Alaska Association of Elementary School Principals
AAESP serves elementary, middle school, and K-12 administrators as well as curriculum directors, university professors, and a variety of other educational leaders around the State of Alaska.
What does AAESP do?
AAESP is a professional association that represents principals at the federal, state and local level to encourage legislation and regulations which strengthen American education.
AAESP provides the opportunity for principals to attend the Alaskan Fall Principals' Conference where nationally recognized speakers are keynoting and provides the opportunity to brainstorm with other principals from around the state to help determine policy, goals, and educational priorities for the year.
AAESP encourages participation in the National Leaders Conference, Alaska Legislative Fly-in, attendance at other in-services and the NAESP National Convention & Exposition.
2020-2021
Membership​ & Contact Information
Email or call Executive Director, Jennifer Schmitz @
akelementaryprincipals@gmail.com or (907) 223-1742
CONGRATULATIONS to Alaska's 2020 National Distinguished Principal,
Eric Pederson!
Eric is the proud principal at Paul Banks Elementary in Homer, Alaska.
Eric Pederson was nominated and selected by his fellow principals through a statewide search process conducted by the Alaska Association of Elementary School Principals.
Pederson graduated from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul Minnesota with a Bachelor’s Degree, he then added a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Eric began his administrative career as a principal at Kuinerrimuit Elitnaurviat School in Quinhagak, Alaska in 2007 and moved to Homer in 2013 where he has served as the principal at Paul Banks Elementary since that time.
COVID Related Support
Working Together for Alaska's Students
Echo School Health Series
There are weekly sessions offered through DEED that held to address real issues happening in our schools and how to respond. There is more information about these sessions in the attached ECHO. School Health ECHO Series: https://education.alaska.gov/covid-19-information/alaska-smart-start-2020
DEED Covid Help Desk
You can email DEED at any time with Covid related questions at AKsmartstart2020@alaska.gov
Member Meetings for Alaska's K-12 Principals
ACSA (also a part of your membership) is hosting bi-weekly meetings for principals with Commissioner Johnson and other special guests. These have been valuable sessions. Current members should be receiving invitations to these sessions.
Current REL Supports
In response to COVID-19, the 10 Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs) have collaborated to produce a series of evidence-based resources and information about teaching and learning in a remote environment, as well as other considerations brought by the pandemic. See below for a roundup of featured resources on this topic. A full list of resources is available on the REL COVID-19 webpage
Best Practices for Creating Take-Home Packets to Support Distance Learning
Infographic | REL Pacific
Audience: teachers, school leaders, district leaders
Going the Distance: Online Strategies for Helping Students with Disabilities
Blog | REL Mid-Atlantic
Audience: teachers, school leaders, district leaders
Meaningful Online Education for Our Youngest Learners: Tips to Reconcile the Need for E-Learning with How Young Children Learn Best
Blog | REL Midwest
Audience: teachers
Supporting Children’s Reading at Home: Family Resources for Kindergarten through 3rd Grade
Webinar recording | REL Southeast
Audience: families, caregivers
Three Steps for Using Culturally Responsive Practices to Support Equity During Remote Learning
Blog | REL Mid-Atlantic
Audience: teachers, school leaders, district leaders
Who is AAESP?
YOU ARE! Those dedicated individuals working and supporting education in the State of Alaska.
There is an executive board elected to serve AAESP. Each person on the board is here to help support our mission and to support individual leaders around the state.
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AAESP President
Eric Pederson
Paul Banks Elementary
1340 East Road
Homer, AK 99603
Phone: (907) 226-1801
Fax: (907) 235-8163
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
Doug Gray
Paideia Cooperative School
1405 E Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: (907) 742-4267
Fax: (907) 742-4165
PRESIDENT ELECT
Jennifer Rinaldi
Willow Elementary
PO Box. 521197
Big Lake, Alaska 99652
Phone: 907-495-9330
VICE PRESIDENT
Lynn Mayberry-Burke
Lake Otis Elementary
3331 Lake Otis Pkwy.
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone: (907) 742-7400
Fax: (907) 742-7407
SECRETARY
Kelly Ramey
1905 Twining Dr,
Anchorage, AK 99504
Phone (907) 742-0366
Fax (907) 742-0393
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TREASURER
Heather Jones
Trailside Elementary
5151 Abbott Rd
Anchorage, Alaska 99515
Phone: (907) 742-5500
Fax (907) 742-5511
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REGION REPRESENTATIVE
Shawna Henderson
Pearl Creek Elementary
700 Auburn Drive
Fairbanks, AK 99709
Phone (907) 479-4234 x41510
Fax (907) 479-4025
shawna.henderson@k12northstar.org
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REGION REPRESENTATIVE
Margaret Gilman
Nikiski North Star Elementary
45600 Holt Lamplight Rd
Kenai, AK 9961
Phone (907) 776-2600
Fax (907) 776-8423
REGION REPRESENTATIVE
Joanna Hinderberger
Mendenhall River Community School
9001 Mendenhall Loop Rd.
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone (907) 796-5600
Fax (907) 463-1777
OUR AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS
Working in partnership to provide the best possible support to education administrators in Alaska.
