‘Educators Carry Inspiration Back to Classrooms after the 10th Annual 2021 Alaska Effective Instruction Conference’ by Seanna O’Sullivan

Educators gathered virtually over the weekend of January 22-24 for the 10th Annual Alaska Staff Development Network (ASDN) 2021 Alaska Effective Instruction Conference,bridging the distance between school districts despite a challenging year.

Topics ranged from building a positive school culture, supporting schoolwide literacy efforts, using data science in the classroom, positive ways to incorporate technology in teaching, how to authentically assess students during distance or blended learning, and social and emotional supports. 

Rural educators logged in from remote areas around Alaska including Chevak, Nondalton, Kwigillingok, Kaleak, Nenana, Tunuak, Anvik, Kuspuk, Tununak, Yakutat and New Stuyahok to name a few.

National leadership presenter Jimmy Casas gave the preconference morning keynote.

The conference kicked off with about 600 rural school educators convening on Friday for ten informational sessions starting and ending the day with coaching keynote presentations by nationally recognized educator Jimmy Casas ()and Anita Archer (). 

“No one went into education to be average,” said keynote Jimmy Casas. “And no one will ever convince us that a child doesn’t want to be great.” 

Dr. Anita Archer stated in her keynote thatfor students reading is more than a fundamental; it’s a civil right. “Teachers do something big for their country,” said Dr. Archer.“They are the ones who bring literacy to the individual. That is what we do.”

Dr. Anita Archer discusses literacy leadership during the Friday preconference sessions.

The conference continued throughout the weekend with keynotes from Dr. Jo Boaler (The Data Revolution K-12), George Couros (Developing the Innovator’s Mindset in Any Learning Environment), Dr. Doug Fisher (Building Connections with Students and Families for Distance Learning)  and Ricky Robertson and Dr. Nicole Law (Building Resilience and Equity Through Culturally Responsive Social-Emotional Learning).

Keynote presentations featured the top speakers from across the country.

Throughout the weekend, the over 1,200 weekend conference participants from 46 school Alaskan districts also had access to a wide ranging series of 24 breakout sessions that addressed topics across the K-12 curriculum.

Dr. Doug Fisher discusses best practices for distance learning during Sunday’s morning keynote.

Educators – particularly new ones who felt defeated by this trying year – said the conference gave them fresh hope, energy and enthusiasm to continue the efforts of teaching students through every channel available. 

In the past 10 months educators have navigated a mind-spinning transition to last-minute virtual classrooms,evolving COVID mitigation policies and procedures, creative alternatives to milestones for students and learning to trace and track transmission of a virus that no one expected to persist for so long.

Conference DJ Wade Colwell created a 9.5 hour playlist for the conference based on participant requests.

As sessions wrapped up many attendees listening to the live DJ Wade Colwellplay requests stated that they have fresh inspiration to return to their calling, reconnect with students and begin planning for the long-term social, emotional and economic impacts of thispandemic.

“Thank you for an amazing end to the day and beginning of a new and better normal!” said Martina Henke.

Slide from George Couros’ keynote on innovation

Media:

Here’s a link to the spotify list from our amazing guest DJ, Wade Antonio Colwell! It is worth checking out!!

 *Slide shots are used with permission from George Couros