2026 Speakers

Bio: Maressa Alrich, MSW provides professional development and coaching to school staff teams across the state of Alaska. Areas of expertise include schoolwide and individual trauma-engaged practices, personal and community resilience, social emotional learning, and restorative approaches. Maressa is passionate about sharing evidence-based strategies to improve wellbeing for students, staff, families, and communities.

Bio: Dr. Andrews is the founder and owner of A Step Forward Counseling and Consulting, LLC where she provides culturally responsive, resilience focused mental health services. Dr. Andrews is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Alaska Pacific University. In addition, she serves as the chairperson of the Alaska Statewide Suicide Prevention Council and is a member of the Alaska Mental Health Board. Additionally, she is on the Alaska Psychological Association’s Board of Directors. Futhermore, Dr. Andrews is a monthly host on Alaska Public Media's Line One: Your Health Connection.

Dr. Andrews is a licensed mental health provider. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and went on to earn both her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Counseling Psychology from Alaska Pacific University. Her research focuses on resilience and protective factors associated with suicide prevention, with a strong emphasis on integrating culturally informed frameworks and supporting diverse communities.

Dr. Andrews has served as a proud Alaska Army National Guard soldier since 2006 in various roles such as a Victim Advocate, Master Resilience Trainer, Suicide Prevention Specialist, and an Equal Opportunity Specialist. Across her professional and military roles, she remains committed to advancing mental health equity, evidence-based approaches to healing and wellbeing.

Bio: Lisa Barrois is an Attending Licensed Psychologist at Seattle Children's Hospital and former school psychologist. Dr. Barrois’ clinical work focuses on treatment of anxiety in an intensive outpatient program setting. As a member of the Seattle Children’s Hospital/University of Washington School-Based Implementation, Partnership, Advocacy, Consultation and Training Team (SCH/UW School IMPACT Team), Dr. Barrois provides clinical consultation and training to therapists and staff in school-based health centers as well as supports public health initiatives related to school mental health.

Bio: Diana Piitsighaq Boggess is Siberian Yupik from Nome Alaska. She currently lives and works on Dena’ina land in Anchorage Alaska. Diana has been working for the Anchorage School District for the last 15 years in various roles and is now a Coordinator for the Indigenous Ed. Dept. for the Ts’iłq’u Program.

Bio: Chookán was born and raised in Sheet'ká (Sitka), and has a background in cultural education. She now works with the Association of Alaska School Boards, supporting schools in elevating youth voice and leadership across the state. Chookán supports districts by facilitating dialogues, and trains future facilitators to host family and school conversations. She also works with youth across Alaska during AASB’s annual Youth Leadership Institute and the Youth Advocacy Institute.

Bio: Montana Brown, Ed.S., is a School Health Senior Specialist at Action for Healthy Kids, where she leads district-level technical assistance, wellness policy evaluation, and school health infrastructure work across state partnerships. A former teacher and school administrator, she holds a principal's license and an Ed.S. in Leadership for Educational Organizations. Montana brings practitioner experience directly into her work with districts, helping schools build sustainable, whole-child health systems.

Bio: Beth has spent the last 35 years in education as a teacher, administrator and instructional coach. She is also the author of “Love Your Job Longer.”

Bio: Dr. Brown-Chidsey is Associate Professor of School Psychology at the University of Alaska Anchorage. She was a classroom teacher and special educator for 10 years prior to earning a Ph.D. in School Psychology and Special Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research focuses on multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS). Dr. Brown-Chidsey’s specific research studies have examined evidence-based assessment practices, national and state policies regarding identification of specific learning disability and dyslexia, teachers’ experiences implementing an MTSS, and Tier 1 core instruction practices. Dr. Brown-Chidsey has published numerous books and peer-reviewed articles and consulted to schools and districts across the U.S.

Bio: Legislative Aide turned Public Health Advocate Jen Chikoyak has been fighting for a healthier Alaska for the last two decades. When she isn’t pursuing policies, Jen can often be found remodeling her home, pestering her husband, or spending time with her three dogs. Next time you see her ask about the dog themed bathroom!

