Re: Interested in Teaching in Alaska

I would recommend staying on the road system especially if
it's your first year of teaching. Check out Anchorage School
District, Kenai Borough, Matsu, and Fairbanks N. Star Borough.

I am in elementary, so don't really know what the high school
job market is like.

The cost of living in Anchorage is high. It's tough to make
it on a teacher salary. The AK TRS retirement is not a good
package at this point. The union is trying to help resolve
the issue though.

If you were to go to the bush, you would probably be teaching
just about everything and anything. If you have any interest
in basketball, you will probably end up coaching a team. Your
class size is likely to be small, but you may have some
challenging behaviors to deal with. Most likely you will be
living with another teacher. Teachers tend to get together
socially quite frequently, so there is a tight bond with them.
Flying to and from the bush can be quite expensive, but your
district will probably give you one or two round trip tickets
a year from Anchorage.

Why do you want to move to Alaska? Do you have family? Some
of these answers may help determine where is the right place
for you.