PLEASE LOOK AT TOGIAK

[marymatt718]

Hello all you Newbies!

This is a totally SHAMELESS plug, but what the heck. This forum is to share information and opinions, right? Well, here's mine!

I am writing this to ask you all to consider applying for one of our two positions still open in Togiak, which is a secret jewel in the Bristol Bay area of Alaska. I am a teacher here, not an administrator or a human resources person, so I can tell you, straight up, what a great school we have here.
We are seeking another elementary teacher for either first grade or Kindergarten (we had two positions open and the one person hired can do either, so you have a choice, too) and we need a Counselor. I am part of the Togiak Teacher Welcome Committee and I want to sing the praises of our little community and school. The following is an excerpt about Togiak that is included in our Welcome to Togiak packet:

"Togiak, the village proper is a fishing village of about 820 people, not a pretty little fishing village for tourists, but a working fishing village where the residents spend a lot of sleepless hours during the summer fishing season supporting their families. The tundra around it is stunning; you will probably arrive when the Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) is in bloom.

Togiak is considered a Bush community, part of the off-the-road system. If you aren’t familiar with Alaska, that means there are no roads connecting Togiak to anywhere else. The only way to get here is by plane or boat.

Togiak School has about 225 K-12 students, is almost 100% Yupik, and is the largest school in the Southwest Region School District.

The pet-friendly teacher housing is about a quarter of a mile from the school (two buildings, Building B and Building C, with four 2-bedroom units each, shared laundry facilities in each building). The non-pet unit (Building D, four 2-bedroom apartments with in-unit laundry) is across the parking lot from the school. Rent is $900 for each unit. If you have a roommate, you each pay $450. This includes all utilities except phone, satellite TV and Internet, which you must arrange for and pay for yourself. There are no units smaller or larger than these two bedroom units here in Togiak.

The teacher housing is fairly new and is spacious and comfortable. The two pet-friendly units were constructed in 2005 and the non-pet unit was constructed in 2010. Each apartment has 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, a “mudroom,” and an open-concept kitchen/living room combination. The apartments are furnished with basic furnishings such as a couch, a chair, end tables, beds, some dressers, and very few lamps. The kitchen is furnished with a table and four chairs, but no dishes, cooking supplies or small appliances. There is a stove and a refrigerator in the kitchen and a chest freezer in the mudroom. The non-pet apartments, which are newer, have their own laundry facilities and the pet-friendly units have shared laundry facilities on the bottom floor between the two apartments on that floor. Everything else will be for you to bring…all linens, dishes, food, cookware, kitchen utensils, small appliances, etc. (Thank Heaven for Amazon!!)"

So what makes us so special? Well, I'm biased so you're going to have to take this with a grain of salt, but here goes:

1. The weather. Yes we can have some REALLY cold days, but basically the weather is very pleasant. There is a possibility of up to 100 inches of snow, but that hasn't been the case for the past two years. We're probably due, but the teacher housing is within easy-walking distance of the school, so it's not a big deal. If it's really bad out (icy or snowy), our Principal tends to come by several times in the morning to pick up teachers who might not want to walk. You will need a pair of ice cleats, but Amazon has those.

2.We are on the water, so we get nice breezes most of the time during "bug season," so you aren't eaten alive every day. The water also tends to keep our temperatures more bearable during the winter...no 60 below here. The coldest I've seen it here in two years is a 34 below windchill.

3. The tundra is beautiful. We are tundra, so there are very few trees, but we are surrounded by mountains and the views are gorgeous.

4. The kids are awesome. Yes, there are always a few problem kids (and problem parents!), but mostly they're just regular kids. We re starting to raise our expectations and we'd really like you to consider being a part of that. (However, if you are going to buy into that tripe that they can't learn to read or do higher math or any of those other empty claims, please go elsewhere. We have been with these kids and we have seen them meet or exceed the expectations we set, so we keep raising the bar, and expect that of you too. No preconceived notions please!)

