Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
03/24/2016 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Confirmation Hearings | |
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
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+ teleconferenced
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 24, 2016
3:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Mike Dunleavy, Chair
Senator Charlie Huggins, Vice Chair
Senator Cathy Giessel
Senator Berta Gardner
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Gary Stevens
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS
State Board of Education & Early Development
Rebecca Himshoot - Sitka
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
Professional Teaching Practices Commission
David DeVaughn - North Pole
Melody Mann - Wasilla
Paul Prussing - Juneau
Francis Roberts - Homer
- CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED
University of Alaska
Stacy Lucason - Anchorage
Deena Paramo - Palmer
- CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
REBECCA HIMSHOOT, Appointee
Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the Board of
Education & Early Development.
DAVID DEVAUGHN, Appointee
Professional Teaching Practices Commission
North Pole, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the
Professional Teaching Practices Commission.
MELODY MANN, Appointee
Wasilla, Alaska
Professional Teaching Practices Commission
North Pole, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the
Professional Teaching Practices Commission.
PAUL PRUSSING, Appointee
Professional Teaching Practices Commission
North Pole, Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the
Professional Teaching Practices Commission.
FRANCIS ROBERTS, Appointee
Professional Teaching Practices Commission
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee for the
Professional Teaching Practices Commission.
STACEY LUCASON, Appointee
University of Alaska Board of Regents
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the University
of Alaska Board of Regents.
DEENA PARAMO, Appointee
University of Alaska Board of Regents
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the University
of Alaska Board of Regents.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:30:34 PM
CHAIR MIKE DUNLEAVY called the Senate Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Giessel, Huggins, Gardner, and Chair
Dunleavy.
^Confirmation Hearings
Confirmation Hearings
3:30:55 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced confirmation hearings for the Alaska
State Board of Education & Early Development, the Professional
Teaching Practices Commission, and the University of Alaska
Board of Regents.
Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development
3:31:54 PM
REBECCA HIMSHOOT, Appointee, Alaska State Board of Education &
Early Development, testified as an appointee to the Board of
Education & Early Development. She related that she is a science
specialist in grades 2 - 5 and a gifted education teacher. She
thanked the committee for the opportunity to share her
qualifications for the appointment and for the work they do. She
said it is an honor to be considered for an appointment to the
Board. As an educator with a vast amount of experience, she
believes she brings a valuable voice to the Board. She described
her broad professional network.
She maintained that it is perhaps the single greatest
responsibility of a society to raise and educate the next
generation, and she opined the best way to do so is in
partnership with families, communities, and students.
She explained that the Board has set three goals: modernizing
education in Alaska, increasing local control, and ensuring the
best quality teachers for every student in Alaska. She spoke of
how educator quality has been one of her primary goals and she
listed the awards she has received because of it. She noted that
she currently serves on the Professional Teaching Practices
Commission (PTPC). She opined that every student in Alaska
deserves a compassionate, skilled, knowledgeable teacher.
She spoke of her personal practice to remain on the cutting edge
of quality education and to bear the highest professional
standards. She concluded that there is an important role for
herself as a practitioner on the Board as it seeks to achieve
the strategic plan goal of providing the best quality educators
for Alaska's students.
She stated with the passage of Every Student Succeeds Act
(ESSA), Alaska has the opportunity to increase local control in
schools. She welcomed the shift away from high stakes testing.
She said Alaska's 53 school districts are well-positioned to
navigate the shift in this new federal law, but there is much
important work to do in the coming months.
She explained that reasons why she became a teacher and how she
would bring her experiences as a teacher to the Board to help
ensure the important discussions about education in Alaska
include the classroom perspective.
3:36:04 PM
SENATOR GARDNER asked about implementing the Marzano Model in
schools and what modernizing education means.
MS. HIMSHOOT replied that Senator Gardner's school district
follows the Danielson Model, but in the Sitka School District
the Marzano Model is used for educator evaluations. They both
provide research-based information on effective teaching to
schools.
She responded that modernizing education is a broad goal. She
said she does not know what the Board's definition is, but she
assumed each district would define it for itself. She gave an
example of modernizing digital technology - electronic white
boards in every classroom in the Sitka School District.
3:38:07 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS asked, with local control emphasized under ESSA,
why a State Board is needed.
MS. HIMSHOOT explained that the Board oversees the Department of
Education and must interpret ways to apply new statutes. She
said she likes that her district can set its own policies; the
Board provides oversite.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked how Governor Walker chose her as an
appointee.
MS. HIMSHOOT said she applied a year ago and was chosen to serve
on the PTPC. The Governor's Office reached out this year to
previous applicants to apply for the Board.