Being a member of AAESP also means you are a member of these two great organizations. This gives us a stronger and more unified voice at both the state and local levels.
Alaska Council of School Administrators
As a non-profit, tax exempt corporation established in 1973, the Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA) was created to serve as an umbrella for four of Alaska’s premier educational leadership organizations.
ACSA’s unifying purpose is to support educational leaders through professional forums, provide a voice that champions possibilities for all students and purposeful advocacy for public education. ACSA comprises professional educational leaders of Alaska’s schools and school systems.
National Association of Elementary School Prinicpals
The mission of NAESP Is to lead in the advocacy and support for elementary and middle level principals and other education leaders in their commitment for all children. NAESP advocates for the support principals need to be successful 21st century leaders—to achieve the highest results for children, families, and communities. And, we support the continual development of our members—principals in many different stages of their careers—through benefits, and awards.
All of our activities are designed to help principals and learning communities achieve desired results for every child.
Nominations Needed
for the ALASKA 2021
National Distinguished
Principal!!
National Distinguished
Principal Information
Eligibility for nominees:
• is a member of NAESP prior to submitting their application in May;
• is an active principal of a school in which a commitment to excellence is clearly evident;
• has been an active principal for at least five years;
• will remain in active service in a position of school leadership during the school year in which he/she will serve as NDP;
• shows a strong commitment to the principalship through active membership in professional associations;
• is respected by students, colleagues, parents, and the community at large;
• assumes an active role in his/her community, distinguishing himself/herself as a leader in civic, religious, or humanitarian activities;
• shows strong educational leadership by setting high expectations for school staff and students; and
• maintains an orderly, purposeful learning environment.
ALL completed applications are due by FEBRUARY 19, 2021 to Lynn Mayberry-Burke, Vice-President AAESP at Mayberry_Lynn@asdk12.org for review by the AAESP NDP Selection Committee. We will work with our Alaska National Distinguished Principal to complete a final online application to NAESP by May 7, 2021.
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Alaska's National Distinguished Principals
MEET SOME OF THE PAST NDP'S FROM ALASKA
Eric Pederson
2020- Kenai
Douglas Gray
2019- Anchorage
Michael Angaiak
2018- Fairbanks
Lisa Vrvilo
2017- Matsu
Kate LaPlaunt
2016- Fairbanks
Anita Stevens
2015- Anchorage
David Kingsland
2014- KPBSD
Cheryl Stickler
2013- Haines
Barbara Nagengast
2012- Anchorage
Tim Doran
2011- Fairbanks
Richard Toymil
2010- Anchorage
Leslie Campbell
2009- Fairbanks
Barbara Pile
2008- Fairbanks
Ron Fried
2007- Kodiak
Pete Swanson
2006- Kenai
Ed Scherer
2005- Anchorage
Mary Johnstone
2004- Anchorage
John Kito
2003- Anchorage
Kathie Cook
2002- Fairbanks
Dan Blanton
2001- Talkeetna
Karl Schleich
2000- Matsu
Davis Nufer
1999- Palmer
Rick Ladd
1998- Kenai
Sharon Meacham
1997- Anchorage
Kathy Benson
1996- Fairbanks
Arge Jeffery
1995- Anchorage
Linda Black
1994- Anchorage
Dave Dirkson
1993- Wrangell
Bill Breeden
1992- Anchorage
Diane Borgman
1991- Kenai
Jim Starry
1990- Anchorage
Lewis McLinn
1989- Kenai
Bett Fami
1988- Fairbanks
Jerry Schoenberger
1987- Yakatat
Darleen Trent
1986- Anchorage
Virginia Maesner
1985- Kenai
Robert Schell
1984- Sitka
Here are some links to connect and support you as a member of AAESP.
National Association of Elementary School Principals
Alaska Council of School Administrators
Alaska Staff Development Network
AAESP Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/akprincipals/
Alaska Principals' Conference Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/alaskaprincipalsconference/
National Distinguished Principal Info
https://www.naesp.org/national-distinguished-principals-program
AAESP
We LOVE to hear from our members! You can contact any one of us on the board. If you have membership questions, are looking to get more involved, or are just looking for a point of contact, you can send us an email and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
7259 Tyre Drive Anchorage, Alaska 99502
(907) 223-1742