Education and Training: Invest in Our Future
Kodiak’s students and working adults deserve a world-class education grounded in the reality of where we live—whether that’s in town, in our villages, or in the transition from sea to shore. Education should prepare people not just for tests, but for meaningful work, civic leadership, and economic stability here, in Kodiak.
I have been, and will continue to be, a tireless advocate for:
Funding our Schools and Supporting our Students
- Until the State of Alaska fulfills its constitutional duty to appropriately fund public schools, we need to do our best to support KIBSD's funding request each year to ensure quality instruction, stable staffing, extracurricular programming, and equitable support for students across both road-system and village schools.
- Maintaining financial support for Kodiak College students and advocating for Borough investment in programs that directly serve community needs—including teacher training, health care, public safety, early childhood education, maritime trades, and business development.
- Maintaining financial support for post-secondary students through grants for tuition/fee relief and student life.
- Aligning Borough civic and economic development goals with educational support, so that when we invest in schools, we are also building the talent and leadership we need to sustain our island.
Protect School Facilities from Deferral and Neglect
- Preventing budget-driven deferrals of critical repairs like the Borough had done with the Peterson Elementary roof, which when I joined the Assembly, became a priority. Delaying necessary maintenance only drives up future costs and puts students and staff at risk.
- Championing the preservation and repurposing of North Star Elementary as a vital neighborhood asset—not a for-sale liability. The building could support after-school programs, Native organizations, vocational education, childcare, arts programming, and more.
- Ensuring that capital project planning includes village schools, which often face structural and heating challenges but are vital to community stability and youth retention.
- Supporting school staff and borough maintenance teams with the resources and flexibility they need to address facility issues before they become emergencies.
Protect and Expand Youth Programs
- Assisting after-school programs, athletics, arts, and hands-on learning that give students real-world skills, foster resilience, and support civic engagement.
- Partnering with employers and local organizations to provide internships, job shadowing, and summer work experiences.
- Ensuring that village youth have equitable access to enrichment programs, either through traveling instructors, digital learning tools, or partnerships with regional organizations.
- Recognizing the role of youth programming in mental health, crime prevention, and community stability, and supporting it accordingly through grants to partner non-profits such as Kodiak Arts Council, Teen Court, and Special Olympics.
