Alaska News

North Slope school superintendent among fresh Parnell appointees

Peggy Cowan's vision of brighter futures for North Slope students has gone statewide.

As superintendent of the North Slope Borough School District, Cowan understands the challenges of rural life for students of all ages. And as the former superintendent of the Juneau School District, she also has the urban perspective.

These two factors, plus her dedication to the motto that education fosters healthy communities, made her a clear choice for Gov. Sean Parnell's Alaska Workforce Investment Board.

"I am committed to the community and the school district, but I'm also committed to the state," Cowan said from Barrow last week. "I will bring a passion for, and an understanding of, students and schools."

In a nutshell, the board develops and promotes an efficient system of employment education and training programs to help provide Alaskans with the necessary skills to thrive in the state's ever-evolving employment landscape.

It's made up of educators, industry professionals and executives from across the state.

Cowan, a recipient of Superintendent of the Year, was appointed to the seat representing secondary vocational education.

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"I am a values- and belief-oriented person," she said. "The board can be a key factor in that statewide."

Cowan said she sees this as an opportunity to not only bring her experience and knowledge to the table, but to gather cutting-edge methods to bring back to the North Slope.

"The connections between schools and communities and employers are so important," she said. "Good schools build healthy communities."

Cowan's first meeting will be in January. She will join Dillingham's Pearl Strub, Anchorage's David Alexander and Deantha Crockett, Jim Lynch of Fairbanks, Doug Ward of Ketchikan, Frederick Villa of North Pole, and Palmer's Ken Peltier on the board.

Strub, who was reappointed to the seat representing business and industry, is the director of education, employment and training for the Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation. She previously was the workforce development director and education program manager for the Bristol Bay Native Association and was a member of the University of Alaska's College of Rural and Community Development Advisory Council from 1998 to 2005 and of the university's Bristol Bay Campus Advisory Council since 1995. She also brings the experience garnered as a director of several subsidiaries of Choggiung Ltd., the Alaska Native village corporation for Dillingham, and of Choggiung's education endowment foundation.

Seats on the board are filled by those with expertise in additional areas like adult basic education services and postsecondary vocational education as well as business and industry. Seats are also allotted for representatives from the University of Alaska and the private sector.

Last week, Parnell also announced appointees on the Alaska Safety Advisory Council, Alaska State Emergency Response Commission, Boating Safety Advisory Board, and Criminal Justice Information Advisory Board.

Hal A. Homer of Anchorage and Fairbanks' Clint Brooks, along with past board members Kirk Jackson of Fairbanks and Michael Schowen of Anchorage, were named to the Alaska Safety Advisory Council. The council promotes safety so that resources can be marshaled and used to reduce accidental death and injury, according to a release from Parnell's office.

The Alaska State Emergency Response Commission "facilitates the preparation and implementation of all emergency plans prepared by state agencies, and advises local emergency planning committees for communities in Alaska," according to a release.

Craig's city planner, Brian Templin, was reappointed to the commission.

Anchorage's Chris Osowski was reappointed to the Boating Safety Advisory Council, which develops educational material, promotes boating safety education programs, and advises on regional and national boating issues.

The Criminal Justice Information Advisory Board advises the department and other appropriate agencies on all matters that involve the development and operation of criminal justice systems. Eagle River's Del Smith was awarded that seat.

This story first appeared in The Bristol Bay Times/Dutch Harbor Fisherman and is republished here with permission.

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