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OPINION: University of Alaska schools of education provide quality, accessible pathways for aspiring teachers

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OPINION: University of Alaska schools of education provide quality, accessible pathways for aspiring teachers


Education is the cornerstone of a thriving society. It empowers individuals, transforms communities, and shapes the future. At the heart of this transformative process are dedicated teachers who ignite the flame of knowledge, instill a love for learning, and guide the next generation toward their full potential.

Are you passionate about becoming a teacher but need help figuring out where to start? Look only as far as the University of Alaska system — visit Teach Alaska to explore options — which offers a range of pathways to help you become certified. With the introduction of the UA Teacher Internship Scholarship, pursuing your degree in education has never been more affordable.

The UA Teacher Internship Scholarship is part of the Alaska College of Education Consortium’s commitment to providing Alaskans with accessible routes to becoming teachers. Across the nation, teacher preparation programs and state policies are evolving to support aspiring teachers by offering financial compensation during their internships.

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At the core of all UA initial licensure pathways is a supervised internship experience. However, many prospective teacher candidates need help when they realize that a full-time internship requires stepping down from their current job, full or part-time. Committing to a year of training means assuming the financial burden of tuition and fees, along with the absence of a salary and benefits. This quickly becomes an insurmountable obstacle.

The new internship scholarship program addresses both of these barriers. In its inaugural year, the program awarded $1.3 million to 75 Alaska teacher candidates within their final 30-60 credits of preparation. This includes undergraduates in initial licensure programs at UAA, UAF, or UAS, as well as graduate candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education and seek certification through a post-baccalaureate pathway. The scholarship application period for the 2024-25 school year will open in January.

Recipients of the scholarship receive complete coverage of tuition and fees at UA Schools of Education, along with a stipend of up to $10,000 to assist with living expenses during their internship. This spring, recipients were notified of their awards, and some candidates have already commenced their training through summer courses.

The U.S. Department of Labor has recently acknowledged teaching as an apprenticeable profession, emphasizing the importance of on-the-job training for teachers. Research supports the notion that a year-long internship with a qualified teacher of record improves K-12 student outcomes and increases the likelihood that the individual will remain in the teaching profession.

A teaching internship is far from passive observation of a classroom — it is a full-time job. Most of an intern’s time is spent in a mentor’s K-12 classroom, gradually assuming teacher responsibilities. This hands-on experience is supplemented with university courses that teach instructional strategies, opportunities to share observations with peers in different schools, and preparation of strategies to implement in the classroom.

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Many UA education programs incorporate a full year of student teaching, ensuring that candidates experience the complete spectrum of classroom management and curricular scope from the first day to the last. Interns become fully immersed in their school’s culture, practicing communication strategies with parents, designing and delivering lessons, differentiating assessments, witnessing students’ growth, and developing their educational philosophy and materials to bring into their future classrooms.

During their internship, candidates are observed by their mentor teacher and a university-assigned supervisor, who provide valuable coaching on areas for improvement. This dual observation structure combines the benefits of university training and local school district experience.

Why choose this model? We firmly believe that Alaska’s students deserve well-prepared teachers from day one, and aspiring teachers deserve the training necessary to thrive during that notoriously challenging first year. Affordable, high-quality, internship-based teacher certification programs improve retention and reduce turnover in Alaska’s school districts.

Teaching is a multifaceted profession that requires the gradual acquisition of skills, knowledge, and a deep understanding of the science of teaching and learning. We are committed to preparing Alaskan teachers to confidently enter the classroom, armed with a comprehensive knowledge of their districts and students.

UA’s teacher education programs are designed to meet students where they are, with online program delivery options and a vast network across Alaska. UA’s placement coordinators are dedicated to working with any district in the state to secure an appropriate classroom apprenticeship placement. Interns are paired with approved mentor teachers who hold certification in the field the candidates are pursuing and possess extensive classroom experience.

