Proposed School Calendar Change

Nome Public Schools is considering a change to the calendar in upcoming school years, and the NPS Board of Education would like your input.  School would start after Labor Day and end before Memorial Day, and 10 minutes of instructional time would be added to the school day.  This would mean a loss of 50.5 instructional hours over the course of the school year.  Regular attendance would be crucial for students to be successful in school, and schools will make every effort to protect the instructional day.  The delayed start would allow families additional time for subsistence over the summer months. 

Please complete the survey at the link below - there is space to record your concerns and comments, which will be shared with the school board to aid in their discussions and decision.  If you experience technical difficulties with the survey, please contact Jamie Burgess at 907-443-6197.

https://goo.gl/forms/RiXGlIeiIsaYvoTA3 

Nome Public Schools

P.O. Box 131 Nome, AK 99762
Phone: 907-443-2231| Fax: 907-443-5144

Nome, Alaska:  The Nome Public Schools Board of Education is pleased to announce that they have selected four individuals as finalists in the search for a new superintendent.

The Board conducted a nationwide search and contracted with the Association of Alaska School Boards to facilitate the process. 

The finalists are:

• Jamie Burgess – Currently Director of Federal Programs, Instruction & Accountability of Nome Public Schools (2016-present). Jamie was Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in Yupiit SD (2015-2016) and Non-Traditional Education Programs Coordinator/Coldwater Academy Director in Avondale, AZ.  Jamie has a Masters of Ed from Concordia Univ. Portland, OR, an M.S. in Biochemistry from Univ. of Colorado and a B.S. in Biology from Metropolitan St. Univ., Denver, CO.  Jamie has her teacher and principal certifications and will receive her superintendent certification in May 2018.

• Deborah “Debbe“ Lancaster -Currently the Certified Program Administrator in the North Slope School District in Utqiagvik, Alaska. She was formerly a principal and lead teacher in the North Slope School District.  She holds a Doctorate from Texas Chiropractic College, an MA in Educational Leadership from the University of Alaska Southeast and a Teacher certification in Biology from Region XII in Waco, TX.   Dr. Lancaster is due to receive her Alaskan superintendent certificate in the summer of 2018. 

• Patrick Mayer – Currently the superintendent for Wrangell City School District (2014-present) in Wrangell, Alaska. Before that he was principal of Delta High School from 2010-2014, principal of Delta Cyber School 2010-2011 and the principal of Fort Greely School (grades 6-8) 2009-2010. Patrick has his superintendent certificate, earned a Masters Of Education degree from Eastern Washington Univ., a Bachelor of Education from UAA and Bachelor of Science from Washington State Univ.
• William “Bill” Schildbach is currently the principal of Mt. Spurr Elementary School on JBER in the Anchorage School District. He was formerly the Director of Assessment for Northwest Arctic Borough School District in Kotzebue, Alaska. Before that, he was a principal in Emmonak School in Lower Yukon School District.  He holds his superintendent certificate from the University of Alaska Anchorage, a Masters of Science in Education from Portland State University in Oregon, and a S. in Biology and Mathematics Education, another B.S in Microbiology as well as a B.S in Community Health Education all from Oregon State University. 

The finalists have been invited to Nome for an on-site interview to be held on Wednesday and Thursday, April 18-19, 2018.  Candidates will tour the community, visit the schools, and attend a community “candidate forum” on the evening of Wednesday, April 18th.  See the Nome Public Schools website for the full schedule within the next week.     

The Board intends to announce their choice of a new superintendent as soon as possible following the final interviews and deliberations on the afternoon of Thursday, April 19.  The new superintendent is expected to start on or before July 1, 2018.

Immediate Release:  April 6, 2018

PDF version of this Announcement: Superintendent Finalists

School Safety

April 2, 2018  

Dear Staff, Families, and Community Supporters,

The recent events in Parkland, Florida have reminded us once again that in these uncertain times, no organization is immune to the stark realities of violence.

As an educator, I can share with you that my heart was broken and continues to grieve for those who lost their lives as well as for the survivors of this, and many other horrible tragedies that has shaped our views of the world we live in. This event emphasizes the need for all of us to reach out to one another and provide support, kindness and caring.

We are committed to provide a safe and secure environment for our students and staff. Students deserve to attend school in a physically and emotionally safe environment, free from worry about personal safety. In fact, such a safe climate is essential for learning.

All schools in our District hold required lockdown and secure-in-place drills to help prepare our students and staff in the event of an actual emergency. Nome Public Schools, and our law enforcement partners communicate regularly; strive to encourage dialogue; and interact with our students and staff to ensure safety on our campuses. Law enforcement has evaluated our facilities and patrols the areas around our schools regularly. To ensure that we are providing the highest levels of safety at all times, the district reviews, and when necessary, revises emergency response plans on a regular basis.

Everyone plays a critical role in school safety and in the safety of our community. We will continue to emphasize to our students that if they have concerns or fears, they should seek out an adult. We will listen and act. We ask that if you know or hear of any threat to our students, staff or schools, please contact the Nome Police Department immediately at (907)443-5262.

Thank you for your continued support in helping to keep our schools safe.

Shawn Arnold

NPS Superintendent

We know that these events can be confusing and frightening for our students. The National Association of School Psychologists has published: “Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers,” which is a helpful resource to help talk about school-related tragedies with your child. Our schools have assistance available to students that may need additional emotional support through our school counselors, and other professional staff.

Associated Links:

PDF version of this announcement: School Safety

NASP "Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers": Talking to Children About Violence

Educational Support Personnel Employee of the Year Nomination

Teachers, parents, community members, and students may nominate teachers and support professionals for this award. Candidates should have the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues. He or she should inspire students of all backgrounds and learning abilities. Candidates should have at least one years of service with NPS, plan to continue to be an employee in the District during the upcoming school year, and not have won an annual district award in the last few years. Our District is blessed with many, many staff who possess all these qualities. Please honor these individuals by submitting a nomination them!

NPS ESP Nomination Form