Bio: Audrey Coble is a research professional with the University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Human Development. Currently, their work centers on youth mental health interventions in schools, supported employment initiatives for individuals with disabilities, and educating scientists about accessible, collaborative, community based participatory research methods

Bio: Raymond Cornelio is a third-grade teacher at Brevig Mission School who brings more than 10 years of international teaching experience to his work with students. Recently featured in Global Filipino Magazine, Raymond is beginning his principal internship this year and has emerged as a promising educational leader. Known for his energy, creativity, and commitment to excellence, he inspires students and colleagues alike through his ability to approach challenges with grace, optimism, and a deep belief in the potential of every learner.

Bio: Ginger Crockett has served as an educator and educational leader in rural Alaska for nearly three decades, including 15 years as principal of Brevig Mission School. She and her husband have raised four children in the community, and she is recognized for her work in schoolwide social-emotional learning, restorative practices, student leadership, and innovative approaches to building positive school culture in rural schools. Ginger was named the 2025 Alaska Region I Principal of the Year and currently serves as Alaska's National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Distinguished Principal for 2025–2026.

Bio: Meghan Crow, LCSW, has been a school social worker with the Lower Kuskokwim School District (LKSD) for the past 28 years. She currently serves as the Lead LKSD School Social Worker and supervises social workers at 9 other LKSD sites. Meghan also serves as her District’s McKinney Vento Liaison, Foster Care Point of Contact and Sources of Strength Coordinator. Meghan is a founding member of the Alaska Association of School Social Workers (AASSW) and was recently awarded the 2025-26 Alaska School Social Worker of the Year. Building resilience in youth remains her passion and is the “why” behind her work.

Bio: Stacy, a lifelong Alaskan, is passionate about advocating for and educating the next generation. Since 2020, she has served as the principal of Sayéik: Gastineau Community School, a small but mighty Ocean school dedicated to developing students who are thoughtful stewards of the land.

Bio: Dr. Doss is a clinically licensed psychologist and nationally certified school psychologist that has worked in schools and private practice. In her current position, she specializes in providing expert guidance and support in school safety systems and accounting for the mental health and well-being of students and staff.

Bio: Matt Eide, Ed.D., is the training, coaching, and technical support lead for Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest and a Managing Senior Education Improvement Specialist at Marzano Research. Matt works with practitioners and policymakers across the Northwest, helping them use data and evidence to improve outcomes for students. This work included a partnership with AK DEED to help Alaskan alternative schools improve student engagement. He is a former teacher, school administrator, and district leader.

Bio: Riley Fitting is an injury prevention epidemiologist at the Alaska Division of Public Health, Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, and lives and works on the land of the Dena’ina. Riley’s work is focused on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) surveillance, suicide epidemiology, and studying injuries that resulted from violence, poisoning, transportation, and falling. His ACEs surveillance work includes analyzing data from the Overcoming ACEs with Resilience Survey, which measured protective and adverse childhood events and adult health outcomes in Alaska and developing the Alaska Childhood Experiences Data Resource Center. Riley’s other projects include maintaining the Alaska Suicide Dashboard, writing scientific publications about injuries across the state, and adapting large language models for injury data analysis.

Bio: Mike Franklin is the Superintendent of the Aleutians East Borough School District. His understanding of resilience has developed through hands-on work as a teacher, coach, high school principal, superintendent, EMT, commercial fisherman, and father of two sons. Throughout his career, he has supported students, staff, families, and communities through trauma, conflict, emergencies, and periods of significant change.

Mike previously developed and taught health and advisory programs and led a resilience program for wildland firefighters. He continues to serve as an EMT and EMS Director for the City of Sand Point. His current work focuses on strengthening reading systems, supporting educators, and helping schools build the relationships, skills, and sense of belonging that allow students and adults to meet challenges and move forward.

Bio: Megan Frye, PhD is a Licensed Psychologist and Nationally Certified School Psychologist. She is the Co-Director of Training and Lead of Consultation in School-Based Behavioral Health at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Dr. Frye’s work focuses on decreasing disparities in access to behavioral healthcare by integrating services into schools and primary care settings. She enjoys providing clinical consultation and training to behavioral health staff working in schools and believes strongly in the power of schools to support the social and emotional wellbeing of children.

Clinically, she specializes in the assessment and treatment of developmental, behavioral, and emotional challenges with an emphasis on anxiety and autism spectrum disorders. She leads innovation efforts in integrating autism diagnostics into primary care and school settings in the broader WWAMI region.