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We must ensure every Alaskan who aspires to become a teacher has the resources to pursue their dreams. By investing in the preparation and certification of local Alaskans who possess an intimate understanding of their communities and a commitment to staying, we can achieve long-term workforce stability.

We are grateful for the support and generosity of University of Alaska President Pat Pitney, Gov. Dunleavy, and the Alaska Legislature, who recognize the importance of investing in the future of Alaska’s education system. Their commitment to education is evident in their provision of substantial financial support to the scholarship fund. Through their vision and foresight, aspiring teachers in Alaska can access the resources they need to pursue their dreams.

The next generation of Alaska’s teachers is right in front of us. Will you be one of them?

Amy Vinlove is dean of the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Education.

Carlee Simon is interim dean of the University of Alaska Southeast School of Education.

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Tonia Dousay is dean of the University of Alaska Anchorage School of Education.

The views expressed here are the writer’s and are not necessarily endorsed by the Anchorage Daily News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)adn.com. Send submissions shorter than 200 words to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Read our full guidelines for letters and commentaries here.





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Alaska

Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant Gets Fired For Twerking On The Job

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Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant Gets Fired For Twerking On The Job


A flight attendant’s viral TikTok video ended up costing her job. Nelle Diala, who was working as a flight attendant with Alaska Airlines for over six months was reportedly fired from her job after recording a twerking video while at work, the New York Post reported. After losing her job for “violating” the airline’s “social media policy”, Diala set up a GoFundMe page for financial support. The twerking and dancing video, posted by Diala on her personal social media account, went viral on TikTok and Instagram. The video was captioned, “ghetto bih till i D-I-E, don’t let the uniform fool you.”

After being fired, Diala reposted the twerking video with the new caption: “Can’t even be yourself anymore, without the world being so sensitive. What’s wrong with a little twerk before work, people act like they never did that before.” She added the hashtag #discriminationisreal.

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According to Diala’s GoFundMe page, she posted the “lighthearted video” during a layover. The video was shot in an empty aircraft. She wrote, “It was a harmless clip that was recorded at 6 am while waiting 2 hours for pilots. I was also celebrating the end of probation.”

“The video went viral overnight, but instead of love and support, it brought unexpected scrutiny. Although it was a poor decision on my behalf I didn’t think it would cost me my dream job,” she added.

Also Read: To Wi-Fi Or Not To Wi-Fi On A Plane? Pros And Cons Of Using Internet At 30,000 Feet

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Talking about being “wrongfully fired”, she said, “My employer accused me of violating their social media policy. I explained that the video wasn’t intended to harm anyone or the company, but they didn’t want to listen. Without warning, they terminated me. No discussion, no chance to defend myself-and no chance for a thorough and proper investigation.”

The seemingly “harmless clip” has led Diala to lose her “dream job”. She shared, “Losing my job was devastating. I’ve always been careful about what I share online, and I never thought this video, which didn’t even mention the airline by name, would cost me my career. Now, I am trying to figure out how to move forward.”






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Federal funds will help DOT study wildlife crashes on Glenn Highway

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Federal funds will help DOT study wildlife crashes on Glenn Highway


New federal funds will help Alaska’s Department of Transportation develop a plan to reduce vehicle collisions with wildlife on one of the state’s busiest highways.

The U.S. Transportation Department gave the state a $626,659 grant in December to conduct a wildlife-vehicle collision study along the Glenn Highway corridor stretching between Anchorage’s Airport Heights neighborhood to the Glenn-Parks Highway interchange.

Over 30,000 residents drive the highway each way daily.

Mark Eisenman, the Anchorage area planner for the department, hopes the study will help generate new ideas to reduce wildlife crashes on the Glenn Highway.

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“That’s one of the things we’re hoping to get out of this is to also have the study look at what’s been done, not just nationwide, but maybe worldwide,” Eisenman said. “Maybe where the best spot for a wildlife crossing would be, or is a wildlife crossing even the right mitigation strategy for these crashes?”