3:40:27 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked why she was chosen by the Governor.
MS. HIMSHOOT replied that she could not speak for the Governor.
She said she interviewed with the Chairs and Commissions Office
and then with the Governor's Office. She did not know the
Governor's reasons for choosing her. She added that the entire
Board had lunch with the Governor on Tuesday.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked how outside groups influence the Board when
making regulations and whether she sees herself as representing
teachers.
MS. HIMSHOOT stated when making decisions she decides what is
best for students.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked how she sees the legislature's role in
public education.
MS. HIMSHOOT said she would like to think the legislature is a
partner in education who is looking at teachers and schools as
professionals and supporting families and children.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if her role was that of a regulatory maker.
MS. HIMSHOOT said her background as a teacher and her experience
colors her view as a regulatory maker.
3:43:43 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked what school choice is.
MS. HIMSHOOT replied that it means families can choose which
schools their kids go to.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if she supports the concept of school
choice.
MS. HIMSHOOT said absolutely.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked for her opinion of federal involvement in
education. He examined his reasons for going into teaching. He
referred to NCLB, now ESSA, and the change to "Alaskanize"
education in terms of federal government overreach. He asked her
to comment.
MS. HIMSHOOT stated she is not a complier; a "critical thinker"
is more accurate. She said she must weigh where she puts her
efforts because students only have one chance each year in a
classroom. She opined that ESSA provides less overreach and it
is a critical time for Alaska to consider what it can do. She
cautioned not to fight battles "we can't win" and to fully
understand what the law says.
3:48:22 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS asked where she went to school.
MS. HIMSHOOT said UAS and at the UA-Sitka Campus.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked where she taught school and how long.
MS. HIMSHOOT said four schools and 16 years.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked what contributions she made and how much
better the system is for them.
3:50:06 PM
MS. HIMSHOOT she said she has developed herself as a teacher,
staying current and better with time, and bringing her passion
into the classroom for hands-on activities, as well as having
compassion with students.
She addressing the system's improvements over fifteen years and
said schools are doing better at collecting useful data to
address problems.
SENATOR HUGGINS spoke of the Alaska Measures of Progress (AMP)
and asked if the state should continue them.
3:54:21 PM
MS. HIMSHOOT said she cannot speak to the AMP decisions, but she
thought they were a requirement under federal law. She said she
looks to find a tool that provides useful data.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY argued that Alaska's Department of Education made
the decision to test every year; California did not. He
questioned whether the state has to do everything the federal
government requires.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked Ms. Himshoot to consider seeking a waiver
to the AMP and be open-minded when considering it.
3:57:27 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY turned to the topic of parental rights as it
relates to standardized assessments and other subjects. He noted
the tendency away from public schools to private schools. He
requested her comments.
MS. HIMSHOOT recalled the history of standards based assessment
(SBA), with which teachers had input, and the resulting data
that showed their school was weak in a specific area. She said,
ideally, an assessment will allow parents to see areas their
child needs improvement. The AMP, in which teachers also had
input, appears to have failed because of useless data.
She commented that she hopes the exodus from public to private
schools is not really happening, but if it is, it could be from
the fear-mongering regarding what's happening in public schools.
People may not have full information. She agreed that schools
are a family's choice and teachers will never know their child
as well as the parents do. She emphasized that there needs to be
partnerships between teachers and parents.
4:01:46 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY noted that it is a fact that there is an exodus
from public schools. He said home school programs did not exist
before 1995.
MS. HIMSHOOT asked if he was referring to correspondence
programs.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said yes. In response to a question, he
maintained that there was another option for parents to educate
their children outside of the public school. He said the student
population in Alaska is shrinking and the homeschool population
is growing in the Mat-Su District. He said he has no problem
stating that a lot of parents don't want their kids to attend
neighborhood schools.
MS. HIMSHOOT countered that national research shows that
families adore their children's teachers.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said parents have not said they have left schools
because they do not like their teachers; there are a host of
reasons parents are taking their kids out of school. One reason
is because parents were not involved in developing standards. He
referred to when NCLB was adopted in 2001. There was a provision
that all subgroups must be tested. Now parents do not want their
students tested.
MS. HIMSHOOT said parents are in charge of their children and
should make those decisions. She added that she was trained in
the development of the tests and was happy to do so. She
reiterated the need for partnerships.
4:06:09 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY discussed outside groups coming into schools to
teach courses.
MS. HIMSHOOT said the state board is moving in the direction of
local control. She said she partners with Junior Achievement, an
outside group, because they are experts. She stressed that she
was always in the classroom when partnering with outside groups.