Bio: Dr. Garcia is a Philippine-born, Alaska-grown Professor of Public Health at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). He is a recipient of multiple awards in public health, community service, and diversity. Dr. Garcia's research interests include health promotion and disease prevention, health communication, racial/ethnic health disparities, and social determinants of health.

Bio: Ms. Gianna Giusti has been an educator in Alaska for 20 years and has dedicated the past 12 years to serving as the K-5 School Counselor at Hermon Hutchens Elementary School. She holds both a Master of Arts in Teaching and a Master of Education in School Counseling.

In 2019, Ms. Giusti served as President of the Alaska School Counselor Association Board. A passionate advocate for community wellness, she currently co-chairs the Sound Wellness Alliance (SWAN) Board and the Advocates for Victims of Violence (AVV) Board. She was recognized in 2023 when she was honored as the AKSCA School Counselor of the Year.

Ms. Giusti is proud to represent Valdez as a member of the Providence Foundation Board, where she continues to champion education and wellness initiatives.As an endurance athlete, Ms. Giusti embodies her belief that "Anything is possible," inspiring those around her with her determination and positivity.

Bio: Lori Grassgreen is the Director of the Conditions for Learning Team at the Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB). For the past twelve years, she has led statewide efforts to strengthen school climate, support trauma-engaged schools, promote student well-being, foster meaningful family engagement, and improve educational outcomes across Alaska.

Over the course of a 30-year career in education, prevention, and community development, Lori has taught high school, partnered with schools and Tribal organizations, and championed student and family voice to create learning environments where all students can thrive. Before joining AASB, she served as Prevention Director for the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, where she led initiatives to strengthen families, cultivate youth leadership, and advance community-based prevention efforts.

Bio: Dr. Layton Graves is an education economist and affiliate faculty for the Interdisciplinary PhD program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Business and Security Management. Layton served as an Active-Duty logistics officer in the United States Air Force for seven years with duty stations in Alaska, Washington DC, and New Mexico. He received his doctorate from the Johns Hopkins University, where he now instructs international leaders on teaching and learning theories. In his free time, Layton enjoys making ice cream and spending time outside with his family.

Bio: Douglas Gray is the Professional Development Director for the Alaska Staff Development Network (ASDN), where he leads statewide professional learning initiatives that support educators, school leaders, and districts across Alaska. With more than 30 years of experience as a teacher, principal, special education director, district administrator, and university instructor, he is committed to advancing high-quality instruction, effective leadership, and student success. Doug works towards building collaborative partnerships and designing practical, research-based professional learning that helps educators improve outcomes for all students.

Bio: Hannah (she/her) is the School Climate and Trauma-Engaged Schools Coordinator with AASB. A former classroom teacher and public health professional, she partners with schools to create safe, supportive learning environments where staff and students can thrive. Hannah designs and facilitates professional learning on school climate, trauma-engaged practices, and the impact of stress on learning, helping schools build cultures of safety, connection, and belonging.

Bio: Dr. Hattie Harvey is a Professor and Program Director of the MS in School Psychology - Specialist program at the University of Alaska Anchorage and the Program Coordinator for the Graduate Certificate in Children's Mental Health. She is the founder of the new school psychology graduate program, which launched in Fall 2026. Her teaching and research focuses on early intervention for challenging behaviors and social-emotional development, collaboration and consultation in schools, and research methods aimed to support the use of data-based decision making. Dr. Harvey co-led the development and integration of the PREPaRE curriculum into the graduate school psychology training program.

Dr. Harvey has practiced as a School Psychologist in the Anchorage School District, has served as the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant at Cook Inlet Native Head Start, and continues to be involved in consultation work across Alaska school districts and Head Start programs in supporting early childhood mental health.

Dr. Harvey oversees numerous U.S. Department of Education personnel preparation grants, including Project BLENDS and Project iSPARRC, both aimed at increasing the capacity of professionals prepared to provide interdisciplinary, culturally-responsive, and family-centered intervention services to children and youth. She is the author of several peer-reviewed journal articles on topics including using behavioral function-based interventions, supports for youth with FASDs, early childhood assessment and intervention, and the use of family-centered practices in early childhood settings.

Bio: After 30 years in education—29 of them in the classroom— Monika recently began a new chapter as an elementary school librarian. She loves to share her passion for reading with students from kindergarten through sixth grade and help them discover books they'll love.

When she’s not in the library, you'll likely find her in the garden or exploring a favorite trail.

