he is.
8:25:12 AM
CHAIR DRUMMOND asked Mr. Graham if he works at the same school
where James Harris earned the title of teacher of the year.
MR. GRAHAM answered yes and said he has worked with Mr. Harris
for eight years.
CHAIR DRUMMOND said she is excited by the experience Mr. Graham
brings to the position on PTPC, and she said Mr. Harris
certainly knows his teachers.
8:25:51 AM
KENT RUNION, Appointee, Alaska Professional Teaching Practices
Commission (PTPC), stated that he has been an educator for 14
years and has taught social studies at Nome-Beltz Junior/Senior
High School for eight years. He has worked in the district in
the area of teacher rights. He stated that he believes in the
mission of the PTPC and thinks "it is an important vehicle for
protecting students, teachers, and the teaching profession." He
said he has enjoyed his time on the PTPC for the last year and
is honored to be re-nominated.
8:26:46 AM
CHAIR DRUMMOND surmised the work is interesting, and she asked
Mr. Runion if he would like to share any information he is
allowed to share regarding the cases that he has adjudicated.
MR. RUNION responded that the work is always interesting, and
each case is unique. He said cases come before the commission
because they are "in ethical gray area" that a district "cannot
decide" or that a PTPC director "does not see as clear cut."
There is often a lot of nuance to the cases. He relayed that
PTPC looks at the evidence available and takes into
consideration how best to protect students and elevate the
teaching profession while arriving at a reasonable decision. In
response to a follow-up question from Chair Drummond, he said
that since his time on the commission since last January, PTPC
has addressed approximately 15 cases. Also during that time,
PTPC has reviewed the code of ethics and "other ethical issues
that have come up with teaching and the teaching profession."
He explained that PTPC is in charge of the teaching code of
ethics and refers to it for all its cases.
CHAIR DRUMMOND expressed appreciation for Mr. Runion's recent
service, and she said the committee would be passing his name on
to the full body. She asked Representative Parish for a motion.
8:29:53 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH read the following statement:
The [House] Education [Standing] Committee has
reviewed the qualifications of the governor's
appointees and recommends that James Fields, Sandy
Kowalski, and Lorri Van Diest should be forwarded to a
joint session for consideration to the Alaska Board of
Education; and Diane Kardash, Philip Graham, and Kent
Runion should be forwarded to a joint session for
consideration to the Alaska Professional Teaching
Practices Commission. This does not reflect the
intent of any of the members to vote for or against
... [these individuals] during any further sessions
for the purposes of confirmation.
CHAIR DRUMMOND stated, "This is not something that the committee
gets to vote on. We're simply passing the names on to the full
body, and actually the joint session of the legislature, for
final confirmation. Thank you. And we'll sign paperwork right
after we adjourn today."
[The confirmations for all appointees were treated as advanced.]
8:31:49 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Education Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 8:32 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| James Fields 2017_Redacted.pdf |
HEDC 3/9/2018 8:00:00 AM |
|
| Diane Kardash_Redacted.pdf |
HEDC 3/9/2018 8:00:00 AM |
|
| Lorri Van Diest_Redacted.pdf |
HEDC 3/9/2018 8:00:00 AM |
|
| Phillip Graham_Redacted.pdf |
HEDC 3/9/2018 8:00:00 AM |
|
| Resumes Combined.pdf |
HEDC 3/9/2018 8:00:00 AM |
|
| Kent Runion_Redacted.pdf |
HEDC 3/9/2018 8:00:00 AM |
|
| Sandra Kowalski_Redacted.pdf |
HEDC 3/9/2018 8:00:00 AM |