• Interventionist Participants Experience - January 2023 to May 2023

     

     

    Settling In

    The school community created a supportive environment to welcome the interventionists to the site. This includes acts of hospitality like being picked up from the airport, being given tours around the community, and being welcomed into homes for any needs.

    I was picked up from the airport, and they gave me a little tour around Koliganek, and they were like if you ever need anything, knock on the door, like if you need dishes or extra ingredients. They were just so welcoming I honestly could not have asked for a more hospitable atmosphere right when I got there.

     

    It was somewhat of a welcoming party to greet us at the runway upon our arrival. The kids were so curious to see the new faces. And then just the “Who are you? Where are you from? Why is your hair like that?”

     

     

    Alaskan Experience

    The participants speak about Alaska and its culture, a setting seemingly central to the program. The participants talk positively about the opportunity to experience a new culture and lifestyle in Alaska. The importance of such experiences in their education, career development, and cultural competency.

    It's just eye-opening to see an entire culture I haven't seen before […] you get up here and like everything is so different than you could imagine. Just getting the opportunity to experience this culture is, is so amazing.

    Value of Shared Experience

    The participants highlighted how sharing the experience with peers was crucial to their journey. They mention the sense of camaraderie, shared understanding, and support as critical components, emphasizing the value of fostering a sense of community among participants. They appreciate the opportunity to work in a challenging, culturally diverse environment and see it as a unique opportunity they would recommend to others.

    A student came to my house at 8:00 PM one night and knocked on my door and was like, 'We just shot a ptarmigan. Do you want to try it?' So they rushed home, cooked it, and brought it back. It was so good. I enjoyed the experience and thoughtfulness of the student.

    Cultural Immersion

    The participants discuss their experiences with the local Alaskan culture, from food to community engagement. They mention trying local dishes like dried salmon, herring eggs, and moose, attending local events like basketball games, and steaming with community members. The exposure gained from this experience seems to have broadened the participants' understanding of societal challenges and inspired a sense of cultural growth.

    It was nice to see how things still function and how they make schools work and make it work for kids around here and work with the community, and how big basketball is - it was a big takeaway! Why did I only think they played hockey here? (laugh)

    Educational Challenges and Rewards

    There is a strong sense of community involvement, the desire to build relationships with the community and contribute positively. The participants noted the resilience and resourcefulness of the communities in ensuring education continues. The teachers' enthusiasm and excitement at meeting the newcomers show the cooperative and supportive atmosphere within the school community. They also talk about learning from local teachers and their teaching methods in such conditions.

    I realized how much I took for granted living in a city and then just going somewhere where there were hardly any roads and just how small the community was. And just being so thankful for the resources that some schools have. […] It touched my heart just being there and having this experience.

     

    That was nice to […] be able to meet all the teachers and see where you would like to be working and have your stuff. I liked the shadow and observing the classrooms because then you got to see all the kids, and I thought it was nice.

     

  • Why did you decide to apply for the internship?

     

    “I decided to apply for the internship program because it is designed for December graduates, which I was.  I didn’t have any plans for a job after graduation and most jobs available in January in my area are subbing positions, which are great, but I wanted something a little different.  The internship also had a lot of great catches (i.e. Free flights, free housing, AND getting paid). Being fresh into the working field, with college debt,  this all was music to my ears.  The experience was something I was interested in too because it was a different culture and communities in which I grew up.”- Katie Henney, Slippery Rock University 2019, Internship placement Dillingham Elementary

     

    What sold you on coming to Alaska and/or accepting the internship position? 

     

    “After the interview, Nick and Dianna were in contact with me and provided me with a lot of information regarding the community I would be moving to. This allowed open communication with those I would work with and this helped me feel more comfortable about the move and community.  Knowing the internship was short-term, this allowed me to tell myself “if I don’t like it, it’s only 3 months and I would be able to go back home if I don’t enjoy it.”  But then also knowing that it could lead to a more permanent position was exciting to think about because it gave me the opportunity to merge into the school and get to know the routines, expectations, and the students.” - Katie Henney, Slippery Rock University 2019, Internship placement Dillingham Elementary

     

    What were your positions throughout your entire time with the school?

     

    “I started as the Migrant Interventionalist and I worked with K,1,2, and 4th graders.  I started in January and went until March, at which point I was offered to stay until the end of the school year and I agreed.  The next year, I was a 1st-grade teacher and had a classroom of 20 students.  The following school year, I got moved to Special Education teacher for grades 3-5.”- Katie Henney, Slippery Rock University 2019, Internship placement Dillingham Elementary

     

    What was your favorite part of your internship?  

     

    “My favorite part of the internship was being able to work with all of the different grade levels.  It allowed me to pop in to all of the different classrooms and get to know a lot of the kiddos' faces which was a huge benefit for the years that followed because I knew a lot of my upcoming students.

    I also loved getting to travel and visit the other migrant interventionalist. It allowed me to see another rural town/village and get to see how our experiences differ.  It was also great to collaborate with (other interns) and gain different resources.” - Katie Henney, Slippery Rock University 2019, Internship placement Dillingham Elementary

     

    Why did you decide to stay and teach?

     

    “I decided to stay and teach because DES is a really great school and has great dynamics.  The staff is very welcoming and unpredictable (in a fun way) which gives us something to look forward to each day.  It’s a small community so everyone knows everyone, which makes it fun because then you can really get to know the students you are working with.”- Katie Henney, Slippery Rock University 2019, Internship placement Dillingham Elementary

     

    What was your favorite teaching experience?

     

    “My favorite teaching experience was the 4th-grade reading groups I did during my migrant interventionalist days.  We had so many great conversations about the books we were reading and activities to go along with them. We got to read The Wishing Tree, afterward, we made our own wishing tree where we got to write our wishes down and all the 4th graders (and the teacher) hung them on a tree.”- Katie Henney, Slippery Rock University 2019

     

    What was your most memorable moment?

    “My most memorable teaching experience was during the year I was teaching 1st grade…we went on Spring Break and never came back. It was hard for me because that class was the first class that I got to call my own and I never got to finish out their 1st-grade year with them.

    Would you recommend this to other teacher graduates.”- Katie Henney, Slippery Rock University 2019, Internship placement Dillingham Elementary

     

    Would you recommend this program to others?

    "Yes, I would recommend this to other teacher graduates. This program is outstanding and provides so many opportunities….and Dianna and Robyn are ROCKSTARS!!”- Katie Henney, Slippery Rock University 2019, Internship placement Dillingham Elementary