Bio: Dr. Patti Hershfeldt is a Youth Engagement Specialist and National Training and Technical Assistance Facilitator with more than 15 years of experience supporting schools in the implementation of PBIS/MTSS. She co-chairs a national high school network that convenes implementers and researchers for ongoing collaboration, problem solving, and continuous improvement. Her professional expertise includes equity, classroom systems, and youth voice. She is also a former high school special education teacher with 15 years of classroom experience.

Bio: Dometrius Hill was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. As a “military brat,” Dometrius was afforded the opportunity to live in many places throughout the United States and Cuba. After graduating from High School in Pittsburg, Texas, he enlisted in the United States Navy. While in the Navy, he was accepted to and graduated from the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training (BOOST) Program in San Diego, CA. Dometrius was fortunate to have attended several higher education institutions (University of Texas at Austin, Prairie View A&M University, and a course at Rice University) during his undergraduate years as a member of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC). Dometrius received his Bachelor of Science from Prairie View A&M University, with a major in Journalism and minors in Math and Naval Science. Upon his graduation from Prairie View A&M University, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps (USMC). While serving as a commissioned officer in the USMC, he earned his Master of Science degree from Troy State University. Dometrius has always been associated with teaching of some kind. He has been a certified American Taekwondo Association (ATA) instructor since the age of sixteen. He has held several posts in the service that required him to instruct his fellow sailors and Marines. While developing and overseeing a curriculum-based martial arts program for one of his students at Texas A&M University-Commerce, he was admitted to the graduate school to work on a doctorate in education degree. It was shortly after being accepted to the graduate school that he began his employment for Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. He has served as the Dean of Students, the Dean Academic Success and professor for Tyler Junior College. He later went on to serve as the Associate Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness and Research for Jarvis Christian College and then served as the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs for Lee College in Baytown, Texas. While at Lee College he created the only accredited college Martial Arts degree in the country. He then went on to serve as the Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Southern University at Shreveport Louisiana (SUSLA). He is currently serving as the principal for two charter schools Premier High School and Texas Works in Longview and Tyler, Texas. He has created a Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway for Songahm Taekwondo instruction that has been adopted by Southeast Island School District (SISD) in Whale Pass, Alaska and has been submitted to Texas Education Association (TEA) for an accredited pathway in Texas. In addition to his career in higher education, Dometrius is a multi-martial arts club owner with the American Taekwondo Association (ATA), a registered Amateur Mixed Martial Arts fight promoter in the state of Texas, and currently holds the rank of seventh-degree black and the title of Senior Master instructor in the ATA. Dometrius believes that all things are possible through Jesus Christ and is blessed to have an amazing and supportive family.

Bio: Former Alaska State Commissioner of Education Dr. Shirley Holloway, who was instrumental in developing the FLARE program in collaboration with University of Texas at Austin, and University of Oregon, will share its development, implementation, and outcomes. The session includes a demonstration of the FLARE program, followed by a question-and-answer period and practical resources for participants. This presentation aligns with the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development's mission by providing evidence-based tools and leadership that support student well-being while advancing NAMI's mission to reduce the stigma of mental illness through education, advocacy, and community engagement.

Bio: Kacy Lou is LPSD’s Itinerant Student Services Coordinator. She has called the Lake Clark / Iliamna Lake area home since 2015 and is overjoyed to be working her dream job with Lake & Peninsula School District. She is the proud momma of three and is also an avid reader, writer, and novice cross-country skier. Kacy Lou has been working in education for over a seventeen years and has taught English and several electives, but found a passion for melding student support and school administration after serving as a high school principal in Colorado for several years. She received her Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning – Student Services from Liberty University, her Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership from University of Alaska – Anchorage, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Indigenous Education and Mental Health at the University of Alaska - Fairbanks. Kacy Lou was named the Alaska School Counseling Advocate of the Year in 2025!

Bio: Gordon Iya grew up in a bilingual household, surrounded by strong cultural ties, the very same households impacted by generational trauma and all the ill effects associated with it. Childhood was very rocky, but traditional ways were instilled with perseverance.

