About Us: Overview

students in Nome

Alaska has 55 school districts many of which are located in rural parts of the state. Most districts face high rates of teacher turnover and a general shortage of Alaska Native teachers. The Alaska Teacher Supply and Demand 2005 report found that while Alaska Natives roughly make up 24% of the student enrollment in K-12 public schools statewide, Alaska Native teachers only represented about 5% of the teaching force.

In 2003, the Alaska Teacher Placement (ATP) program at the University of Alaska co-hosted five rural educator forums which shared a common theme, the need to grow-our-own educators. As a follow up to these forums ATP, in partnership with the Alaska Federation of Natives and three rural school districts, applied for and received funds from the U.S. Department of Education to establish a statewide Future Teachers of Alaska (FTA) program. Under the three-year grant, over 16 FTA clubs were established in the Bering Strait School District, Lower Kuskokwim School District and Nome Public Schools.

A second three-year grant was awarded in 2006 which expanded FTA to include four additional school districts (Lower Yukon, Northwest Arctic Borough, Lake and Peninsula, and Yukon Flats), Alaska Native Education Association, Preparing Indigenous Teachers and Administrators for Alaska's Schools (PITAAS), Alaska Native Education Student Association (ANESA) and numerous other affiliates.

2006-2009 FEA Program Goals:

  • Expand the FEA program from three to seven school districts
  • Develop best practices for FEA clubs and curriculum
  • Involve key stakeholders in planning how to help FEA club high school students cross the bridge into college

There are currently over 50 active FEA clubs across the state. Club members range from kindergarteners to high school seniors. Most clubs meet weekly after school to participate in a variety of fun and interesting activities designed to support their interest in teaching.

"FEA is necessary for improving the career outlook and opportunities for students in rural Alaska."
— Jennifer Romer, Teacher

FEA Web of Connections

FEA WEB OF CONNECTIONS:

FEA operates based on a "web of connections" that begins with the FEA students at its core. Students are guided by a local FEA Advisor (most often a teacher or school counselor). FEA Advisors are networked with a FEA Coordinator (typically a school district employee) that serves as a point of contact for all Advisors in their school districts as well as the statewide FEA staff. The connections continue at the statewide level with partners that include the Alaska Native Education Association, PITAAS and ANESA, the FEA Planning Group and FEA Advisory Committee, as well as the many communities that support and nurture FEA students.