Alaska sees growth in early childhood teachers after school changes

Alaska’s shortage of early childhood educators just got some help from an unlikely source: a University program that nearly lost its license but came back stronger. The University of Alaska Anchorage’s early childhood program was in trouble in 2019 when it lost important accreditation, leaving hundreds of students unsure about their future. Fast forward to now, and the program is not only back on track—it’s growing fast, with 145 students enrolled compared to fewer than 50 just two years ago. That’s a 272% jump, including more Alaska Native students and men, who are rarely seen in this field. What changed? The school listened to rural Alaska Native communities and redesigned the program to focus on their needs. By 2021, it was reaccredited under a new system, and the state gave it a five-year approval in late 2023. Now, graduates can still get teaching licenses, which is rare for early childhood programs in the state. But Alaska’s child care crisis didn’t start with this program’s problems—it’s been building for years. In Anchorage alone, child care businesses dropped from over 300 in 2015 to just 180 last year, leaving over 8, 000 kids without access. Rural areas are hit even harder, with most of the state considered a "child care desert. " The program isn’t just about numbers—it’s about real people. Take Tanner Gobel, a 21-year-old student who’s now gaining hands-on experience in a kindergarten class. He grew up in Wasilla, took some classes out of state, and only came back to UAA after he heard the program was fixed. "I thought they weren’t accredited, so I didn’t choose UAA at first, " he said. Now, he’s helping young kids learn shapes and math, handling tantrums and questions with surprising calm. His passion comes from seeing kids light up when they learn something new, even if it’s just raising their hand to speak.

Teachers like Jessica Brown, who works with Gobel, say the revamped program is making a difference. "He doesn’t need much help, " she noted. "He just gets it—knows when to step in or step back. " That’s important because today’s kindergarteners grew up during COVID-19, missing out on normal social interactions. Programs like this one give future teachers the tools to handle the chaos of early childhood education. But not everyone in the program wants to be a licensed teacher. Some, like Gobel, are driven by personal experiences—like wanting to give kids the stability he saw friends in foster care struggle to find. Others, like Alaina Watson, a former camp counselor now studying to be a director, are drawn to the cultural side of early childhood work. Watson, who moved from Texas, was surprised to learn how much the program focuses on Alaska Native history and traditions. "I thought we’d just learn about kids, " she said. "But now I see how deep this goes. " The program is also breaking stereotypes. Of the 80 students in apprenticeships, 14% are men—a big deal since only 10% of early childhood educators nationwide are male. Gobel, who was often the only guy in his classes, wants more men to join the field. "It can feel intimidating, " he admitted. "But we need people who’ll step up. " For Bernadette Brown, a panelist and former Head Start mom, the job is about more than teaching. "I love being part of the community, " she said, describing family nights and cultural activities that make Head Start programs special. The program’s growth shows how listening to local voices—and adapting—can fix big problems. But with Alaska still facing huge child care gaps, the question remains: is this enough?

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