Bio: Lauren Kelsey, MPH is a Public Health Specialist with the State of Alaska Physical Activity & Nutrition Unit. She provides training and technical assistance to schools, tribal organizations, and other partners to implement strong wellness policies, food and beverage policies and other systems changes to support making the healthy choice the easy choice for Alaskans. She is the Project Director for the Alaska Healthy Schools Project, a 5-year Cooperative Agreement (July 2023-June 2028) awarded by the CDC Healthy Schools and currently working on an Alaskan-ized Presidential Fitness Program.

Bio: Sakshi Khurana is a clinician at Alaska Behavioral Health Child & Family Clinic, a second-year PsyD student at Alaska Pacific University, and a Research Fellow at the Harvard Lab for Youth Mental Health. Her current research work involves developing and testing artificial intelligence tools in the IES-funded meta-analysis of school-based mental health interventions. Sakshi holds a master’s in clinical psychology from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in India and a master’s in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, specializing in prevention science and practice. Her research interests include using artificial intelligence for mental health care, specifically for suicide prevention among children and youth. While not at work, Sakshi enjoys cooking, singing, and participating in her SGI Buddhist activities.

Bio: Dr. Jennie Knutson is an Term Assistant Professor of School Psychology at the University of Alaska Anchorage with 28 years of PK–12 experience as a school psychologist and district administrator in Alaska. Prior to joining UAA, she served as the Senior Director of Mental Health and Student Support for the Anchorage School District. Dr. Knutson is a passionate advocate for Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and has led initiatives in the science of reading, evidence-based assessment and decision-making, specific learning disability identification, social-emotional learning (SEL), integrated school mental health, and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). She is enthusiastic about contributing to UAA's new graduate program in School Psychology, which is preparing the next generation of school psychologists to serve students and communities across Alaska.

Bio: Ella MacRae is a current MS in School Psychology Student at UAA. She grew up in California, moved to Washington while obtaining her bachelor's degree in psychology at Whitman College, and recently moved to Alaska for the start of her masters program. While at UAA she is working as the Graduate Research Assistant on Project iSPARRC, aimed to expand school psychological services across the state of Alaska; serving as a Community-engaged Student Assistant on the Alaska Statewide Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Collaborative; and is the Cohort 1 Student Representative for the School Psychology Program.

Bio: Jess has been rooted in education since 2011, but her move to Alaska in 2019 truly shaped her approach to school safety. As a School Safety Coordinator, Jess has spent the last several years traveling across the state, listening to educators and families from our busiest hubs to our most remote villages. This journey has given her a profound understanding of the unique safety and climate challenges facing our schools today.

Bio: Dr. Joy Chavez Mapaye is a professor in the Department of Journalism and Public Communications at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Mapaye teaches media literacy, health communication and strategic communications. Her research agenda involves the intersection of media and public health, including how media shapes our lives and relationships. In 2022, Mapaye, along with members of the Alaska Public Health Information Response Team, received the Alaska Community Service Award for Health from the Alaska Public Health Association. The award recognizes an organization, business or group making a significant contribution to improving the health of Alaskans.

Bio: Rebecca Menzia is the Ts'iłq'u Project Coordinator with the Association of Alaska School Boards, supporting family engagement, cultural connection, and student well-being through community-based programming. Her work focuses on helping schools and families build stronger relationships through culturally responsive workshops, social-emotional learning, and practical support.

Rebecca has a background in education, music, program coordination, and community-based learning. She is especially interested in creating welcoming spaces where families, schools, and community partners can connect in meaningful, hands-on ways.

Bio: Kami Moore, serves as the School Climate and Connectedness Manager for the Association of Alaska School Boards. An advocate for Alaska’s youth, Kami has spent 17 years working at the intersection of education and public health in Alaska, and is passionate about building connected, resilient school communities.

Bio: Rod Morrison is the Superintendent of the Southeast Island School District, where he has served for the past three years. With over two decades of experience in education, he is committed to creating positive school climates and ensuring all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Before becoming superintendent, Rod served as Principal of George H. Gilson Middle School in Valdez, Alaska. During his tenure, he also took on district leadership roles, including Activities Director, and helped guide major school improvement efforts. His leadership has been recognized with honors such as Alaska State Secondary Principal of the Year.

Rod has been an active leader at the state level, serving as President of the Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals and President of the Alaska Council of School Administrators. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences and Education and a master’s degree in Educational Technology.

He currently serves on the SERRC (Southeast Regional Resource Center) Board, supporting regional collaboration and professional learning across Southeast Alaska.

