Steller Secondary School: Difference between revisions
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==Strategic Planning== |
==Strategic Planning== |
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Steller held a strategic planning session on May 14, 2005 with the [[Foraker Group]], a [[nonprofit]] organization specializing in planning for nonprofits. The results of that meeting were sent to a wordsmithing committee consisting of approximately nine students |
Steller held a strategic planning session on May 14, 2005 with the [[Foraker Group]], a [[nonprofit]] organization specializing in planning for nonprofits. The results of that meeting were sent to a wordsmithing committee consisting of approximately nine students, six parents, five staff members, and future principal Karin Parker. This committee met on May 25, 2005 and crafted the [[core purpose]] and [[core values]] for Steller, and is in the process of determining major goals for the next five to ten years. Another meeting is tentatively set for June 7, 2005. |
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==Current Developments== |
==Current Developments== |
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Revision as of 07:56, 24 August 2005
Steller Secondary School is an alternative school located in Anchorage, Alaska. The Anchorage School District established the school in 1974 as a response to a proposal by the Committee of Alternative Secondary Education. Steller was named after George Wilhelm Steller, a naturalist from Germany who traveled with Vitus Bering on an exploratory voyage to Alaska. The school was named after him because of various personal traits such as independence, the love of knowledge, courage, and a pioneering spirit.
| File:Steller School Logo.gif "Only the Educated are Free" | |
| Established | 1974 |
|---|---|
| School type | Public secondary school |
| Principal | Karin Parker (since 2005) |
| Faculty | approx. 25 |
| Enrollment | 300 |
| Location | Anchorage, Alaska |
| Yearbook Title | Crambe bis Cocta |
| Website | [1] |
History
For the first nine years of its existence, Steller was located in the old North Star Elementary School building. After much political activity by Steller parents, the Alaska Legislature approved funds to remodel the school and add a new gym as well as a drama facility/auditorium. In 1992, the auditorium was rebuilt after a structural failure caused the roof to collapse, leaving nearly everything ruined except for the stage's curtains. The voters of Anchorage approved a school bond in 2003 to provide funding for the addition of a new science lab and relocation and renovation of the staff lounge, offices surrounding the gymnasium, and the special education office. This construction was completed in October 2004.
Student demographics and government
Steller accepts students in grades 7-12 from anywhere in the Municipality of Anchorage through a lottery process. However, their student population is almost always maintained at under 300 students. Steller's governmental system is based on the counseling group, where each classroom teacher is assigned a group of 20-30 students. This counseling group elects one representative from each grade group (7-8 and 9-12) to the Operational Group, which deals with the day-to-day school issues, as well as the student funds.
In addition, the high school (9-12) representative is also a member of the Advisory Board, which handles larger issues, such as the school's philosophy, policies and bylaws. The Steller Advisory Board is notable because it has real power to change the workings of the school, from changing classroom hours, to eliminating the grading system (which has been considered, but never adopted). As a public school, Steller's policies must stay within the requirements of the Anchorage School District (or at least below the radar otherwise), but everything else is open to discussion and modification by the Advisory Board. On all committees where voting is involved, students always have a larger number of potential votes than staff or parents.
Staff demographics
Steller has a very small staff, consisting of 13 full-time classroom teachers, 1 part-time classroom teacher, 5 special education staff and 4 office staff, as well as a part-time librarian and two music teachers who are shared with other schools within the school district. As such, staff turnover has a large effect on the Steller community.
Principal
Dorothy Oetter was Steller's principal for the last seven years, but retired at the end of the 2004-2005 school year. The Steller community had a dispute with the Anchorage School District regarding the selection of a new principal. The Anchorage School District has a collective bargaining agreement with the principal's association in Anchorage which requires that interviews be conducted in a way which does not agree with the principles of Steller. Attempts were made to resolve this issue, but were overturned by the district. The district's eventual hiring decision was made over the objections of the Steller community.
On May 26, 2005, the Anchorage School Board approved Karin Parker as the Steller principal for the 2005-2006 school year.
Strategic Planning
Steller held a strategic planning session on May 14, 2005 with the Foraker Group, a nonprofit organization specializing in planning for nonprofits. The results of that meeting were sent to a wordsmithing committee consisting of approximately nine students, six parents, five staff members, and future principal Karin Parker. This committee met on May 25, 2005 and crafted the core purpose and core values for Steller, and is in the process of determining major goals for the next five to ten years. Another meeting is tentatively set for June 7, 2005.
Current Developments
A policy is being developed for the decommissioning (removal) of murals. Steller students are free to paint murals on the walls with approval from the principal and student body, but wall space is becoming an issue as murals exist from as far back as 1982 or earlier.
Notable alumni
- Jewel, singer (9th & 10th grades) [2]
- Trajan Langdon, basketball player
- Mark Begich, mayor of Anchorage, Alaska
- Gretchen Guess, served in the Alaska House of Representatives (2000-2002) and Alaska State Senate (2002-2006)