@jacobbera.bsky.social
All really cool! Please be sure to visit crowded elementary classrooms and talk with teachers who are trying to implement the Alaska Reads Act. Meet with teacher assistants more than administrators…they know what’s really going on. And check out 9th grade math and science classes for sure! #akleg
November 14, 2025 at 8:07 AM
All really cool! Please be sure to visit crowded elementary classrooms and talk with teachers who are trying to implement the Alaska Reads Act. Meet with teacher assistants more than administrators…they know what’s really going on. And check out 9th grade math and science classes for sure! #akleg
My sister is a small business owner and uses ACA. With the increase in premiums that she cannot afford, her only option is to go without insurance, pay out of pocket when she can, and go to the emergency room and cross her fingers the hospital gives her a break. She has no other affordable choice.
November 10, 2025 at 7:13 PM
My sister is a small business owner and uses ACA. With the increase in premiums that she cannot afford, her only option is to go without insurance, pay out of pocket when she can, and go to the emergency room and cross her fingers the hospital gives her a break. She has no other affordable choice.
“By providing an unlimited supply of digital distractions, we have inadvertently told students that sustained focus is obsolete and that learning must entertain to be valid.” 3/3 #akleg
November 7, 2025 at 5:38 PM
“By providing an unlimited supply of digital distractions, we have inadvertently told students that sustained focus is obsolete and that learning must entertain to be valid.” 3/3 #akleg
“Teachers, desperate to reach distracted minds, now fight fire with fire: math games for short attention spans, online quizzes for restless learners. The screens multiply, and deep thinking withers.” 2/3 #akleg
November 7, 2025 at 5:37 PM
“Teachers, desperate to reach distracted minds, now fight fire with fire: math games for short attention spans, online quizzes for restless learners. The screens multiply, and deep thinking withers.” 2/3 #akleg
“The real issue isn’t that teachers lack discipline or students lack grit. It’s that both are trapped in a system that confuses stimulation with engagement.” 1/3 #akleg
November 7, 2025 at 5:36 PM
“The real issue isn’t that teachers lack discipline or students lack grit. It’s that both are trapped in a system that confuses stimulation with engagement.” 1/3 #akleg
Wow…this should be required reading for legislators and anyone involved in education policy here in Alaska. #akleg www.adn.com/opinions/202...
Opinion: It’s not just about literacy. It’s a cognitive decline.
More Chromebooks won’t save education.
www.adn.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Wow…this should be required reading for legislators and anyone involved in education policy here in Alaska. #akleg www.adn.com/opinions/202...
June is a time when my concept of acceptance, love, and the freedom our country strives for is strengthened.
To my friends, family and neighbors who understand the significance of this month’s celebrations better than I do: I’m always proud to stand as an ally. I see you as you are, on your terms ❤️
To my friends, family and neighbors who understand the significance of this month’s celebrations better than I do: I’m always proud to stand as an ally. I see you as you are, on your terms ❤️
June 1, 2025 at 6:29 PM
June is a time when my concept of acceptance, love, and the freedom our country strives for is strengthened.
To my friends, family and neighbors who understand the significance of this month’s celebrations better than I do: I’m always proud to stand as an ally. I see you as you are, on your terms ❤️
To my friends, family and neighbors who understand the significance of this month’s celebrations better than I do: I’m always proud to stand as an ally. I see you as you are, on your terms ❤️
This is a brilliant opinion piece!
Sarah K. Lewis of Fairbanks writes in a commentary for @alaskabeacon.com that decades of inaction by Alaska’s leadership is leaving kids with the bill. She asks "Why are we OK with that?" #akleg alaskabeacon.com/2025/05/19/d...
Decades of inaction by Alaska’s leadership is leaving kids with the bill. Why are we OK with that? | Alaska Beacon
Sarah K. Lewis writes in a commentary that Alaska constituents are demanding a better education and better experience for their kids.
alaskabeacon.com
May 19, 2025 at 7:41 PM
This is a brilliant opinion piece!
In the past 15 years, I’ve personally known a lot of #AKfams who left Alaska because of this issue. Most AK teachers come from out of state, away from family and support systems. And as they decide if they’ll stay and start a family of their own, they also start thinking about retirement. #akleg
May 13, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Override the veto, work to commit at least 45 legislators to come back into session to override his budget veto later on, and tell the Governor publicly it’s going to happen.
Are there 45 legislators who are willing to push back on his threats and unwillingness to compromise on education? #akleg
Are there 45 legislators who are willing to push back on his threats and unwillingness to compromise on education? #akleg
That was 100% the case, yes. He got most of what he asked for in this bill and is still going to veto it.
May 9, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Override the veto, work to commit at least 45 legislators to come back into session to override his budget veto later on, and tell the Governor publicly it’s going to happen.
Are there 45 legislators who are willing to push back on his threats and unwillingness to compromise on education? #akleg
Are there 45 legislators who are willing to push back on his threats and unwillingness to compromise on education? #akleg
Seriously…if you’ve never attended an elementary school choir concert, you haven’t lived.
April 26, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Seriously…if you’ve never attended an elementary school choir concert, you haven’t lived.