Classroom oversight with experts is the way to get more done,
especially in times of budget crisis.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if she would extend that to public/private
partnerships.
MS. HIMSHOOT stated that the local school board can make that
decision.
4:08:28 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY spoke of the push to teach tolerance, acceptance,
and embracing. He asked what the balance between what the
parents and the schools should be teaching is.
MS. HIMSHOOT said it is a tough question. She said if he had
asked the question in 1960 Selma, there would have been room for
suggestions. She said there must be balance. Teachers are held
to a higher standard and each teacher has to answer that
question. If the dialogue in the family is open, it will be a
learning opportunity for everyone.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said parents are taking children out because they
believe the school is injecting values between them and the
school. Schools are not teaching objective content, but values-
based content.
4:14:21 PM
At ease
4:15:24 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked about Common Core.
MS. HIMSHOOT explained that Common Core used to be an effort by
the state to put together a set of standards and it has become
an incredibly loaded, dysfunctional issue. It is a mess.
However, kids in Alaska can do what other kids in the U.S. can
do. She wants rigorous standards, such as the new standards are.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if Alaska adopted Common Core.
MS. HIMSHOOT said no. Alaska created its own set of standards.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if Alaska can develop more rigorous
standards.
MS. HIMSHOOT said yes, but child development should be
considered. The department should increase rigor in Alaska, but
have its own set of standards.
4:19:52 PM
At ease
Professional Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC)
4:20:08 PM
DAVID DEVAUGHN, Appointee, Professional Teaching Practices
Commission, testified as a nominee for the Professional Teaching
Practices Commission. He shared his professional teaching
background and his experience for the last three years on PTPC
helping to hold the profession to a high standard.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked why he wants to be re-appointed to the
Commission.
MR. DEVAUGHN related that the Commission keeps teachers aware of
a code of ethics and puts good teachers in front of students.
4:21:58 PM
SENATOR GARDNER asked him to speak more about the process of
keeping teachers aware.
MR. DEVAUGHN commented that every teacher in the state receives
a copy of the code of ethics and links to the PTPC website. They
also receive a spring newsletter that provides information on
sanctions, the code of ethics, and consequences.
SENATOR GARDNER asked, after serving three years on the
commission, what is different in his understanding of PTPC.
MR. DEVAUGHN replied that he has more awareness about how things
can snowball for a well-meaning teacher and the ramifications
and impacts of breaking rules.
4:23:45 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked about the nature of violations he has had
to deal with.
MR. DEVAUGHT reported that there have been contract violations
and disputes between teachers, administration, and students, and
there have been social media infractions.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if there has been improper contact between
teachers and student.
MR. DEVAUGHN said yes.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if there have been social media
infractions.
MR. DEVAUGHN said yes.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if it is ok for children to be used for
political purposes.
4:26:30 PM
MR. DEVAUGHN said there have been no issues like that since he
has been there.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if the standards prohibit it and if anyone
has filed a petition or violation on that issue.
MR. DEVAUGHN said it is prohibited and he has not seen any
violations in three years.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if he wonders if parents have given
permission for their children's picture to be used.
MR. DEVAUGHN has not seen that and did not know if any teachers
would do that.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said he was careful to protect student privacy.
4:29:24 PM
MELODY MANN, Appointee, Alaska, Professional Teaching Practices
Commission, testified as a nominee for the Professional Teaching
Practices Commission. She provided her background as an art
teacher and her service on PTPC.
4:31:08 PM
SENATOR GARDNER thanked her for her willingness to serve again
on the Commission. She asked about an NEA-Alaska award for
minority leadership in education.
MS. MANN said her appointment to PTPC came through NEA-Alaska
involvement. She said she took advantage of training they
provided, one of which was minority leadership, and she
participates in the delegation.
SENATOR GARDNER asked if she has suggestions about recruiting
and retaining minority teachers.
MS. MANN said she does not.
4:34:08 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL noted Ms. Mann is a Nana shareholder and asked
where she is from.
MS. MANN said her family is from Kotzebue.
4:35:07 PM
PAUL PRUSSING Appointee, Professional Teaching Practices
Commission, testified as a nominee for the Professional Teaching
Practices Commission. He provided his professional background in
the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) and
said that the Commissioner asked him to be on PTPC. He said the
intent of PTPC is to "serve as a preventative and positive force
in helping to enhance the professional performance of all
educators so that the public's right to the best education
possible for all of Alaska's students is adequately protected."
He provided the history of PTPC and described its makeup five
teachers, one superintendent, one principal, one department
representative, and one higher education representative.
He described his personal and family background. He stressed the
importance of the professionalism of teachers. He concluded that
he is honored to be a part of the Commission.
