PAST PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE, Summer 2023

No one can miss the feeling that public education is in a bit of turmoil these days. The challenges in the wake of the pandemic closures, huge teacher turnover and dissatisfaction, shortages of teachers across the board and in particular fields, new rigid standards for certain fundamental subjects, book bans and unhappy parents, and lack of financial support to close the learning gaps and entice teachers to come to Alaska, or stay in Alaska, and do this important work.

I believe that now more than ever, relevance has to be at the forefront of what we do. Instead of wringing our hands about the storms and fires and ocean warming brought about by climate change, let's learn and teach about

the systems and feedback loops that are operating. We can integrate geography in the context of why Alaska has a front row seat for some of the impacts. There are some ingenious ideas coming forward that can help us thwart disaster and we can blend social sciences in learning about a path toward solutions.

This year K-3 teachers, in particular, are under extra pressure to meet Alaska's new reading goals. I am afraid that some in leadership believe that means there is no time to teach science. Yes. There is time to encourage the engineers of the future.

Time to let students exploreand discuss and invent together.

Time to discover what is living and growing in their neighborhood, their village, their beaches and rivers. Time to fan the flames of curiosity, the very fuel for all creativity and wonder and achievements of humanity. We can't stop now.