The Alaska Staff Development Network is a statewide non-profit organization that provides staff development activities for K-12 educators and school administrators in Alaska.

The organization was founded in 1983 because of Alaska's unique challenges in providing teachers and school administrators with staff development. The vast majority of Alaska is not connected to paved roads. Schools in remote parts of the state needed a flexible organization that could provide in-service training, and college credit via distance learning, and short-term intensive courses in specific locations throughout the state.

Although courses were originally utilizing mailed materials, audio conferences, and face-to-face meetings, ASDN now offers a wide range of courses on-line, and by video conference technology. The offerings typically come from school district requests, and state mandates for teacher training and recertification.

ASDN's partners now include all Alaska's 53 school districts, the University of Alaska, Alaska Pacific University, the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, NEA-Alaska, the Alaska Council of School Administrators, the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, University of Washington C-STARS and the Re-Inventing Schools Coalition, as well as a number of education professional associations.

During 2005, over 3,300 educators participated in 21 on-site and 34 distance education Network-sponsored training events.

[edit] External links

• ASDN

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