5. The staff is awesome. There are about 20 teachers here, and 20 different personalities, but we all work well together and we respect each other. You will not find a more generous and welcoming set of teachers anywhere (I did say I was biased!) We are the only school in our district that even has a welcoming committee.

6. The pay is decent. Okay, it's not on the level of North Slope, but we do actually get sunrises (which are glorious) in the winter, and sunsets in the summer. It is a reasonable salary, and hey, money doesn't buy happiness. It's still a better salary that most of the lower 48. I know, I moved here from Texas, and I was in a high-paying district in Texas (Houston).

7. We are a delivery hub, so mail and cargo service is very dependable. We also have not one, but TWO stores in our village. The smaller one actually has a hardware store section. Our AC was named Store of the Year for all the AC's in the entire state of Alaska this past year.

8. Free salmon! Our Vice Principal has a permit to set out a net near a spawning creek, so, if you help, you can stock up on fresh Alaska salmon. He usually sets up a schedule for those who want to go and help. (You learn to clean salmon at our District's New Teacher In-service, which is pretty awesome.)

I could go on, but I'm afraid the Forum will reject my post if it gets too long. Just, please, when you are looking at Alaska, don't just look at the high-paying districts or the tourist area villages. Consider our little hidden gem of a village. It's not perfect, but what village is? It is a pleasant little community in a pleasant area of southwestern Alaska. No drama, just nice-living. Contact our Superintendent, Dave Piazza, or our Assistant Superintendent, Steve Noonkesser, in our district office. Select us on your ATP application, AND email, AND follow-up with a call. If you aren't what we need this year (a K-1 teacher and a Counselor) at least watch us for the future. We want good teachers, and we think you might be overlooking us because we don't have the drama attached to our location that others do. Honestly, if you are looking to go to the Alaska Bush, I can't imagine a better school than ours! (Biased, yeah, but really!)

D. M. Matthews
Togiak School
Togiak, AK

[Bushteachers]

Hello all you Newbies!

This is a totally SHAMELESS plug, but what the heck. This forum is to share information and opinions, right? Well, here's mine!

I am writing this to ask you all to consider applying for one of our two positions still open in Togiak, which is a secret jewel in the Bristol Bay area of Alaska. I am a teacher here, not an administrator or a human resources person, so I can tell you, straight up, what a great school we have here.
We are seeking another elementary teacher for either first grade or Kindergarten (we had two positions open and the one person hired can do either, so you have a choice, too) and we need a Counselor. I am part of the Togiak Teacher Welcome Committee and I want to sing the praises of our little community and school. The following is an excerpt about Togiak that is included in our Welcome to Togiak packet:

"Togiak, the village proper is a fishing village of about 820 people, not a pretty little fishing village for tourists, but a working fishing village where the residents spend a lot of sleepless hours during the summer fishing season supporting their families. The tundra around it is stunning; you will probably arrive when the Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) is in bloom.

Togiak is considered a Bush community, part of the off-the-road system. If you aren’t familiar with Alaska, that means there are no roads connecting Togiak to anywhere else. The only way to get here is by plane or boat.

Togiak School has about 225 K-12 students, is almost 100% Yupik, and is the largest school in the Southwest Region School District.

The pet-friendly teacher housing is about a quarter of a mile from the school (two buildings, Building B and Building C, with four 2-bedroom units each, shared laundry facilities in each building). The non-pet unit (Building D, four 2-bedroom apartments with in-unit laundry) is across the parking lot from the school. Rent is $900 for each unit. If you have a roommate, you each pay $450. This includes all utilities except phone, satellite TV and Internet, which you must arrange for and pay for yourself. There are no units smaller or larger than these two bedroom units here in Togiak.

