LEADERSHIP

Jamie Burgess, President

Superintendent, Nome Public Schools

Jamie's 20 years in education started in Arizona, and spans from chemistry teacher to alternative school principal to curriculum and federal programs director. Currently, she is serving Nome Public Schools as its superintendent and is entering her fifth year with the district. When she's not working, she enjoys looking for sea glass on the beaches of the Bering Sea, spending time with her husband and children, playing the piano and doing needlework.

 
 
 

Patrick Mayer, Vice-President 

Superintendent, Alaska Gateway School District

Patrick has 14 years of experience as a school administrator both as a principal and a superintendent for 5 different school districts. He graduated with a Bachelor in Education from UAA and holds a Masters in Education from Eastern Washington University.

 
 

Shawn Arnold, Treasurer 

Superintendent, Juneau School District 

Before becoming JSD’s Superintendent, Shawn served as Principal of Thunder Mountain High School and as Director of Student Services for the District. Mr. Arnold formerly served as Superintendent of Valdez City Schools and Nome Public Schools, where he led district improvement efforts and built strong relationships with staff, families, and the community.

 
 
 

Terri Walker, Secretary 

Superintendent, Northwest Arctic Borough School District

Aviññaq, Terri Walker is the Northwest Arctic Borough School District Superintendent serving Kotzebue and the ten outlying communities. Terri graduated Highschool from Buckland ( a community in Northwest Arctic) and has worked for the district as a teacher, principal, Director, Assistant Superintendent, and currently the superintendent.

Scott Ballard, Member-at-Large

Superintendent, Yupitt School District

Scott has been the superintendent at Yupitt for 2 years and successfully advocated to change the district calendar to center around subsistence activities. He believes that Yup’ik culture should permeate every aspect of the school, from the topics students study to the meals that they eat. “If students are excited about what they’re learning and eating salmon they caught, they’ll be happier and more engaged in education, and if students are happier, then teachers are happier, which makes it easier to retain teachers.”