Teaching in Alaska not only offers an opportunity to enjoy breath taking scenery, exposure to a new culture and opportunities to markedly make an impact on the education of youth, there are also incentives for some teachers in low income schools to get part or all of their student loans paid off. The rules vary by loan type, certification area, school, and number of years you teach there, but range from a total of $5,000 to $17,500 in loan cancellation!
Alaska requires about 8,100 to 8,300 teachers every school year. The state also allows for retirement after 20 years of service. It is expected that by the year 2010, 33% of Alaskan teachers will retire, and Alaskan universities produce on the average about 200 teaching graduates a year, so lots of opportunities exist for teachers from the lower 48 states.
Finally, it is also good to keep in mind that teaching in Alaska many times means teaching in a multigrade school. This means that 3 or more grades are usually combined into one classroom and brings with the situation both challenges and rewards.
Alaska Teacher Requirements
Alaska may not be a trendsetting state, but it is a state that is undergoing rapid change. If you are interested in the future of Alaska, the future of its educational system is crucial.
Alaska currently has a shortage of teachers in its smaller, rural schools. This is projected to continue into the future and perhaps become even worse. Rural communities are growing, but their transportation systems and infrastructure are simply not keeping pace. There is a huge and growing need for people interested in teaching in Alaska.
Because Alaska is historically a blue collar state, many schools in the future will be adding additional emphasis on training workers for the technical jobs that make up a large percentage of the job market. Another key goal is to train more Alaskan natives for professional jobs and positions of power in the state and their local communities. Teachers who appreciate a grass-roots approach to Alaska will find it is a state with a future for them.
Alaska will continue to need teachers in the future, making teaching in Alaska a great choice for a teacher who wants the geographical, meteorological, and cultural challenge of this snowy state.