Spotlight
Video: National Board Certified Teachers
The National Board for Professional Teaching certifies teachers who meet rigorous standards. This prestigious certification marks a relatively small number of teachers each year as among the best in the nation.
At a recent school board meeting, two Fairbanks teachers were honored for receiving National Board Certification in 2009: Hannibal Grubis and Toni Hawkins, both teachers at West Valley High School.
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Video: Graduation Success Report
Three years ago, the district initiated the Graduation Success Program to address the needs of students at risk of dropping out of school.
Every school has a Graduation Success Coach, a staff member whose mission is to encourage, motivate, and help keep students on track to graduate.
Video: Middle School Concept
The middle school years are important in the development of young adolescents. The district is working hard to make sure our middle schools are effective bridges between elementary and high school.
This school year, the district is implementing the Middle School Concept at all of the community's middle schools. The Middle School Concept is a philosophy that creates an environment at school aimed at helping middle school students make the often difficult transition from elementary to high school.
This video highlights how the Middle School Concept is being implemented at Ryan Middle School.
Video: 2010 Construction Academy
High school students from across the district are taking part this spring in a Construction Academy.
The class, held after school hours, is teaching students basic carpentry and construction skills – the skills they are going to need to fill competitive jobs in the construction trades.
Gresham named Music Educator of the Year
Richard Gresham, band director at North Pole High and North Pole Middle, has been named the 2009 Alaska Music Educator of the Year by the Alaska Music Educators Association’s.
Gresham said he was shocked and humbled to learn of the honor.
“I just do my job, what are you talking about,” he said. “I just do it and I have a lot of fun with it.”
Spotlight: Technology Blueprint
Three years ago, the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District put together a detailed technology plan. This technology blueprint, with its 14 specific goals, has helped guide the district as it works to integrate appropriate technology into the classroom.
“I just want to commend the district on the blueprint,” Sue Hull, school board clerk, said. “It’s taken a lot of work and it’s taken some dollars, but it’s the right thing to do.”
Spotlight: Fairbanks B.E.S.T.
You may not know this, but the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District has an innovative home school and correspondence program, Fairbanks B.E.S.T. (Building Educational Success Together).
With offices located in the district’s downtown administrative center, Fairbanks B.E.S.T. strives to offer an alternative to the traditional school environment.
Badger Road Works to Make Hunger Extinct
The Fairbanks Community Food bank distributes more than 2 million pounds of food to needy people around the borough.
The student council at Badger Road Elementary School has made it a goal this year to help the Food Bank in that mission.
"We’re just so blessed that we are fortunate and other people aren’t as fortunate as us so we should help them out."
— Olivia Grill
Fifth Grader, Badger Road Elementary
Gerke Honored as School Counselor Advocate
Wayne Gerke, assistant superintendent of secondary schools, has been named the 2009 Advocate of the Year by the Alaska School Counselors Association.
The award, given to only one person in the state each year, recognizes an educator who isn’t a counselor but who has demonstrated outstanding support for school counselors.
Video: Special Education
The Alaska Constitution states that the public education system shall be available to “all children of the state,” and the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District strives to provide a world-class education to all students, even those who may have learning or other severe disabilities.
The special education department is dedicated to serving students with special needs providing tutoring enhanced instruction, therapy and other individualized services.
