Two blog posts ago I stated that, “I’m told by staff members that many Alaskans don’t place a premium on education because of the availability of jobs that don’t require it. I’d like to think that’s not entirely accurate, however…” I want to clarify that I don’t believe Alaskan parents place any less of a premium on education than any other parents. This was the perception of others. I have had conversations with many of our parents who are highly invested in their child’s education.

What is notable about the student population here, at least at Highland Tech, is the higher percentage of unique living situations of students compared to schools I have previously worked in. There are a noteworthy number of students being raised by grandparents, foster parents, and adoptive parents. There are also situations in which a child lives with a parent or parents, but spends time out of the house with a “respite caregiver.” Let me equivocally state that this is not a research paper, but merely an observational exercise. I see no evidence that any of these guardians care any less about the child’s welfare and education than birth parents. I mention it because it is different and new to me as an educator. I don’t know enough to know if our demographics are typical of Anchorage schools or atypical.

I do know enough to know that our school is not typical. As I’ve said repeatedly, we are unique. We are in many ways more challenging and rigorous than other Anchorage secondary schools. The other night I presented our school to a group of 8th graders and their parents from another charter, a K-8. I was asked about our graduation rate. I could feel my face and neck flushing. Our graduation rate is not stellar, a by-product of the aforementioned rigor and the fact that many students come to us because we’re small and safe and not because we are a personal mastery-based system. Anecdotally I know that if students make it to their senior year, credit-wise, most of them graduate. But many of our “seniors” are still sophomores or juniors in terms of credits earned. Some become what we call “super-seniors.” It is one of our biggest opportunities for growth, and a newfound area of personal focus as a school leader, as middle school principals typically don’t analyze graduation rates.

Personal Observation: I know, this is usually the cultural section, but I’ve been thinking lately that this is the first time in my life that I’ve lived alone. I always lived at home, with roommates, or with my wife (and kids). I’ve been doing a sociological inventory on what it means to live alone. Here’s the data over the first six months:

• 1st bottle of dish soap still in use (and I cook frequently)
• 1st bottle of all-purpose cleaner still in use (small apartment)
• 1st container of laundry detergent still in use (but getting close)
• 1st bag of garbage bags
• 1 tank of gas lasts 2.5 – 3 weeks (no kid schlepping and work is a 10 minute drive)
• 2nd bottle of shampoo in use (not much hair and probably TMI)
• 2nd tube of toothpaste in use (again, TMI)
• 974 games of Euchre and 1,443 games of Shanghai played on the iPad (though I’m now back to work on my dissertation)
• 154 days missing my family but loving Alaska

As often as I’ve written about the uniqueness of my school one would think the point has been made. However, over the last month I’ve been taking a closer look at other schools in the Reinventing Schools Coalition. I’ve been wanting to visit other RISC schools to see how they implement the model. What I’ve discovered is that Highland Tech is even more unique than I first thought.

Every other RISC school falls into one of two categories: it is either a private/charter school in the Lower 48 (charter schools in Alaska are public not private) or it is part of an entire district engaged in implementation of the RISC model. Highland Tech is a single, solitary entity – a solo RISC school in a large, urban district. We are the only school like us in a district of over 100 schools. We are unique, not just in the Anchorage School District but in RISC.

The reason I underscore the uniqueness attribute yet again is to once again highlight the challenge of fostering success for students in this singular structure. We lost several students over the Break to either traditional secondary schools or credit recovery programs. It was a shame to see a few of them go, however the majority were truly struggling to succeed, sophomores and juniors who’d barely earned high school credit. These were students who were truthfully better off some place else.

Hence, our conundrum. We believe (I believe) our system benefits all learners, but some students do not rise to the challenge. Do we tell them they’re not welcome? Do we have them (and their parents) sign a contract upon entrance, delineating the responsibilities of each? How do we “counsel out” those students who have no light at the end of their tunnels?

I’ve been a part of a few critical conversations and I’ve realized that we have a responsibility to our constituents to be crystal clear about the level of commitment and self-directedness it takes to succeed at Highland Tech. These conversations should never come as a surprise. If we hold up our end of the bargain, they won’t. We do need a compact of sorts, something that outlines the opportunities for learning the school will provide while clearly spelling out the commitment to learning on the part of the student, as well as the level of support pledged by the parent. I think I just gave myself a homework assignment.

Cultural/meteorological observation: To say this Alaskan winter has been mild is putting it, uh, mildly. There have been about 10 days in December/January when the high in Chicago has been higher than the high in Anchorage. I left for Break with about 2 inches of snow on the ground and came back to about 2 and a half inches. It hasn’t snowed since. I’m not sure if I’m complaining, but I would like to see some snow-capped peaks. Climate change is a myth, though, right?

It’s been a while. Thank you for your patience dear readers (both of you), as holidays, illness, and a bit of ennui have contributed to a lack of blogging. I’ve had bits and pieces of thoughts stirring over the last month so, for the 2015 initial post; Musings, Nagging Questions, and Curt Observations from five months in the Last Frontier…

The Pledge – Alaska state law dictates the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in school daily. However, as in most states, students and staff are not compelled to stand and/or participate. We begin every day with Morning Meeting, an all-school gathering in our Commons, which we begin with the Pledge. As the year has progressed I’ve noticed fewer and fewer students standing. Is it out of principle or teen apathy/defiance?

Attendance – Highland Tech has had a notorious rate of unexcused absences. Why? Absent students who had not been called in were considered unexcused. I had to change that one right away. Now we call until we find the student. I’m told by staff members that many Alaskans don’t place a premium on education because of the availability of jobs that don’t require it. I’d like to think that’s not entirely accurate, however…

Parents have so far not seemed entirely invested in the education of their children. Because we do not have a traditional assessment system we do not have traditional grade reporting. No letter grades and no report cards. We have a high percentage of students who have not demonstrated proficiency in the number of standards they should have by this point in the year. However, I have heard barely a peep from parents concerned about this lack of progress. I recently read an article debunking the myth that parent involvement, socio-economic status, and school financing aren’t as important as the classroom teacher. I find evidence here to support that. My teachers are working tremendously hard, harder than most students. Productivity needs to be reinforced at home.

Weather – I don’t know what to tell you. More snow down there. More freezing temperatures down there. Looks like I picked the right time to move north.

Elvis Costello is one of my favorite singer/songwriters. However, in a late 80’s song he claimed, “Home isn’t where it used to be. Home is anywhere you hang your head.” I love my new school. I’m crazy about the staff and the kids. I’m really getting to know Anchorage, and the surrounding scenery is indescribable. I’ve travelled back to Chicago three times since moving to Alaska. It’s pretty clear. Home isn’t where I hang my head, home is where my wife and kids are.