I was proudly born and raised in Bethel, Alaska. My Yupi’k name is Arnaucuaq after Mike Angaiak from Tununak. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Educational Foundations and Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Teaching from the University of Oregon. I also hold a Master’s Degree in Education Policy and Leadership from American University and School Administration Graduate Certificate from UAA. 

I was fortunate enough to return to my home community for my student teaching and spent the last 10 years teaching at Ayapurn Elitnaurvik, an Indigenous Language and Culture school home to 250 students from the Yukon Delta. In addition to my teaching, I worked with students from K-12 coaching Cross Country, Robotics, and Battle of the Books. I have also been a certified basketball official for many years and enjoy officiating grade school to varsity basketball in rural Alaska. 

I am very invested in rural education and rural educators because I am the product of this system. I would not have been able to become a teacher without the support of my community. I look forward to working with teacher candidates on their education pathway to ensure we have more local, home-grown teachers and to help to bridge the equity gap for indigenous students within our state and help provide a strong foundation for the future of education in Alaska.

In my spare time I enjoy berry picking, beading, sewing, and spending time with my family outdoors fishing and exploring.