Eisenman said the most common wildlife collisions are with moose. There were nine fatal moose-vehicle crashes on the highway between 2018 and 2023. DOT estimates Alaska experiences about 765 animal-vehicle collisions annually.

In the late 1980s, DOT lengthened and raised a downtown Anchorage bridge to allow moose and wildlife to pass underneath, instead of on the roadway. But Eisenman said it wasn’t built tall enough for the moose to comfortably pass through, so many avoid it.

DOT also installed fencing along high-risk areas of the highway in an effort to prevent moose from traveling onto the highway.

Moose typically die in collisions, he said, and can also cause significant damage to vehicles. There are several signs along the Glenn Highway that tally fatal moose collisions, and he said they’re the primary signal to drivers to watch for wildlife.

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“The big thing is, the Glenn Highway is 65 (miles per hour) for most of that stretch, and reaction time to stop when you’re going that fast for an animal jumping onto the road is almost impossible to avoid,” he said.

The city estimates 1,600 moose live in the Anchorage Bowl.



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Flight attendant sacked for twerking on the job: ‘What’s wrong with a little twerk before work’

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Flight attendant sacked for twerking on the job: ‘What’s wrong with a little twerk before work’


They deemed the stunt not-safe-for-twerk.

An Alaska Airlines flight attendant who was sacked for twerking on camera has created a GoFundMe to support her while she seeks a new berth.

The crewmember, named Nelle Diala, had filmed the viral booty-shaking TikTok video on the plane while waiting two hours for the captain to arrive, A View From the Wing reported.

“I never thought a single moment would cost me everything,” wrote the ex-crewmember. TikTok / @_jvnelle415

She captioned the clip, which also blew up on Instagram, “ghetto bih till i D-I-E, don’t let the uniform fool you.”

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Diala was reportedly doing a victory dance to celebrate the end of her new hire probationary period.

Unfortunately, her jubilation was short-lived as Alaska Airlines nipped her employment in the bum just six months into her contract.

The fanny-wagging flight attendant feels that she didn’t do anything wrong.

Diala was ripped online over her GoFundMe page. GoFundMe

Diala has since reposted the twerking clip with the new caption: “Can’t even be yourself anymore, without the world being so sensitive. What’s wrong with a little twerk before work, people act like they never did that before.”

The new footage was hashtagged #discriminationisreal.

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The disgraced stewardess even set up a GoFundMe page to help support the so-called “wrongfully fired” flight attendant until she can land a new flight attendant gig.

“I never thought a single moment would cost me everything,” wrote the ex-crewmember. “Losing my job was devastating.”

“Can’t even be yourself anymore, without the world being so sensitive,” Diala wrote on TikTok while reacting to news of her firing. “What’s wrong with a little twerk before work, people act like they never did that before.” Getty Images

She claimed that the gig had allowed her to meet new people and see the world, among other perks.

While air hostessing was ostensibly a “dream job,” Diala admitted that she used the income to help fund her “blossoming lingerie and dessert businesses,” which she runs under the Instagram handles @cakezncake (which doesn’t appear to have any content?) and @figure8.lingerie.

As of Wednesday morning, the crowdfunding campaign has raised just $182 of its $12,000 goal.

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Diala was ripped online for twerking on the job as well as her subsequent GoFundMe efforts.

“You don’t respect the uniform, you don’t respect your job then,” declared one critic on the popular aviation-focused Instagram page The Crew Lounge. “Terms and Conditions apply.”

“‘Support for wrongly fired flight attendant??’” mocked another. “Her GoFund title says it all. She still thinks she was wrongly fired. Girl you weren’t wrongly fired. Go apply for a new job and probably stop twerking in your uniform.”

“The fact that you don’t respect your job is one thing but doing it while in uniform and at work speaks volumes,” scoffed a third. “You’re the brand ambassador and it’s not a good look.”

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