When Andrew Israelsen searched for a graduate teaching program, he looked north \u2014 way north.<\/p>\n
The Southern California resident, along with his partner Katie Kroko, selected University of Alaska Southeast\u2019s Master of Arts Teaching program.<\/p>\n
They drove seven straight days from Los Angeles to Skagway before boarding a ferry to Juneau, arriving with about a day to spare before a four-course, six-week summer session began and would kick off a one-year graduate program.<\/p>\n
But as musicians \u2014 he plays double bass, guitar and ukulele \u2014 Israelsen and Kroko added another two-week summer course, extending his workload before receiving student teaching placement.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was pretty tough, very intense,\u201d he said. \u201cWe had to find a lot of tiny 15-minute pockets of time just to let ourselves relax and enjoy life. It was a lot of reading, a lot of projects, a lot of homework, a lot of new ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also meeting fantastic people from all over, getting a lot of fresh great ideas about teaching and about culture. When we are not teaching, we\u2019ll be performing with the symphony, practicing with the small ensemble of grad students that we\u2019ve got.\u201d<\/p>\n
Israelsen and Kroko were among nearly 30 students immersed in what UAS Chancellor Rick Caulfield calls its signature program, one \u201cthat offers the most direct and effective way to grow talented Alaskan teachers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe MAT program creates a highly-engaging professional cohort \u2014 building strong and enduring relationships, honing skills for teaching excellence and providing experience in \u2018real-world\u2019 school settings across Alaska,\u201d Caulfield said. \u201cIn these schools, students work in an apprenticeship-like program under the supervision of master teachers \u2014 many of whom serve as ongoing professional mentors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Israelsen said he and Kroko learned about the UAS through another Juneau teacher Lorrie Heagy at a music teachers\u2019 conference in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
What followed was \u201cmonths and months of research,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a lot of work. That\u2019s been the hard part, but it\u2019s been a pretty good move so far.\u201d<\/p>\n
Israelsen\u2019s work outside of his own classrooms eventually takes him into Juneau School District classes where he finds \u201ccurious and eager\u201d youth willing to engage.<\/p>\n
He spends time at Glacier Valley Elementary School and is part of the Juneau, Alaska Music Matters program.<\/p>\n
His days differ. One day he\u2019s teaching general music classes, starting with the basics; other days he\u2019s getting kids started on guitar or double basses.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been starting kindergarteners on violins, which is hilarious because they have no idea what they are doing,\u201d he said. \u201cBut it\u2019s super cute. That\u2019s what I like. A lot of kids with instruments in their hand.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also likes to challenge students with non-traditional experiences with computer-generated music.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like music that\u2019s unique, so with little kids, especially elementary school kids, they don\u2019t have biases in what they like yet with new music,\u201d Israelsen said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are not certain about new music. They may not like music they haven\u2019t heard before, but they are still willing to try it. They\u2019re willing to make sounds with their voices; they are willing to sing songs; they are willing to try new instruments.\u201d<\/p>\n
The summer classes serve notice as to how difficult the one-year program is. Even when the field work begins, the class work resumes. Students still take two classes each semester following the summer introduction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis fast-track degree emulates the best of teacher education programs worldwide,\u201d Caulfield said. \u201cIt\u2019s where our most talented bachelor-degree graduates gain knowledge and hands-on experience leading to a master\u2019s degree with excellent professional job opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n
And while Israelsen works at Glacier Valley with plans to add Floyd Dryden to his workload, fellow grad student Chris Won is busy handling two subjects \u2014 social studies and math \u2014 at Thunder Mountain High School.<\/p>\n
Won arrived in Juneau through an assignment with AmeriCorps. He spent a year at Yaakoosg\u00e9 Daakah\u00eddi Alternative High School and then after the school year ended, he was assigned to the Zach Gordon Youth Center.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I like is how this program stresses placed-based education, especially with Tlingit education and Alaska Native focus,\u201d said Won, who immigrated with his family from Korea. \u201cSo the core root of that mission is that students cannot be motivated unless they have something they feel connected to. What I\u2019m passionate about is heavily influenced by is social justice and cultural awareness. When it comes down to that I want to make sure my program addresses issues of equity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Won\u2019s specialty is social studies, but he also told UAS of his interests in teaching match, so he splits time between the two fields at Thunder Mountain. Enjoying Alaska\u2019s outdoors and periodic weekends in area cabins, Won says he would enjoy post-graduate placement in Juneau.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m also open to teaching in other places in Alaska,\u201d he says. \u201cI know places in the rural and village areas have a high need. My goals and my hopes are to become a teacher in Juneau.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Steve Quinn wrote this for UAS.<\/p>\n
More Neighbors<\/strong><\/p>\n Guy About Town: The dangerous road of expression<\/a><\/p>\n The Story Sharer: Unwinding with a ukulele<\/a><\/p>\n Living & Growing: Truth, justice and the American Way<\/a><\/p>\n