The teacher housing is fairly new and is spacious and comfortable. The two pet-friendly units were constructed in 2005 and the non-pet unit was constructed in 2010. Each apartment has 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, a “mudroom,” and an open-concept kitchen/living room combination. The apartments are furnished with basic furnishings such as a couch, a chair, end tables, beds, some dressers, and very few lamps. The kitchen is furnished with a table and four chairs, but no dishes, cooking supplies or small appliances. There is a stove and a refrigerator in the kitchen and a chest freezer in the mudroom. The non-pet apartments, which are newer, have their own laundry facilities and the pet-friendly units have shared laundry facilities on the bottom floor between the two apartments on that floor. Everything else will be for you to bring…all linens, dishes, food, cookware, kitchen utensils, small appliances, etc. (Thank Heaven for Amazon!!)"

So what makes us so special? Well, I'm biased so you're going to have to take this with a grain of salt, but here goes:

1. The weather. Yes we can have some REALLY cold days, but basically the weather is very pleasant. There is a possibility of up to 100 inches of snow, but that hasn't been the case for the past two years. We're probably due, but the teacher housing is within easy-walking distance of the school, so it's not a big deal. If it's really bad out (icy or snowy), our Principal tends to come by several times in the morning to pick up teachers who might not want to walk. You will need a pair of ice cleats, but Amazon has those.

2.We are on the water, so we get nice breezes most of the time during "bug season," so you aren't eaten alive every day. The water also tends to keep our temperatures more bearable during the winter...no 60 below here. The coldest I've seen it here in two years is a 34 below windchill.

3. The tundra is beautiful. We are tundra, so there are very few trees, but we are surrounded by mountains and the views are gorgeous.

4. The kids are awesome. Yes, there are always a few problem kids (and problem parents!), but mostly they're just regular kids. We re starting to raise our expectations and we'd really like you to consider being a part of that. (However, if you are going to buy into that tripe that they can't learn to read or do higher math or any of those other empty claims, please go elsewhere. We have been with these kids and we have seen them meet or exceed the expectations we set, so we keep raising the bar, and expect that of you too. No preconceived notions please!)

5. The staff is awesome. There are about 20 teachers here, and 20 different personalities, but we all work well together and we respect each other. You will not find a more generous and welcoming set of teachers anywhere (I did say I was biased!) We are the only school in our district that even has a welcoming committee.

6. The pay is decent. Okay, it's not on the level of North Slope, but we do actually get sunrises (which are glorious) in the winter, and sunsets in the summer. It is a reasonable salary, and hey, money doesn't buy happiness. It's still a better salary that most of the lower 48. I know, I moved here from Texas, and I was in a high-paying district in Texas (Houston).

7. We are a delivery hub, so mail and cargo service is very dependable. We also have not one, but TWO stores in our village. The smaller one actually has a hardware store section. Our AC was named Store of the Year for all the AC's in the entire state of Alaska this past year.

8. Free salmon! Our Vice Principal has a permit to set out a net near a spawning creek, so, if you help, you can stock up on fresh Alaska salmon. He usually sets up a schedule for those who want to go and help. (You learn to clean salmon at our District's New Teacher In-service, which is pretty awesome.)

I could go on, but I'm afraid the Forum will reject my post if it gets too long. Just, please, when you are looking at Alaska, don't just look at the high-paying districts or the tourist area villages. Consider our little hidden gem of a village. It's not perfect, but what village is? It is a pleasant little community in a pleasant area of southwestern Alaska. No drama, just nice-living. Contact our Superintendent, Dave Piazza, or our Assistant Superintendent, Steve Noonkesser, in our district office. Select us on your ATP application, AND email, AND follow-up with a call. If you aren't what we need this year (a K-1 teacher and a Counselor) at least watch us for the future. We want good teachers, and we think you might be overlooking us because we don't have the drama attached to our location that others do. Honestly, if you are looking to go to the Alaska Bush, I can't imagine a better school than ours! (Biased, yeah, but really!)

