Hi Again,
We raised our two children in rural Alaska, and it was a very good experience, overall, for our family. But, we were very careful about the jobs and districts we applied to in order to avoid some of the more difficult aspects you may read about in various threads on this forum.
In order to find a good fit for a family with three (3) children in rural Alaska, you will have to find the right opening in the right district. It will take patience and thoughtful interviewing during the spring to make a choice that is right for your situation, and the employer you select. The employer wants you and your family to be happy, as teacher turnover is expensive and sometimes very disruptive to a school year in a small community.
Part of the struggle is finding housing (see my answer above in thread for an explanation). Another potential struggle is with child care....which depends on the age of the children, and the available child care options if needed. Children "of school age" (kindergarten and above) are in school during the majority of the day, but depending on the village and the program, the hours and situation can vary. Child care for those under school age may not be a problem in some rural villages, but could be a significant issue in others. In some, it could be a "bring your own" situation. Your district HR contacts SHOULD have a good idea about the villages with their openings. If they don't, you should ask to speak to current staff about the reality in that location.
Remember to use the Search feature on the forum. Here is a thread from 2015 that I posted explaining how things can vary, and how teachers can research options when evaluating locations. This comes up several times a year, and is also typically brought up during our ATP Live Chats.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1070#p1344Housing a family of four or five can be a real challenge. Some rural districts, including the one I most recently worked for) had only one or two apartments or houses with three bedrooms, and none with four bedrooms. Again, the age of the kids can impact this, as sharing a room may be possible for some children, but not others in a family. Finding larger housing options "in the community" is possible some places, but not others. Again, if you have a family, you'll want to make sure your HR contacts know this during your interview.
That said, there are also small villages with a NEED for large families. The minimum number of children to keep a school open is 10 in rural Alaska. This is determined by a "Child Count Period" each fall, and there are instances where a district would view two or more students on their count for a village school a real bonus. Once a school closes, it's VERY hard to keep the community going and healthy, so districts try very hard to avoid that situation.
Not trying to discourage anyone. Districts will (generally) never mislead you, as they have a vested interest in stable teaching staff at their rural schools, and happy employees. Unhappy teachers on arrival or in the middle of a school year drain the energy and resources of the district staff, cause stress and tension in the school and the community, and sometimes result in mid-year openings. Districts dread these sorts of situations. Trust me. So, if you have a family and are considering rural Alaska, educate yourselves so you have realistic expectations, ask good questions politely worded during your interactions with district staff, and make sure you find a good fit for both you and your new employer. That's what this forum is for...not just selling the dream.
Hope this helps,
John