I arrived in Anchorage early this morning and headed to a job fair on two hours of sleep. There were 8 school districts that I was interested in speaking with but only 6 were in attendance. I was granted 5 interviews. I received 4 job offers. Now I have an important decision to make....

During the job offers, 3 administrators mentioned that my interest in hunting and fishing made me a better fit than the other candidates.

Good luck!

I've been here since 1984, now a retired school teacher, and a sub for 10 years.
What districts are you considering?
Cal

Jason,

Those administrators realize that you'll be much happier in AK if you like to hunt and fish and therefore your likely to stay longer. AK is often a dream for some whose enthusiasm dwindles quickly when the reality of AK life sets in. I literally saw hundreds come and go after their first year or two when I lived in Dillingham.

Mark

quote:

dwindles quickly when the reality of AK life sets in

After visiting many times and passing up a job offer I decide AK for me is a nice place to visit.

Good luck Jbrown and I hope it works out for you.

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
What districts are you considering?
Cal

Hey Cal,
I was offered contracts by Nome SD, Yukon Flats SD, Yupiik SD and the North Slope Borough SD. I ended up signing with NSBSD and I am going to be headed to Point Lay(or Anaktuvuk Pass if one of their middle school teachers get an admin job).

quote:

I am going to be headed to Point Lay(or Anaktuvuk Pass

You well diffidently be getting the full small rural Alaskan village experience.

Hope it all works out for you and it is a good experience for you.

Now Ill have someone to aske where the bou are on the Haul Road. Welcome to Alaska, go easy, don't try to change the world in week. Ive been here 5 1/2 years, but down in Palmer.

quote:

Originally posted by Hughiam:
go easy, don't try to change the world in week.

Don't worry, I'm not that kind of teacher. I am moving there to learn and experience something different.

Best of luck to you, Jason!

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
What districts are you considering?
Cal

Hey Cal,
I was offered contracts by Nome SD, Yukon Flats SD, Yupiik SD and the North Slope Borough SD. I ended up signing with NSBSD and I am going to be headed to Point Lay(or Anaktuvuk Pass if one of their middle school teachers get an admin job).

Found this video last year - now THAT is show and tell:

"Caribou Skinning by Raymond Paneak, Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T47jabErF-c

quote:

Originally posted by A7Dave:

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
What districts are you considering?
Cal

Hey Cal,
I was offered contracts by Nome SD, Yukon Flats SD, Yupiik SD and the North Slope Borough SD. I ended up signing with NSBSD and I am going to be headed to Point Lay(or Anaktuvuk Pass if one of their middle school teachers get an admin job).

Found this video last year - now THAT is show and tell:

"Caribou Skinning by Raymond Paneak, Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T47jabErF-c

Dave, check your PM's

Jim

I was a NTSB police officer for a while until the military recalled me in 2000.

ATK Pass and Barter Island were the best hunting locations.

That and the Inupiat at Barter were really nice.

We used to call Atkasuk, AT-ka-suck, because it was a rough place to be a cop by yourself.

Kaktovik had the best people (Barter Island), and the best hunting because you could hunt muskox.

I think you can still hunt dall sheep and muskox in AKT Pass though.

Wainright, Nuiqusuit and the rest would be my last choice let the non-hunters go there.

I lived in Barrow. If you are single it is the only place to live.

Was good pickings when I was there. I was 25, and me and a buddy of mine were the only single white men that had professional jobs between 22-40. Problem was almost all the women were 30-50. Oh well, they didn't age up there.

Well, you are in for an education :-)
It was 20 below in Nuiqsut this morning.
Canada Goose Resolute - Arctic parka.
Pt Lay is way out there. It's fairly easy to see the end of the earth when your at Pt Lay because your almost there already. ;-).
I thot u were going to Wrangel ?
Which ever place, you should have a great adventure !

quote:

Originally posted by Cold Trigger Finger:
Well, you are in for an education :-)

I thot u were going to Wrangel ?
Which ever place, you should have a great adventure !

In for an education? That is exactly why I am going(and taking my 8yo daughter).


Wrangel/SEA is where I(think) would like to be sometime in the future. I began learning about the Inupiak and I am really interested in learning about their culture/subsistance lifestyle.

Barrow is good. You'll make good money. Coach sports. You'll save money if you buy food and have it shipped in. Not much to spend money on but it is expensive what you do do.

The haul road does not go to Barrow but you can drive your stuff up the road and it is a short flight to Barrow. Or, just air freight your food and other items from Anchorage on AK Air Cargo.

Good luck and if I can assist in any way, PM me.
Cal

Last night I received a call from the North Slope Borough School District. It seems that they had a position open up in Anaktuvuk Pass. They asked if I was still interested in heading to Anaktuvuk Pass this year........

I accepted the position immediately. I'm not even sure what I will be teaching(they weren't sure either) but it looks like I will be working with the little kids.

I was really excited about Point Lay because of the whale hunting culture, polar bears, etc.

Anaktuvuk Pass was an easy choice as it is a hunters paradise with a ton of animal diversity and near year-round hunting inside the Gates of the Arctic NP.

Go into the village slow. Pay attention to how they treat you and each other. Help the community. Volunteer, help folks get sleds running, don’t squeeze their hand when they shake your hand, loose grip, don’t tell a story to better their story, just nod and act interested, make friends with an elder, don’t assume you can trap anywhere, make friends with a hunter and ask about it before you run out and hunt.
Not sure how much Alaska village experience you have, sorry if this is all old hat.

Be cautious with your daughter, trust no one as they won’t trust you for a while.

quote:

Originally posted by Fourtyonesix:

Not sure how much Alaska village experience you have, sorry if this is all old hat.

I have very little Alaska village experience(I have visited one....) I really appreciate the advice.

Also, the principal that I will be working with hunts and has went through the acceptance process within the past few years so he should be able to fill me in. He did mention taking it slow and being respectful. He mentioned that they ran a VSO out of town because he did not respect the unwritten "rules".

I believe there is s missionary family there. I toduce yourself and get the lay of the land from a culture that communicates more like what your used to. Might help the adjustment go smoother. Villages are nothing like cities. Nor are the people and their ways like people and ways of a city.

quote:

Villages are nothing like cities. Nor are the people and their ways like people and ways of a city.

Way to many people more to an area because they like it. Then try to change it to where they came from.

[/QUOTE]

Way to many people more to an area because they like it. Then try to change it to where they came from.[/QUOTE]

Truth.

Jason,

One tip is that Alaska natives do not make conversation as a rule for conversations sake. I've sat in a native friend's home and hardly a word would be passed unless I initiated it. Like my friend said "White people, too many words". At least for the Yupik people asking a direct question is impolite. Factor that into your conversation!!!!!!!!!

Mark