Carl Griffin Challenges Incumbent Mark Somerville for School Board
September 25, 2025
Allison Sayer - CRR Staff
There are two races for Copper River School District School Board seats. Incumbent Mark Somerville is being challenged for Seat G by Carl Griffin II. Current president Joshua Scott is not seeking re-election to seat D. Two candidates: Tisha Griffin and Preston Callison are running for this seat.
Ballots were mailed to residents in mid September, and are due by mail October 7. Absentee in person voting is also available at Old Paths Baptist Church in Glennallen Monday, Wednesday & Friday; September 22- October 6; 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Both candidates were emailed the same questions by CRR, and also provided brief introductory statements.
Introduction: Carl Griffin
My name is Carl Griffin, and I am honored to run for school board. I am a United States Air Force veteran and originally from Illinois. In 2021, my wife and I made Alaska our home, where we are raising our three children.
Introduction: Mark Somerville
I have sat on the CRSD Board of Education for 12 years. I can honestly say it has been the
most challenging and fulfilling board I have ever served on. The board makes many decisions
affecting the district. Most are relatively routine, some appear routine (like approving updates
to policy) but are substantive to how our district operates, and a few decisions can make or
break the district.
I am the incumbent candidate for Seat G in this election. I would consider it an honor to
continue my service to the students of our district. If you have questions for me on the
district and past decisions of the board please feel free to contact me at 907-259-4415. You
can find contact information for all the candidates in this election at
https://www.elections.alaska.gov/reaa/reaa-candidates/#reaa-17. I encourage you to contact
all the candidates if you have questions or comments on the future of the district.
Why are you running for school board?
Mark Somerville
Most of the current board members are relatively new. In my 12 years I have been through several board trainings, attended conferences on educational processes and curriculum, and have represented the board in Juneau several times. I believe that experience is still needed on the board.
Carl Griffin
I am running for school board because I want to be actively involved in the future of our schools and community. One of my children graduated from Glennallen High School this year, and I have two younger children currently attending Glennallen School. As a parent, I’ve seen firsthand how important strong leadership and clear communication are for both students and families.
My oldest son was involved with the school board as a student representative, and through his experiences and stories, I gained a better understanding of some of the decisions the school board faces. Hearing about those meetings motivated me to take a more active role in supporting our schools.
I want to ensure that all students, current and future, have access to the best educational opportunities possible. Serving on the board is my way of giving back, supporting teachers and staff, and making sure our schools remain a positive, safe, and effective place for learning.
What do you see as the role of a school board member?
Carl Griffin
I see the role of a school board member as being both a representative of the community and a steward of the school district. A board member’s responsibility is to listen to the voices of parents, students, teachers, and staff, and to use that input to help guide decisions that affect the quality of education in our schools.
Mark Somerville
The school board governs the District. It deliberates policy, approves budgets and capital expenditures, and provides guidance to the superintendent. The board hires and supervises the superintendent.
If I have learned only one thing over the last 12 years it is that the selection and hiring of a superintendent is the most vital decision the board makes. I have worked with four superintendents, one acting superintendent, and one interim superintendent.
The superintendent is the only employee that answers to the board. They oversee day-to-day operations of the district from curriculum to school lunches. They have an overwhelming job and influence on student growth. If that superintendent is up to the task our district thrives, and our students excel. If they are not, our programs stagnate, teachers and staff turn over rapidly and student performance declines. I am very happy to say that our current superintendent is very much up to the task, and I envision ever greater success of our students under her leadership.
What are some good trends in CRSD you would like to see continue?
Mark Somerville
I am very excited with the current English Language Arts curriculum and new Math curriculum, as well as Social Sciences that have been adopted. The superintendent is ensuring these curricula are being taught with fidelity (no unauthorized additions or subtractions) so we can better direct and track student performance.
We have already seen increased growth in student learning and through more targeted presentation we are better supporting struggling students and challenging the advanced students as well. Our teachers and support staff have been pivotal to these successes. It is a very exciting time in the district.
Carl Griffin
One of the most positive trends I see in the Copper River School District is the commitment to personalized and flexible learning pathways. Whether through in-person instruction at Glennallen, Kenny Lake, and Slana schools, or through the Upstream Learning homeschool program, CRSD provides families with meaningful options that fit different learning needs. That flexibility is a real strength for our district and is something I would support and promote as a board member.
Another trend I value is the strong community connection and the benefits of our small-school environment. In CRSD, students are not just numbers, they are known, supported, and encouraged to thrive. The close relationships among teachers, students, and families create a supportive atmosphere that larger districts often struggle to maintain. I believe this sense of connection is one of our greatest assets, and I would work to ensure it continues as our district grows and adapts.
What about CRSD do you feel needs improvement and how?
Carl Griffin
While there are many strengths in the Copper River School District, one area I believe can always be improved is communication and transparency. As a parent and community member, I’ve seen how important it is for families to clearly understand what is happening in the district, whether it’s decisions at the board level, new initiatives, or the resources available to students. Strengthening communication channels between the board, schools, and families would help build greater trust and ensure that the community feels informed and involved.
Another area of focus is supporting teachers and staff. Our educators do an incredible job, often wearing many hats in a small-school environment. Providing them with consistent professional development, resources, and recognition not only benefits teachers but directly impacts student success.
Finally, I believe we should continue to look for ways to expand opportunities for students. Whether through career and technical education, extracurricular activities, or partnerships with local organizations, giving students more options prepares them for success after graduation and strengthens our connection as a community.
Mark Somerville
It is easy to pick areas of improvement but most stem from limitations due to the size of our schools. I think our CTE (what used to be called shop) classes need some stability. We have a great facility. The Superintendent is already working with at least two other school districts to provide CTE classes to a larger group of students and leverage new opportunities for our students here and at those other districts. However, this will take time to solidify and grant funds to make it a reality.
What do you think are the top needs in our district?
Mark Somerville
Our budget. The current funding mechanism for schools in the state does districts like ours (on the road, the need for several smaller schools to provide education across a large area, and no local funding source) a real disservice. We were maybe the only district in the state that lobbied against an increase in the BSA, favoring targeted funding increases to transportation, food service, utilities, and maintenance. BSA increases primarily support large, and in my opinion wasteful, school districts. Such large BSA increases remove funding that better supports our communities and allows more folks to live here.
Our budget issues will continue under the current system. What we really need to stabilize our district is more students and that happens either through economic development, or we make the district a spotlight of education in the state and people move here so their kids can benefit from our program.
Carl Griffin
First, our students need continued access to a wide range of opportunities, academic, vocational, and extracurricular, that prepare them for success beyond high school. In a small, rural district, it’s especially important to make sure students don’t feel limited in their choices and have the resources to pursue their goals.
Second, our teachers and staff need strong support. They are the heart of our schools, and ensuring they have the tools, training, and encouragement to succeed directly benefits students. This includes professional development, classroom resources, and recognition for the work they do every day.
Finally, our district needs to continue building clear and consistent communication with families and the wider community. Transparency and engagement are essential for maintaining trust, strengthening school-community partnerships, and making sure everyone feels included in shaping the future of our schools.
Together, focusing on these needs will help CRSD continue to provide quality education while preserving the close-knit community values that make our schools unique.
The Copper River Record does not endorse either candidate in this race. A coin toss decided which candidate’s introductory statement would appear first, and candidate statements were alternated afterwards.
If you missed last week’s paper, you can find Seat G candidate information on our website: copperriverrecord.net
