Pearl Creek STEAM School

Meet the APC (Academic Policy Committee)! This is the group of local Fairbanks parents and teachers who govern Pearl Creek STEAM Charter.

Heidi Wood, Pearl Creek STEAM APC Chair, is a third generation lifelong Alaskan. She spent her early years growing up in rural Interior Alaska on a subsistence lifestyle. Moving to Nome and ultimately here to Fairbanks. Heidi’s childhood shaped her world, growing up in the land, learning from the land has shaped her life into what it is today. Heidi had the great privilege to attend Pearl Creek Elementary from 4th to 6th grade. What she learned there remains unchanged. The earth, community and land around us are powerful teachers. And as a graduate of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District believes that this district can be innovators and change makers, one step at a time.

Throughout her adulthood she’s held a variety of jobs, from Lobster fishing in Maine to a construction roustabout. This variety of experiences has pushed her to understand that the best learning comes from hands on, real life experience. This hands on experience has pushed her to want and create the same for her children and the community of Fairbanks. Fairbanks is ready for educational change and revitalization. This is what PCSC is. A change in how we educate our children. Guiding children to be problem solvers and comprehensive thinkers to move through this world to create chance makers of the future.

As a Doctor of Physical Therapy with a Masters in Public Heath in American Indian and Alaska Native health Heidi is acutely aware of the connection between the mind and body. Minds learn when bodies move and are involved in the learning process. This coupling is the foundation of STEAM education and what motivates her to continue changing education in Fairbanks.

At Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School we believe 6th graders deserve one more year to explore, create, play, and lead.

Research shows 6th graders thrive in elementary settings academically, socially, and emotionally. Plus they get the chance to be the “big kids” mentoring younger students, developing leadership skills, and building confidence.

Our 6th graders will learn through hands-on STEAM projects, inquiry, nature, and real-world problem solving, culminating in an end of year capstone expedition to Seward.

Apply now! Enrollment closes June 1st:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdSv1UD0uhNkwOaSZUs3Qr1p6qwpSGdt4MmKoSzoA-boMGzSQ/viewform

HOME | PCSC Site Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School is excited to open its doors to the Fairbanks community soon! We are currently in the application process and aim to open Fall 2026. At our school, we believe that learning should be an exciting adventure, and our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Ma...

Meet our APC (Academic Policy Committee)! The APC is an elected group of parents, teachers, and community members responsible for overseeing a charter school’s mission, academic policies, and budget.

Jennifer Redmond, Pearl Creek STEAM APC Treasurer, parent and lifelong Alaskan, grew up in Fairbanks in a family deeply rooted in the Interior. Both parents went to Lathrop High School, then to UAF to be engineers and design roads and airports in remote rural communities.

Jennifer is a nonprofit founder and board member with professional experience across many Alaska industries, spanning food security to education, healthcare and community development.

“I’ve always been a project-based problem solver. A written test only goes so far, the real question is whether you can use what you’ve learned to make things happen.

What does it take to establish food pantries in schools, revive Alaska Native languages, or bring out the curiosity in a student to hope for a better future?

I’ve spent my career finding out. I’ve financially managed urban and rural education programs, supported Alaska Native education initiatives, and worked on food security across the state. What I’ve learned is that anything is possible when there is innovative problem-solving, grit, community, and hope. Truly remarkable things happen every day.

That’s why I believe so deeply in what Pearl Creek STEAM School is building. More real-life, hands-on, project-based learning will help grow the innovators and problem solvers Alaska needs, and the world needs.

I want kids to grow up knowing their ideas and creativity matter, and that they can help build a better future right here, in Fairbanks.”

Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School is opening this fall! Applications for enrollment close June 1st.

Apply to enroll now: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdSv1UD0uhNkwOaSZUs3Qr1p6qwpSGdt4MmKoSzoA-boMGzSQ/viewform

HOME | PCSC Site Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School is excited to open its doors to the Fairbanks community soon! We are currently in the application process and aim to open Fall 2026. At our school, we believe that learning should be an exciting adventure, and our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Ma...

Meet the APC!

We want to take some time to introduce you to the people who dreamed this little dream, our Academic Policy Committee (APC)

Edgar, APC Founding Parent, was raised in the rural interior villages along the Yukon and Koyukuk Rivers.

“When I was a kid blessed to be growing up in Tanana, Huslia, the villages of the interior, I learned best from elders and on the land. And I loved it. When you are learning in a good and right way, you enjoy it.

I want my kids to be on the land. I want to keep them connected to the land. This is our land, our homelands. Our land is our first and last teacher.

I think kids choose a path for themselves in this life. I want them to follow their hearts and respect their curiosity. The charter school at Pearl Creek is designed to let kids focus on what interests them. Science, technology, engineering, art, math. And this school will let them spend more time on whichever of those topics interest them at the time. And they can learn these things in our way. Hands on, with our community, in a place where our language is welcome, and on the land. That way of learning is for all kids, from all backgrounds. That is the way for all people to learn best.”

What is inquiry-based learning?

This is a student centered approach where instead of being given an answer, students are encouraged to identify a problem, investigate, research, and experiment to discover solutions themselves.

What does this look like in the classroom? Let’s look at the snowshoe (oyh) for example:

The problem might be: “How have humans designed snowshoes to adapt and travel in snowy environments?”

Students will have the opportunity to begin by learning about how certain animals (like the gguh, or rabbit) are able to travel above the snow. Then examine how indigenous snowshoes were made by Alaska Natives and other cultures. They will hear from elders how snowshoes were essential tools for transportation and hunting.

Students have opportunity to compare these with modern snowshoe designs, they can explore how snowshoes differ depending on things like terrain, snow conditions, and cultures. Students will experience snowshoeing first-hand and discuss how it differs from walking through snow.

Students then have opportunity to explore driving questions such as:

How does weight distribution affect movement on snow?
How are snowshoes modeled after animals who move on top of snow?
How does geography and climate influence snowshoe design?
How do materials differ between indigenous snowshoe and modern snowshoes?

This approach transforms students from passive listeners into active investigators!

🔔 UPDATE 5/13: the goal was reached in one day! Thank you all who donated and shared.

5/12 Birds of a feather flock together! The falcons need a little help paying for their freshly painted sign. Help us help them make their goal! Donate below and be sure select a category or comment on the donation “school sign refresh”:

https://universityparkpta.givebacks.com/shop/items/889875

It’s that time of year again Fairbanks! Join the Pearl Creek STEAM community for PCSC Community Clean Up Day!

We will be cleaning up the Pearl Creek Elementary campus and Auburn Drive. Grab some gloves and bring the whole family. Trash bags provided. BBQ to follow!

We will have a PCSC table to answer all of your questions and help you enroll.

Speaking of spring cleaning - keep us in mind when you do yours! We are accepting donations of gently used books for our library at this and all future events.

If you would like to volunteer to help us put on this event, sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4BAEAC2BA4F5C43-64027474-clean

Whether you can stay for 15 mins or join us for the whole day, we would love to see you there! 💙🧡

Today let's celebrate those who make every day MAGIC! Mothers, Aunties, Grandmothers, and Important Caregivers!

For those in our lives that provide stability, safety, and love to the children of our community, thank you! We are cheering for you today and every day!