Alaska-Based Training Team Established for CDL

AASB and project staff from the 18 AASB Consortium for District Learning (AASB-CDL) districts have been hard at work with the implementation of digital learning, made possible through the 24th Alaska Legislature award of $5 million in capital funds. 1 to 1 projects in more than 50 Alaska schools are currently underway, assisted by Apple Professional Development (APD) trainers

Because ongoing professional development is a critical component to the success and sustainability of our initiative, Apple, Inc. and AASB-CDL had to become creative in the timely delivery of staff training. To best serve AASB-CDL districts, it was decided that Apple would establish an Alaska-based training team focused on helping project sites build capacity and sustainability for digital learning. 

Apple’s new four-member team, led by former superintendent and UA professor John Monahan, consists of well-known Alaskans from the fields of education, technology and digital learning. Apple has now transferred all professional development responsibilities for Alaska to the in-state team, who will begin offering customized training solutions to all AASB-CDL districts.

“We’re excited and ready to get to work,” said Monahan. “Alaska education owes a big thanks to the Alaska Legislature and AASB for this opportunity to demonstrate the learning power that technology can bring to Alaska students.”

John Monahan

John has worked in education for 27 years, the last 18 of them in Alaska.  In 1990 he moved to Grayling on the Yukon River to become principal of a K-12 school. In the years following, he served as superintendent of both the Iditarod and Fairbanks North Star Borough school districts, and as professor of the University of Alaska’s Educational Leadership Program. John joined Apple as the Higher Education Account representative for a year before transitioning to Apple’s Professional Development project manager for the AASB Consortium for Digital Learning. Since 1996, he has made Fairbanks his home.

Sally Eberhart

Sally’s long affiliation with the Anchorage School District has included 19 years as an elementary teacher, and over seven years with the Instructional Technology Department working with teachers and students at eleven schools to provide assistance with training, technology purchases, and school server support. Since 1998, Sally has taught UAA credit courses in technology integration for educators in both classroom and online environments. For nearly a decade she has been actively involved with ASTE, serving two years as a board member. Her passions include web design, graphic design, and technology gadgets.

John Rusyniak

John has spent the last 27 years helping rural Alaska teachers to incorporate technology into their classrooms. His credentials include K-12 teacher, principal, district director of technology, curriculum director, and UAA instructor training teachers to become effective school principals. John has served on the boards of ASTE and the Alaska State Writing Consortium, and as Project Director for the ARCTIC program. A skilled presenter, natural instructor, and experienced mentor, John received the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award in recognition of his outstanding service to students. He currently resides in Tok.

Pete Vraspir

Pete has been in education and technology for 16 years, as a math and science and district and technology coordinator. Pete earned a Masters of Education in Technology in 1997 with an emphasis on instructional technology and professional development. In 2004, he moved to Denali Borough from Washington state to become director of Alaska’s first 1 to 1 laptop initiative. For the past three years Pete has developed policy and procedures for the initiative, and taught teachers and students how to successfully integrate technology into the curriculum.

The Alaska training team will provide CDL districts a full range of instruction designed to address varying skill levels—from “digital literacy” training for those teachers who need a basic understanding of how to use software applications and other digital resources, to “technology infused learning” where classroom teachers integrate technology appropriately into their daily lessons, units and eventually across the curriculum.

AASB-CDL Director Bruce Johnson commented. “We are fortunate to have assembled a group of this caliber. Alaska’s digital learning initiative will benefit greatly from their combined experience.”