Rod is passionate about creating hope and believes in building inclusive, supportive environments where students and staff can thrive.

Bio: David's combined 20 years of experience working with youth in direct care and administration in both the private and public sector has equipped him with a unique lens through which to see youth in Alaska and beyond. He was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, and has had the privilege to live in that state's rural communities, as well as Northern California. Throughout his career, the training he has received from some of the top youth and experiential education professionals in the U.S. and Canada provides him with a solid understanding of what youth need to succeed. David brings a fresh perspective on supporting and guiding youth through their life and career paths; understanding that life is a journey in which growth and learning have no end.

Bio: Claudia is a graduate Eastern Oregon University with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology, with a minor in Gender Studies. She also has her Master of Science Degree in Sociology from Portland State University. After receiving her Master’s, she taught undergraduate classes at Eastern Oregon University. Although she enjoyed teaching, Claudia wanted to work in a field where she could feel that she was making a real difference. This brought her to Alaska, where she spent over 12 years working to engage youth and communities in leadership and advocacy work.

Bio: Bea Pullekines serves as the Youth Specialist with the State of Alaska Tobacco Prevention and Control Program. Through this program, she works with partners across the state to implement evidence-based tobacco prevention efforts. She also provides focused assistance with youth tobacco prevention to statewide partners.

Bio: Former Alaska State Commissioner of Education Dr. Shirley Holloway, who was instrumental in developing the FLARE program in collaboration with University of Texas at Austin, and University of Oregon, will share its development, implementation, and outcomes. The session includes a demonstration of the FLARE program, followed by a question-and-answer period and practical resources for participants. This presentation aligns with the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development's mission by providing evidence-based tools and leadership that support student well-being while advancing NAMI's mission to reduce the stigma of mental illness through education, advocacy, and community engagement.

Ann Ringstad, a lifelong Alaskan, serves as Executive Director of NAMI Alaska, the statewide affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, leading efforts to end the stigma surrounding mental health conditions. Drawing on an extensive career in government relations, advocacy, fundraising, and nonprofit leadership, she brings strategic expertise to building partnerships and advancing public policy. She believes that strong relationships are the foundation of meaningful change, especially in Alaska, where connected communities create lasting impact.

Bio: Adrianne Schwartz was born and raised in Petersburg, where her family has lived for seven generations. She spent her early years commercial fishing with her family and later operated a Dungeness crab and gillnet vessel. She earned a BA in Education from Western Washington University in 1996, continuing to fish during summers and working in restaurants during the academic year. After graduating, she worked as a substitute teacher and held various roles in restaurant operations. She eventually returned to Petersburg, where she owned and operated Northern Lights Restaurant before relocating to Juneau. There, she served as the Food Service Director for the Juneau School District for seventeen years. While with the Juneau School District she completed a MBA in 2017 and received the 2019 Alaska and Northwest Regional School Nutrition Association (SNA) Director of the Year. More recently, she worked at DEED on the ESEA team as the Title II-A Program Manager and McKinney-Vento State Coordinator. She now serves as the Alaska Nutrition Programs Manager.

Bio: Leslie has been in the field of public education, K - 12, for over 35 years, serving students in Alaska for 22 of those. Leslie holds two Master's degrees and has served students in both areas of expertise: special education and school counseling. Currently retired from student-based work, Leslie now works for SERRC, Alaska’s Educational Resource Center. Under the AK Safe Grant, she serves Alaska's school districts in consultative and training roles covering a wide variety of school safety related topics, including comprehensive school safety planning, culturally responsive restorative practices, and Mental Health First Aid.

Bio: Linda Self is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist with 25 years of experience in the Anchorage School District. For the past 11 years, she has served as School Psychology Lead, providing leadership and support to the district’s 46 school psychologists and interns. In this role, she provides mentorship, coordinates professional development, and collaborates with district leadership on system-level initiatives designed to improve outcomes for students and schools. Her professional interests include developing sustainable districtwide crisis response systems, strengthening the delivery of comprehensive school psychological services, and addressing the school psychology workforce shortage through training pipelines that recruit, prepare, and support future school psychologists in meeting the evolving needs of schools.