D. M. Matthews
Togiak School
Togiak, AK

My first experience with SW school district was during the state sped conference two years ago. I fell in love with the sped team. I spent the last two years researching your district because I knew our two jobs would eventually get cut.
When we were informed we were getting cut, we only applied with four districts since there were only four locations where we both could work (hence bushteachers name). Togiak wasn't one, but we were trying to decide if one of us could do the councelor job.
We are very happy where we ended up (our first choice) but your district wouldn't have been a let down at all. So from someone who spent two years researching a district, don't be afraid. Togiak would be a great place to end up. And the teachers I met...they are pretty awesome.

[marymatt718]

Thank you, bushteachers. Your endorsement warms my heart, and I will pass it on to the SpEd folks.
Everyone needs a pat on the back every once in a while.
Togiak has been my first foray into the bush and into Alaska. I consider myself VERY lucky to have ended up here. I have heard horror stories from some of our current teachers, and realize every day how lucky I was....now...I am ready to knock a few heads together in late April, early May, but I had that in Houston too.
We get some turnover, I'll admit that, but we also have quite a few long-term teachers. Usually, teachers leave because they have problems, not with what's here, but with what they left behind: boyfriends, girlfriends, family, restaurants and shopping (Yep, it's true. Bush life isn't for everyone!), medical issues. Those of us that stay feel it's worth the effort and worth seeing our family only once or twice a year. I love my kids (I teach MS and HS); they know it, and they know I won't leave until my dogs get older, and I want a vet closer than Anchorage.
Shameless plug alert: this is probably one of the easiest bush locations in which to teach. Again, if you want drama and big money, go elsewhere, but if you want to help kids and you are willing to work for a decent, not insane, salary, we're it. (I did say I was biased...and shameless, totally shameless!)

[tdipaola]

Mary - I just made the decision this week to try for a job teaching in Alaska, which I know is really late but… here I am. Are there still any jobs available there? I am looking for a "real Alaskan" experience and I love the cold! Just put in my ATP application - I will look for the job listing you mention.
Sincerely, Tracy DiPaola
717-448-4490 currently in PA and about to be an "empty nester".

[marymatt718]

Hello Tracy!
There are nearly 600 jobs open in Alaska right now, so no, you aren't applying too late. Last I looked there were 127 elementary positions, which is why I posted the wonders of Togiak to this Forum...bypassing the competition .

My district, Southwest Region School District, has two openings left, and they happen to be in our AWESOME school in Togiak. We need a kindergarten or 1st grade teacher and a Guidance Counselor. Our kindergarten class is going to be really large this year, so they decided to split it between two teachers, which is why we need another kindergarten teacher. Last year's 1st grade teacher is moving to second grade, where we had a long-term sub last year, so her 1st grade position is open.

The district hired one person already, but she is qualified for both K and 1st, so they are waiting to see who else applies before they tell her exactly what her position will be. If you are interested in that position, or in the Counselor position please select us on ATP, but please also send a follow-up email to our superintendent, Dave Piazza (dpiazza@swrsd.org).

For all you newbies out there, I will tell you that my Vice Principal (who moved this year, so don't email him) last year told me that he got so many applications that the first ones he looked at were the ones who caught his attention by emailing him. If you think you are bothering someone by contacting them, you aren't. You are actually helping make order from chaos, so send a follow-up email to the places you are really interested in.

[marymatt718]

Hello prospects!

As of this posting, our two positions are still open. What are you waiting for? This is an awesome place to work! Okay, we're two plane rides from Anchorage, big deal! You fly over the tundra, into taiga (sorry, science teacher here ) to get to Dillingham( stunning!) and you fly over mountains and glaciers to get to Anchorage (wow!).

Your dogs are welcome, we have a committee to help you settle in and feel welcome, I even meet you in Anchorage to help you shop!...What more could you ask for? Our kids are challenging, but awesome, as are all kids. Get your stuff together and apply. We have in-service in less than 8 weeks! Get busy!

