When Andrew Israelsen searched for a graduate teaching program, he looked north — way north.
The Southern California resident, along with his partner Katie Kroko, selected University of Alaska Southeast’s Master of Arts Teaching program.
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.
But as musicians — he plays double bass, guitar and ukulele — Israelsen and Kroko added another two-week summer course, extending his workload before receiving student teaching placement.
“It was pretty tough, very intense,” he said. “We 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.”
“We 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’ll be performing with the symphony, practicing with the small ensemble of grad students that we’ve got.”
Israelsen and Kroko were among nearly 30 students immersed in what UAS Chancellor Rick Caulfield calls its signature program, one “that offers the most direct and effective way to grow talented Alaskan teachers.”
“The MAT program creates a highly-engaging professional cohort — building strong and enduring relationships, honing skills for teaching excellence and providing experience in ‘real-world’ school settings across Alaska,” Caulfield said. “In these schools, students work in an apprenticeship-like program under the supervision of master teachers — many of whom serve as ongoing professional mentors.”
Israelsen said he and Kroko learned about the UAS through another Juneau teacher Lorrie Heagy at a music teachers’ conference in Los Angeles.
What followed was “months and months of research,” he said. “It’s been a lot of work. That’s been the hard part, but it’s been a pretty good move so far.”
Israelsen’s work outside of his own classrooms eventually takes him into Juneau School District classes where he finds “curious and eager” youth willing to engage.
He spends time at Glacier Valley Elementary School and is part of the Juneau, Alaska Music Matters program.
His days differ. One day he’s teaching general music classes, starting with the basics; other days he’s getting kids started on guitar or double basses.
“We’ve been starting kindergarteners on violins, which is hilarious because they have no idea what they are doing,” he said. “But it’s super cute. That’s what I like. A lot of kids with instruments in their hand.”
He also likes to challenge students with non-traditional experiences with computer-generated music.
“I like music that’s unique, so with little kids, especially elementary school kids, they don’t have biases in what they like yet with new music,” Israelsen said.
“They are not certain about new music. They may not like music they haven’t heard before, but they are still willing to try it. They’re willing to make sounds with their voices; they are willing to sing songs; they are willing to try new instruments.”
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.
“This fast-track degree emulates the best of teacher education programs worldwide,” Caulfield said. “It’s where our most talented bachelor-degree graduates gain knowledge and hands-on experience leading to a master’s degree with excellent professional job opportunities.”
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 — social studies and math — at Thunder Mountain High School.
Won arrived in Juneau through an assignment with AmeriCorps. He spent a year at Yaakoosgé Daakahídi Alternative High School and then after the school year ended, he was assigned to the Zach Gordon Youth Center.
“What I like is how this program stresses placed-based education, especially with Tlingit education and Alaska Native focus,” said Won, who immigrated with his family from Korea. “So the core root of that mission is that students cannot be motivated unless they have something they feel connected to. What I’m 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.”
Won’s 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’s outdoors and periodic weekends in area cabins, Won says he would enjoy post-graduate placement in Juneau.
“I’m also open to teaching in other places in Alaska,” he says. “I know places in the rural and village areas have a high need. My goals and my hopes are to become a teacher in Juneau.”
• Steve Quinn wrote this for UAS.
More Neighbors
Guy About Town: The dangerous road of expression
The Story Sharer: Unwinding with a ukulele
