FFA Students Competing at Nationals, Ahtna Language, and School District Staff Changes

On Tuesday, June 2, the Copper River School District board discussed hires, resignations, and superintendent goals at their monthly board meeting. The meeting also included two short guest presentations from CRNA’s Education Administrator Kirk Howard regarding the school’s Ahtna language curriculum, and five Glennallen High School students representing the FFA club regarding travel plans to a national competition in the fall. 

Howard discussed the history of the Ahtna language program at Glennallen Elementary School, which helps students learn about Ahtna culture, family, and values, which Howard calls the three pillars of any civilization. Glennallen kindergarten students who went through the program this year will continue with their Ahtna language teacher, Carol Cozzen, in first grade. Cozzen will also teach the new kindergarten class, and in two years Howard stated his hopes to have another language teacher in the school.

In her report to the board, Superintendent Theresa Laville mentioned the possibility of starting a similar language program in Kenny Lake in the coming years.

Laville also discussed the high school group project assignments that were rolled out into both Kenny Lake and Glennallen High Schools this spring. After receiving feedback from students who participated, she stated that the program seemed to be well received in Kenny Lake, which “shows that students can truly do this type of [group research] work.” Based on feedback from Glennallen students, Laville said there are “areas we need to work on,” and mentioned the need for students to have more time (instead of starting in spring semester).

The CRSD board voted to approve several new hires and one staff resignation. Debbe Lancaster will be the Glennallen Middle-High School reading teacher. Superintendent Laville stated Lancaster has experience as a superintendent, principal, and a teacher, and she has a passion for education and for kids.

Lisa Boone, who used to reside in the area and has recently moved back, will be the Accountant/Food Service Coordinator starting July 1. Cayley Willimon, who taught fourth grade last year, has received her emergency teaching certificate and was approved as the fourth grade teacher for the upcoming school year.

The district is still searching for an elementary special education teacher and has not yet hired anyone for this position.

The board voted in favor of accepting the resignation of Thomas Roberts, special education paraprofessional and custodian at Slana School. They also recognized several employees who will be leaving the district: Cheryl Ross, Special Education Director and Principal of Upstream Learning; Naomi Stickney, Executive Admin Assistant Human Resources; and Jason Roslansky, Assistant Superintendent and Principal of Kenny Lake and Slana Schools.

At the end of the meeting, five Glennallen High School students representing the FFA club discussed plans for an upcoming trip to compete in the FFA nationals, which will be held in Indianapolis in October. 

Recent GHS graduate Michael Johnson, speaking on behalf of the FFA club, stated that this opportunity to travel to nationals is a “once in a lifetime thing even if [we] don’t place.” Reese Noble, another FFA member, said that nationals is “like state convention, but ten times better,” and in addition to competitions it also has workshops, leadership training, and other experiences for students who attend.

FFA member Gabriel Eskilida highlighted the significance of this opportunity Glennallen students have been given to represent Alaska, compete against the best teens in the entire nation, and to do so as a team from a small rural community.

The FFA team will raise all of their travel expenses through fundraisers, but the board unanimously approved their plans to take two adult chaperones and nine students to Indiana in the fall.

The next CRSD board meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 7.