4:37:51 PM
SENATOR GARDNER asked if he is representing the department and
to share about his progression from teaching to the department.
MR. PRUSSING replied that he is representing the department. He
recalled his journey from commercial fishing to teaching and
then to working at the department.
4:38:53 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked about social media infractions in teaching
professions.
MR. PRUSSING said he is aware of it and most districts have
technology plans to deal with it. He pointed out that PTPC is
the final stop, but most discipline actions are taken at the
local board level.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said the commission determines when a teacher's
certificate should be sanctioned or revoked.
SENATOR GIESSEL noted Mr. Prussing's diverse resume.
4:41:04 PM
MR. PRUSSING said he agrees that his experience is helpful in
his position at the department for the past 17 years.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY complimented Mr. Prussing and asked him to keep
the issue of using children for political purposes in mind.
MR. PRUSSING said he is sensitive to it.
4:42:55 PM
FRANCIS ROBERTS, Appointee, Professional Teaching Practices
Commission, testified as an appointee for the Professional
Teaching Practices Commission. She provided her background as a
math teacher, her educational background, and her community
involvement. She said she has been on PTPC for the last three
years.
4:45:00 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL asked about her background in natural resources
and Youth for Environmental Action (YEA).
MS. ROBERTS spoke of her involvement in the natural resources
course at Homer High School. She explained that YEA students
participate in activities that help the environment, such as
cleaning beaches, and speaking to the legislature about salmon
fishing concerns.
4:47:07 PM
SENATOR GARDNER asked about the mini-farm.
MS. ROBERTS described the animals in the classroom.
University of Alaska Board of Regents
4:48:10 PM
STACEY LUCASON, Appointee, University of Alaska Board of
Regents, testified as an appointed to the University of Alaska
Board of Regents. She provided her experience as the student
representative to the Board and her background at the
university. She said she is currently in a master's program for
public administration. She related that she wants to serve on
the Board because of her positive higher education experience as
a non-traditional student. She shared that she was the student
body president last year.
4:50:32 PM
SENATOR GARDNER thanked her for her willingness to serve. She
asked if she would be speaking from her own experience or if she
would ask students for their opinion.
MS. LUCASON said she would do outreach to students as she did
when she was student body president. She provided examples.
4:52:44 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY thought it was critical that a student's
perspective be represented on the Board of Regents. He asked
what her top three issues are.
MS. LUCASON said parking and food are favorite topics of concern
of students. More important policy issues are whether there
should be one university or three or more. Also, important are
partnerships with school districts and businesses for acceptance
into college and entry into graduate programs and the job
market.
4:56:52 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY requested she use this opportunity to make
student voices heard.
4:58:05 PM
DEENA PARAMO, Appointee, University of Alaska Board of Regents,
testified as an appointee to the University of Alaska Board of
Regents. She provided her background as Superintendent of the
Mat-Su School District. She said she was appointed to the Board
last fall to replace someone who left mid-term. She said it is a
good opportunity for her in her current position to serve on the
Board. She understands that the university serves the state. Her
goal is to facilitate partnerships with the university.
5:00:16 PM
SENATOR GARDNER complimented Dr. Paramo on her wonderful
reputation. She asked about several programs: Middle College,
STEM, and pre-school programs.
DR. PARAMO explained how the Middle College works - juniors and
seniors can dually enroll in college and high school. The Middle
College prepares students to pass the ACCUPLACER entrance exam
and then earn college credits and eventually associate degrees.
The goal is to be college ready.
She described the partnership with STEM and with the Math and
Science Initiative, which provides opportunity for teacher
training in order to reach out to more students to take honors
classes. She explained how they also partnered with ANSEP at the
middle school level. They sent nine teachers in to train along
with the 54 students.
She described resources she uses for pre-school programs, such
as Head Start.
5:08:13 PM
SENATOR GARDNER asked if every student passes the ACCUPLACER
first before enrolling in college courses.
DR. PARAMO said students either pass it or they work with them
to pass it.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY looked forward to talking to Dr. Paramo about
safety issues on campus.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY moved to advance the following names for
appointment to the full membership of the legislature in joint
session for consideration and a final vote:
State Board of Education & Early Development
Rebecca Himshoot - Sitka
Professional Teaching Practices Commission
David DeVaughn - North Pole
Melody Mann - Wasilla
Paul Prussing - Juneau
Francis Roberts - Homer
University of Alaska
Stacy Lucason - Anchorage
Deena Paramo - Palmer
He noted this does not reflect any intent by the members to vote
for or against the confirmation of the individuals during any
further sessions.
5:11:17 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Dunleavy adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee
at 5:11 p.m.
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