Thank you

[tdipaola]

Hi - Tracy DiPaola here - so I applied to both of your openings - the elementary ed and the counseling job. I also sent an email to Dave Piazza. I haven't heard back yet. I didn't think I was qualified for the counseling job but it does list an initial teacher's license as an alternative to the degree in counseling. I would be totally open to doing an online master in counseling concurrent with the job. If anyone has any more ideas about getting one of those two jobs….? I am so excited about moving to Alaska and just really want to work with a smaller school district/school and with a native population as opposed to a large school that looks a lot like any school in the lower 48. I am pretty flexible about the environment but was hoping for either sea or mountains - so Togiak totally fits! Let me know if you have any other ideas about getting this job. I have mailed my AK teacher's initial license app - so that is in and all my certifications, transcripts etc. Wish me luck!!!
Tracy

[tdipaola]

Marymatt - Called Mr. Piazza - I have an interview! Wish me luck - I am super excited! Started reading the ATP page on ordering and shipping groceries - I am thinking I may have to give up salad? But I know from working on an apple orchard that fresh apples last a really long time in cold storage, so at least I won't have to give up fruit. It all sounds so fascinating at this point. Do you all own sun lamps to deal with the lack of sun in the winter? I hope I get the job…very exciting!
Tracy

[marymatt718]

Hi Tracy!
I just copied and pasted your last post and sent it to my Principal, Vice Principal, the Superintendent, and the Assistant Superintendent. I hope this helps! At least it may get you a "thank you, but no thank you" if they don't feel you fit the bill, which would only be polite. (So far, however, I have found that the only district that provides this courtesy is Haines. I guess they can because they don't really get a lot of turnover and can send out these courtesy letters for the relative number of applicants they get.)

Have you tried calling yet? The main office number is 907-842-5287. It can't hurt, and it might help. Both Dave Piazza and Steve Noonkesser are very approachable people...sooooo different from my superintendent and assistant superintendent in Houston, TX, who remained mostly in their "ivory tower" and rarely visited any of the schools except when there was a photo op. I mean, these two here have to take bush flights out to the schools, but they still manage to visit each school two to three times a year. It's all about the kids with them, not the photo ops. Give them a try.

Okay, in all fairness, Houston is the 7th largest school district in the US, but I have shaken hands with Dave Piazza and Steve Noonkesser, and neither has a "limp fish" handshake. I have also shaken hands with the Houston superintendent, whose name I can't remember, at a graduation ceremony...total "limp fish." My daddy used to say that you could read 90% of a man's character in his handshake. I have never found him to be wrong about that.

Try calling the district office. They are both very nice men.

[marymatt718]

Go Tracy!
I told you he was a nice guy!
No, you won't have to give up salads. We are a delivery hub so we tend to get decent produce here most of the time, not a huge selection, but decent. The salad stuff we get is usually bagged salad, but it comes in weekly, so you may just be able to eat good salads through Tuesday, and then switch over to cabbage, which lasts longer. Adaptation is the key here (science geek, remember?). Adapt and survive.
Good luck at your interview! I'm so happy for you!

[marymatt718]

We don't need sun lamps either. We are far enough south in Alaska that we actually get sun in the winter. The sun comes up at second period
(about 10 -10:30 in the morning) and sets about 4:30 in the afternoon.

[tdipaola]

Marymatt -
Had the interview…will keep you posted. I like Dave a lot over the phone - I couldn't get a read on the other people over the phone, so…IDK. I have started looking at airlines - which airline do you use between Togiak and Dillingham and then between Dillingham and Anchorage. I just want to be prepared in case…price wise etc. I have one other district pulling my references and already had an interview with them as well. They both sound like great jobs - I am leaning towards the Togiak because of getting into a new field - counseling for me. I did start looking at graduate program's in Alaska as well, so that I can pursue a degree in counseling concurrently with the job (IF…big IF). So, if you wouldn't mind giving me referrals for best shipping companies…where do you buy groceries? Airlines? Um…if you only get to 0 degrees then I have plenty of winter gear unless there is something else? Do you have deep mud ever? I mentioned you to Dave and he seemed to know who you are - hope that was okay. Let me know if you hear anything…I may call this week or at least drop another email.Thank you for all of the encouragement and advice - I hope we meet in August!
Tracy

[marymatt718]

Hello Tracy,
I hope you hear something positive. Just in case, take the first job offered at this point. Time is running out for preparation to move.

