Family engagement nights have been made a focus of school and community relations. We have implemented new policies on attendance and retention. We are at record highs for enrollment at IDLC.
District-Wide Improvements
All sites are aligned in one direction and mandated All-Staff meetings are held every Friday at 2:00. Every site and the district office has received a new color copier. One district calendar was approved instead of a calendar for every site. Taylor Fire Inspections were also completed on all sites.
Opportunities For Our Students
CTE Tech Classes were established and are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, field trips are provided for all 5th graders, all 7th and 8th graders attended EXCEL Alaska along with many 9-12 graders. District-wide summer school was held in McGrath with concentration on Math and Basketball.
Curriculum
New reading and match curricula have been introduced. Reading is now mandated for 90 minutes each day and math is mandated for 60 minutes each day. The new curriculum for ELA K-12 (HMH INTO Reading) is underway and teachers are loving the response from students.
New Websites
We launched new site designs for the school district and a new website for the Iditarod Homeschool Program.
Successful Auditing
Iditarod Area Schools underwent audits in SPED, Financial and Impact Aid consecutively.
Responsible Recruitment
Iditarod Area Schools is now utilizing INDEED to fill vacant positions at minimal cost. Ten additional staff positions have been added with grant funding.
Staff Development
The Iditarod Home Program hired a new Graduation Coach. Para-Pros are receiving training to take the PRAXIS. All school board members received training. Negotiated new contract for certified staff. Staff was at 100% capacity to start the school year.
As a new employee in our district, you will likely face many new transitions, both personally and professionally, in the upcoming months. The purpose of this packet is to provide a practical guide to address some of the questions you may have. While this guide is by no means comprehensive, it is a start to make you feel more at ease. Over the years, a number of teachers have contributed to the content to help facilitate your move. Enjoy the read. See you soon!
- Helen Cheek, Superintendent of Iditarod Area School District
As a new employee in our district, you will likely face many new transitions, both personally and professionally, in the upcoming months. The purpose of this packet is to provide a practical guide to address some of the questions you may have. While this guide is by no means comprehensive, it is a start to make you feel more at ease. Over the years, a number of teachers have contributed to the content to help facilitate your move. Enjoy the read. See you soon!
- Helen Cheek, Superintendent of Iditarod Area School District
McGrath
McGrath is a city and village located at the confluence of the Kuskokwim and Takotna Rivers. Despite its small population, the village is an important transportation and economic hub for the area. McGrath offers world class hunting and site-seeing opportunities for visitors, and is an annual checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail. In 2020, the population was 300 individuals.
Nikolai
Top of the Kuskokwim School. Nikolai is located on the Eastern bank of the Kuskokwim River. Nikolai is a city in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 82 as of the 2020 census, down from 100 in 2000.
Innoko River School. Located on the east bank of the Innoko River, which empties into the Yukon straight across from Holy Cross. Shageluk is the last remaining occupied village on the Innoko River in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2020 Census the population was 74, down from 129 in 2000. In 2019, the population was 61.
Takotna Community School. Located in the valley of Tatalina Mountain on the Takotna River. Located 7 air miles from McGrath. Takotna IPA: in Upper Kuskokwim is a census-designated place in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 56 as of the 2020 Census, an increase of 4% from 50 at the 2000 Census. In 2019, the population was 72.
Eagle River
Eagle River, Alaska is located just outside of Anchorage and is the location of the office for the Iditarod's Distance Learning Center, which serves our homeschool community. Our homeschool has approximately 150 students and continues to grow.
Grayling
David Louis Memorial School. on the west bank of the Yukon River. Grayling is a city in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2020 census the population was 194, unchanged from 2000. Since 1977, the Athabaskan village has seen a surge of interest on odd-numbered years, when it is the site of a checkpoint during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
Holy Cross
Jeffrey A. Bader Memorial School. On the west bank of the Yukon River. Holy Cross is a city in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 156, down from 227 in 2000.
Anvik
Blackwell School. On the west bank of the Yukon River. The Anvik tributary enters the Yukon River upstream from town. Anvik is a community of 105 people. Anvik is a city, home to the Deg Hit'an people, in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. The name Anvik, meaning "exit" in the Central Alaskan Yup'ik language, became the common usage despite multiple names at the time, and may have come from early Russian explorers.
McGrath
McGrath is a city and village located at the confluence of the Kuskokwim and Takotna Rivers. Despite its small population, the village is an important transportation and economic hub for the area. McGrath offers world class hunting and site-seeing opportunities for visitors, and is an annual checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail. In 2020, the population was 300 individuals.
Nikolai
Top of the Kuskokwim School. Nikolai is located on the Eastern bank of the Kuskokwim River. Nikolai is a city in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 82 as of the 2020 census, down from 100 in 2000.
Innoko River School. Located on the east bank of the Innoko River, which empties into the Yukon straight across from Holy Cross. Shageluk is the last remaining occupied village on the Innoko River in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2020 Census the population was 74, down from 129 in 2000. In 2019, the population was 61.
Takotna Community School. Located in the valley of Tatalina Mountain on the Takotna River. Located 7 air miles from McGrath. Takotna IPA: in Upper Kuskokwim is a census-designated place in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 56 as of the 2020 Census, an increase of 4% from 50 at the 2000 Census. In 2019, the population was 72.
From the team
It is indeed an honor and privilege to be part of Iditarod School District Teaching Force...Such an unforgettable experience for a Filipina Teacher like me because IASD gives me the opportunity to share my culture and to learn a new culture.
- Jollibe Pantilano, Innoko Teacher
I enjoy the familiar atmosphere of IASD; both the collegiality between the teachers all across the district & the close-knit classrooms in which we work each day. It is a privilege to live and serve in an area that is truly in the heart of Alaska.
- Lindsay Sturm, McGrath Teacher
Teaching at IASD is a wonderful opportunity. The sports, the fishing, the cross-country skiing, the hunting surpasses any experience anyone could imagine.
The class sizes are small, and I can really reach individual students and help them soar to their greatest potential.
- Danny Cheek, Takotna Principal-Teacher
Aside from the financial reward for teaching in rural Alaska. (Iditarod Area School District). The adventures and unique experiences of living and teaching in a very rural but beautiful place among Native Alaskan people as well as the students is a must-try.
- Fritizie Sillabe, Innoko Teacher
I love working in IASD because the people are wonderful and kind, and the country vast and rugged. I enjoy roping in unique educational opportunities from around the state and nation and helping students see the inherent connections between our cultures and academia.
- Matt Shelborne, McGrath Principal-Teacher
A child is educated on many levels by many people in many situations. I am only one teacher in their lives. I am grateful for IASD's continued support of the academic education of our students.
