NSEDC teams with Norton Sound entities to host regional education summit –
With the goal of improving educational opportunities and outcomes for students from Early Head Start through Postsecondary Education in the Norton Sound region, a number of entities have come together to form the Norton Sound Education Work Group and organize a regional education summit in Nome this coming October 9-11, 2015.
The summit is an opportunity for stakeholders to network, discuss regional needs, partner, and lead the way in supporting educational success. The summit will provide participants the chance to share strategies that improve our regional education systems and programs to positively influence change and strengthen relationships for the educational success of our children. It is an important regional opportunity to voice concerns and to create solutions that will yield improvements in the cultural relevancy of education and schools, boost growing our own teachers, support early childhood education, and increase graduation rates at the high school, college and vocational levels.
The Norton Sound Education Work Group (NSEWG) was formed in April of 2014 as entities who make up the region’s educational framework began meeting informally to address common goals and challenges. The NSEWG has grown to encompass representatives from regional organizations that recognize widespread collaboration is needed for effective change and improvements. Four educational focus areas have been identified: a) cultural relevancy, b) early childhood and elementary education, c) growing our own teachers, and d) post-secondary preparation and success.
To share these ideas and gather community-level input from regional stakeholders, the NSEWG is planning a regional education summit with primary funding support from NSEDC. The summit is scheduled to take place at the Nome Elementary School, beginning on Friday, October 9 with doors opening at 6 pm; continuing on Saturday, October 10, from 8:30 am to 5 pm; and concluding on Sunday, October 11, from 8:30 to 10:30 am. The summit is scheduled on a weekend to allow for maximum participation by schools, teachers, students and regional community members.
As the summit approaches, more information will be available on the summit’s detailed agenda and how residents can participate.
Partner organizations in the NSEWG include the following:
• Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation
• Kawerak, Inc.
• Nome Eskimo Community
• Sitnasuak Native Corporation and Foundation
• Bering Straits Native Corporation and Foundation
• Norton Sound Health Corporation
• Bering Strait School District
• Nome Public Schools
• Northwestern Alaska Career and Technical Center (NACTEC)
• University of Alaska Fairbanks – Northwest Campus
For more information on the summit, please contact Luisa Machuca at Kawerak in Nome at (907) 443-5231 or eet.vp@kawerak.org.