I use Pen Air to get to Dillingham from Anchorage, but you still can book them through the Alaska Airlines website. From Dillingham, I use Grant Aviation to get to Togiak. There are other services, but Grant is the most reliable, in my experience, and they are the only ones who have a plane that can fit my dogs' giant kennels....and both at the same time. They have always gone above and beyond for Togiak teachers.

We do get down to -20 reliably in winter, so maybe you can wear an extra sweater under your current outerwear. You will definitely need wet weather gear and rubber boots. I have Muck boots which I got on Amazon, but you can also find them in Anchorage. The road to walk to school is a decent gravel road, but there are puddles and spots of mud.

Use the post office to ship anything up here to Alaska, not FedEx or UPS. There are no offices for either one in Togiak (which is the case in most bush Alaska villages), so you'll pay a lot of unnecessary funds to get your things delivered on the same plane the mail comes on anyway.

Good luck. I won't know how it went until someone tells me to complete a new housing assignment (I'm on the Housing committee), but I hope we get to meet in August also.

Dave Piazza would have been familiar with my name because I had just emailed him one of your postings.

[tdipaola]

Marymatt
I sent the follow up email to Dave this morning and he responded. I guess they are continuing to look at mine and others. There must be multiple applicants for that spot or possibly, my lack of experience as a counselor means I am not high up on the list. The other school district I applied to is checking my references today and she said she would get back to me today or tomorrow. So, it is my second choice but your school was my first. I imagine that I will be taking the first offer I get, so I wanted to thank you for all of your help! Maybe we will meet sometime down the road in Anchorage!
Tracy

[marymatt718]

Checking the references is ALWAYS a good sign.
At any rate, whatever happens, I will be in Anchorage for shopping and vet visits from 1 Aug to 5 August at least, and maybe until 7 August, depending on when my school's new teachers come in. If you are there then, I'll be happy to help you shop.
Good luck and fingers crossed!

[tdipaola]

Marymatt -
I was offered a job in the Yukon Koyukuk District and accepted. So I will be a little further north than Togiak. I fly into Fairbanks the 9th. Thanks for all of the advice and moral support! I hope you guys find a great counselor; it sounded like a wonderful school!
Tracy

[marymatt718]

A lesson to job seekers and to hiring districts...you snooze, you lose. Sorry to lose you Tracy, because someone here snoozed.

Good luck! My offer to help you shop in August still stands.

[marymatt718]

Okay guys, there is still ONE position left open. We still need a K/1 teacher. What are you waiting for? New Teacher in-service starts in about a month.

Get busy and get those applications in. This village is the easiest, and friendliest place to work in the entire state. It is perfect for someone who is a first-timer to Alaska.
If you don't hurry, you're going to miss watching the premiere of FEAR THE WALKING DEAD with all of us geeks on Sunday, August 23rd. I bought a projector to connect to the Dish box and I'm serving snacks. Now tell me, has any other district or school got that opportunity listed on their job offer?...I don't think so.

Don't miss this awesome opportunity!

Donna M.

[Johncn]

Great attitude, Donna! If I were still an administrator, I'd DEFINITELY want you on my district Welcome Wagon or New Teacher Orientation team. Next time I see Dave or Steve I'm going to tell them what a great cheerleader you are for Togiak.

John

[marymatt718]

Thank you John!
As the "Grand Nagus" (if you know where I got that title, I will be REALLY impressed with you ) of the ATP Forum, your compliment is high praise indeed. I'm not sure though, whether Steve and Dave are ready to thank me or throttle me for this stream.