07/23/2026
Teaching Journey Part 3: Fairbanks North Star Borough School District 2018-2023
After returning to the United States following several years overseas, Alaska was the perfect place to begin my next chapter—and what could be more magical than living in North Pole?
I started my path in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District as a substitute teacher during the 2018–2019 school year. This role gave me the flexibility to explore different schools and grade levels while determining where I wanted to build my career. I quickly applied for my teaching certificate and was excited to begin teaching full-time. During my five years in the district, I also had the opportunity to coach middle and high school basketball and high school softball.
Following my year as a substitute teacher, I accepted a position as the Math Teacher at Innovations Academy (2019–2021). There, I worked closely with a dedicated team to develop individualized plans that helped at-risk students stay on track and earn their high school diplomas. It was one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my teaching career.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I transitioned into an e-learning position (2021–2022), where I provided consistent instruction while continuing to support students through one-on-one visits at their home schools. When that position concluded, I returned to the classroom and taught a two-year Algebra program at the high school level (2022–2023).
On a personal note, Alaska will always hold a special place in my heart. It is where I got engaged, married, and welcomed our daughter into the world. After five wonderful years, my husband and I made the decision to move to Arizona to be closer to family, making the journey with our three-month-old daughter, our cat, and plenty of help from our parents.
The friendships I built, the supportive colleagues I worked alongside, and the dedication I witnessed from educators and students alike made Alaska feel like home. Combined with the unmatched beauty of the state, it remains one of the most meaningful chapters of my life.