Senator Hughes saying she supports students and teachers right after voting against education funding can only be topped by Senator Hughes complaining about kids being used as “pawns” and “political theatre” while doing EXACTLY THAT five days ago. #tellingitlikeitis #akleg
April 23, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Senator Hughes saying she supports students and teachers right after voting against education funding can only be topped by Senator Hughes complaining about kids being used as “pawns” and “political theatre” while doing EXACTLY THAT five days ago. #tellingitlikeitis #akleg
I *might* have made it through the entire school day without any of my students noticing that I hulked out of my pants and blasted a hole under my butt bending over to pick up a box of classroom supplies!
April 23, 2025 at 12:37 AM
I *might* have made it through the entire school day without any of my students noticing that I hulked out of my pants and blasted a hole under my butt bending over to pick up a box of classroom supplies!
This is an excellent piece that’s well worth the read. Lots of talk about accountability and test scores this session, and @lgtobin.bsky.social does a great job of adding essential context for those who actually care to support teachers and public schools. #akleg
We’ve all heard that Alaska is 51st out of 53 in student academic performance.
51st out of 53 of what? Why does this matter? Should this matter? Hopefully my recent newsletter provides some answers, more context, and additional food for thought. #akleg lgtobin.substack.com/p/what-does-...
51st out of 53 of what? Why does this matter? Should this matter? Hopefully my recent newsletter provides some answers, more context, and additional food for thought. #akleg lgtobin.substack.com/p/what-does-...
What does "Alaska is 51st out of 53" actually mean?
Unpacking student assessment data, achievement metrics, and accountability.
lgtobin.substack.com
April 17, 2025 at 1:57 AM
This is an excellent piece that’s well worth the read. Lots of talk about accountability and test scores this session, and @lgtobin.bsky.social does a great job of adding essential context for those who actually care to support teachers and public schools. #akleg
(2/2) There’s no guarantee that there will be enough positions for everyone who is displaced, and remaining elementary Art, PE, Health and Music teachers were told they may be reassigned schools to try and cover for the losses. All in all, kids will ultimately pay the price for this mess. #akleg
April 16, 2025 at 7:09 AM
(2/2) There’s no guarantee that there will be enough positions for everyone who is displaced, and remaining elementary Art, PE, Health and Music teachers were told they may be reassigned schools to try and cover for the losses. All in all, kids will ultimately pay the price for this mess. #akleg
The Anchorage School District announced this week that they’re eliminating another 54 positions (in addition to the 380 they already cut) from elementary Art, PE, Health and Music. After factoring for retirements/resignations, over 200 educators are now being displaced. (1/2) #akleg
April 16, 2025 at 6:57 AM
The Anchorage School District announced this week that they’re eliminating another 54 positions (in addition to the 380 they already cut) from elementary Art, PE, Health and Music. After factoring for retirements/resignations, over 200 educators are now being displaced. (1/2) #akleg
In American football, we call that a fumble!
April 15, 2025 at 5:16 AM
In American football, we call that a fumble!
Only when volunteering at an elementary spring carnival will you have a random 9 year old come up to you, face painted like a tiger, and say, “I can make a cupcake sandwich” as she smashes two whole cupcakes together, shotguns them in 5 seconds, gives me a thumbs up and runs away. #legend
April 12, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Only when volunteering at an elementary spring carnival will you have a random 9 year old come up to you, face painted like a tiger, and say, “I can make a cupcake sandwich” as she smashes two whole cupcakes together, shotguns them in 5 seconds, gives me a thumbs up and runs away. #legend
(3/3) Or we can have a more comprehensive/accurate way of evaluating our public schools, and ensure they have the funding/support needed to help ALL students achieve…rather than starving neighborhood schools of resources and allowing those with the means to “self segregate” out of them. #akleg
April 11, 2025 at 7:28 PM
(3/3) Or we can have a more comprehensive/accurate way of evaluating our public schools, and ensure they have the funding/support needed to help ALL students achieve…rather than starving neighborhood schools of resources and allowing those with the means to “self segregate” out of them. #akleg
(2/3) So the question is: should this be the only metric we use to judge the quality of our public schools? Does this data reflect the whole experience of a child from K-12? If so, you’ll see more schools “teach to the test” and other activities will be pushed to the side or eliminated. #akleg
April 11, 2025 at 7:22 PM
(2/3) So the question is: should this be the only metric we use to judge the quality of our public schools? Does this data reflect the whole experience of a child from K-12? If so, you’ll see more schools “teach to the test” and other activities will be pushed to the side or eliminated. #akleg
When folks say “Alaska is ranked 51st in education” or our schools are the “worst in the Nation”, some are talking about reading/math scores on the NAEP standardized test for select 4th/8th graders. Others simply repeat talking points without really knowing where the data comes from. (1/3) #akleg
April 11, 2025 at 7:16 PM
When folks say “Alaska is ranked 51st in education” or our schools are the “worst in the Nation”, some are talking about reading/math scores on the NAEP standardized test for select 4th/8th graders. Others simply repeat talking points without really knowing where the data comes from. (1/3) #akleg
In terms of health insurance, Legislators should remember all of this talk of the benefits of “larger pooling” and “acting instead of just talking” when it comes time to talk about pensions and retirement reform for AK public workers. #akleg
April 11, 2025 at 7:06 PM
In terms of health insurance, Legislators should remember all of this talk of the benefits of “larger pooling” and “acting instead of just talking” when it comes time to talk about pensions and retirement reform for AK public workers. #akleg
