AASB Fourth Annual Partner District ‘Champion Gathering’ held
By Heather Coulehan, Alaska ICE Social and Emotional Learning Coordinator
The 2019 Champion Gathering was held in Anchorage on September 16-17 as a pre-conference session before the DEED Safety and Wellbeing Summit. The Gathering originated in 2016 with CRESEL partner districts. This year STEPS partner districts were welcomed into the state-wide learning community.
Nine districts participated in this year’s Gathering; Bering Strait (CRESEL), Hoonah (STEPS), Hydaburg (CRESEL/STEPS), Juneau (STEPS), Kodiak (CRESEL), Lower Yukon (CRESEL), Nome (CRESEL), Sitka (CRESEL/STEPS), Yukon-Koyukuk (CRESEL).
AASB staff Lisa Worl, Michelle, Byer, and Heather Coulehan co-hosted the gathering to build relationships and develop capacity around trauma engaged practice, data use, community collaboration, and district planning and implementation.
Suzzuk Huntington, Bering Strait Coordinator of Cultural Programs, and Natalia Bucher, Hoonah K-12 School Counselor, explain the power of relationships. 
Ted Wilson, Juneau Teaching and Learning Support Director, and Bob Hawkins, Yukon Koyuk CTE Specialist, explore restorative practices. 
Bob Hawkins, Yukon Koyukuk CTE Specialist; Janet Johnson, Lower Yukon Yup’ik Language and Culture Director; Bridie Trainor, Nome CRESEL Champion; and Suzzuk Huntington, Bering Strait Coordinator of Cultural Programs discuss transforming schools. 
Jennie Schauff, Kodiak Director of Instruction, and Phil Burdick, Sitka Co-Assistant Superintendent, facilitate conversation about how relationships are the foundation of transformative work in schools.