Rooted in Community, Focused on Learning: Two Rural Alaska Principal Stories

In the remote villages of Selawik and Noatak, Alaska, getting to school means braving the elements. Daily life is shaped by the Arctic's weather, and with no school buses or paved roads, even the youngest elementary students may walk as far as half a mile in extreme conditions to get to school. When getting to school takes such effort, creating a learning environment where students feel engaged and supported is especially important. 

In the Northwest Arctic Borough School District, which serves both villages, school leaders focus on connecting learning to their students’ culture while expanding opportunities for their futures. Through the district’s partnership with NIET, Principal Jamie Cowart of Davis-Ramoth Memorial School and Principal Lori Lundgaard-Hall of Napaaqtugmiut School are strengthening instructional leadership and teacher support to bring that vision into classrooms.

Strengthening Instruction and Building Pathways to Graduation

In Selawik, Davis-Ramoth Memorial School has prioritized relationships that help new staff feel welcomed in the community. Principal Jamie Cowart reports that the PK-12 school now has the district’s lowest staff turnover, providing greater consistency for students and families.

NIET’s support helps Cowart build instructional consistency through classroom observations and coaching. He credits the partnership with helping teachers grow as leaders and take on greater roles in supporting their colleagues.

“That growth inspires more teacher leaders, and they take on bigger roles to support the work we do,” Cowart said. “It also matters because we're a rural village; this partnership supports our larger goal of consistent, high-quality instruction in every classroom.”

In addition to an emphasis on high-quality support for teachers, Cowart and Assistant Principal Rachel Harmon have worked together to expand credit recovery, homework assistance, and after-school support for students.

Their support for students extends beyond high school graduation. Through the University of Alaska system, the team has developed dual-credit pathways reflecting students’ interests. The first student on a four-year college pathway is expected to earn an associate degree alongside her high school diploma in 2028.

Connecting Culture to Classroom Learning

In Noatak, Napaaqtugmiut School connects Iñupiaq culture, inquiry, and writing to classroom learning. Principal Lori Lundgaard-Hall shares that ice fishing with kindergartners is one example of connecting school experiences to the cultural activities that are part of life for many students and families.

NIET supports Lundgaard-Hall’s vision through instructional resources, discussions about effective practices and targeted assistance for teachers. She values her partnership with NIET staff who understand her goals and offer different perspectives on how to achieve them.

Teachers incorporate traditional Iñupiaq values into school themes and seek authentic connections between academic content and students’ experiences. Inquiry projects have led elementary students to create a cookbook and a board game about caribou migration.

“When we are effectively creating authentic cultural connections, we see students much more engaged,” said Lundgaard-Hall. “When they feel like they are connected to content, they are naturally more confident.”

These authentic learning experiences are also paired with consistent academic expectations. Teachers have developed shared writing rubrics for grades six through twelve, with independent writing expected in every class, every day. Weekly teacher collaboration provides time to review student progress and identify individual supports.

For both principals, understanding their communities shapes how they support educators and help students connect classroom learning to their lives and futures. With NIET’s support, they are strengthening instructional leadership and support for teachers to improve student outcomes.