Bio: Patrick Sidmore joined the DEED team three years ago coming from the Division of Public Health where he was the Healthy Schools Specialist. He has also worked for the association of Alaska School Boards and the Alaska Mental Health Board. His focus is on Title IV-A, the Safe Children’s Act, and other school health and safety related topics. He has worked with DEED health and safety team for a decade, developing the trauma-engaged schools’ resources and other initiatives. He has presented on the topics of resilience more than 270 times across Alaska. He holds degrees in clinical social work and in economics as well as studying elementary education.

Bio: Rebecca Stallworth is the Superintendent of the Klawock City School District in Southeast Alaska and has nearly 20 years of experience in education as a teacher, school counselor, principal, and district administrator. She serves on the Alaska Resource Family Advisory Board and is also a resource family, bringing both professional and personal perspectives to supporting foster and vulnerable youth. Rebecca is passionate about creating school systems where every student feels seen, safe, supported, and connected through strong relationships, belonging, and community partnerships.

Bio: Emily Stockey (she/her) is a Research Associate III at Strategic Prevention Solutions (SPS), a public health research and evaluation firm based in Juneau, Alaska. With nearly a decade of experience, she specializes in community-based research and evaluation addressing sexual violence, domestic violence, teen dating violence, mental health, and substance use, using implementation science to help communities turn evidence-based strategies into sustainable action. She holds a B.A. from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and is pursuing an M.P.H. at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health as a Bloomberg American Health Initiative Fellow in the focus area of Violence.

Since 2022, Mrs. Stockey and her colleagues at SPS have worked with the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) to provide evaluation, planning, and technical assistance support for the Alaska Safe Children's Act (ASCA), including monitoring and evaluating the state-developed ASCA curriculum for students in grades 7-12. The SPS team collaborates with DEED to host the ASCA Community of Practice, a statewide group of educators who meet monthly to learn from one another and strengthen implementation of the ASCA; registration is open to educators statewide who wish to join. The SPS team has also created numerous infographic resources and tools to raise awareness and improve the way districts and educators implement the ASCA, including implementation guides. Together, these efforts focus on increasing implementation, strengthening school safety, deepening community and family engagement, and equipping students across Alaska with the skills and behaviors to live safe, healthy, and full lives.

Bio: Waverli Stowe was born in Kodiak and raised in the Mat-Su Valley. She graduated from UAA in 2015 with a BA in International Studies with a focus on International Development and East Asia. While at UAA, she worked with Oxfam America and Heifer International to promote food security and sustainability. She worked for a time in human services in a domestic violence shelter and for OCS. Waverli also has about four years of experience working in higher education. In 2022, she graduated with a Master of Public Administration from UAS. She has worked with DEED since 2022 and with CNP since 2023.

Bio: Steven Tedeschi, M.A., is a researcher at Marzano Research and provides training, coaching, and technical assistance through the Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest (REL Northwest). He partners with educators, school leaders, and state education agencies across the Northwest to help them use data and evidence to improve student outcomes. His work includes collaborating with the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (AK DEED) to support alternative schools in strengthening student engagement. Steven is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and former teacher who taught in tribal, charter, and traditional public schools before joining Marzano Research.

Bio: Molissa Udevitz grew up in Anchorage and has worked in education for over 10 years, including as a naturalist, museum educator, and cross-cultural youth program manager. In her current role as a Family Engagement Coordinator with the Association of Alaska School Boards, she helps schools deepen their work and relationships with families. She draws on her experience in youth development, culturally responsive teaching, community building, and facilitation to support stronger school-family partnerships.

Bio: Anthony White is an educator based in Kodiak with over a decade of classroom experience in creative technology applications. He currently serves as the Computer Science Content Specialist for AKDEED, where he supports districts across the state in advancing computer science/digital literacy education and integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence into teaching and learning.

Bio: Conrad Woodhead, M.Ed. is the Director of Career and Technical Education and Residential Programs for the Lower Yukon School District, where he leads Kusilvak Career Academy (KCA), Alaska's DEED FY25 Culturally Responsive Career and Technical Education Program of the Year.

With 25 years of experience in Alaska education spanning both rural and road system schools, Woodhead specializes in designing innovative systems that expand access to career-connected learning through statewide partnerships. He is the architect of the KCA Consortium Model, which brings together K–12, university programs, industry, nonprofit organizations, and workforce partners to create sustainable pathways connecting education and Alaska's workforce.

Woodhead is currently pursuing an interdisciplinary Ph.D. at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where his research focuses on residential program safety systems that support students from rural Alaska.