The Juneau School District Board of Education recognized a pair of outstanding educators Tuesday night during a meeting.
Angie Wright, who received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, and David Katzeek, who has worked hard for decades to ensure the place of the Tlingit language in the Juneau School District and in Juneau as a whole, were recognized by the Board of Education before a packed room.
“All I was doing was bringing the message,” Katzeek said, as Rep. Andi Story of the state Legislature presented him with an award for his years of work and service to ensure Tlingit language and culture would have a place in the hearts of future Alaskans. “I’m glad I could stand here and talk to you and I’m glad to see all the students back there.”
Rep. Andi Story of the Alaska State Legislature talks about David Katzeek, a teacher with many years of experience ensuring the place of the Tlingit language and culture in the Juneau School District during a Board of Education meeting Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
Katzeek was instrumental in the Alaska Native language and culture classes, as well as other parts of the curriculum, both in teaching students and teaching other teachers, Story said. He also helped to give the schools of the Juneau School District their Tlingit names.
Students from the district also sought the Board’s support as they seek to have a second verse of the Alaska flag song added reflecting the diverse peoples and cultures of the state.
