NATIVE ALASKA TEACHING PROGRAM DIRECTOR NAMED

Weise has been the part-time, interim REPP director since last July under a unique, cooperative arrangement between UAF and the Yupiit School District, which serves the villages of Akiachak, Akiak and Tuluksak in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. The district approved a plan for Weise to juggle his duties as superintendent while at the same time running the REPP program at UAF. Weise will resign from his superintendent's job in June when his school district contract ends so he can devote his energy to running REPP on a full-time basis.

"This appointment has the full support of the REPP advisory board," said Wadlow. "Dr. Weise has a unique knowledge of Alaska's public schools and is an articulate spokesman for alternative routes to teacher licensing in the state."

The REPP Center was established at UAF in 1996 to address Alaska's critical shortage of Native teachers. REPP's founding director John E. Anttonen retired July 1, 1997. While Anttonen was director, he was successful in helping REPP secure more than a million dollars worth of grants from the U.S. Department of Education aimed at helping the university meet goals of increasing the number of Native Alaskan educators in the state.

Weise, 47, has been involved with REPP since its inception and has worked to strengthen partnerships with Alaska's schools and the state education department.

"I'm delighted the REPP board and the Chancellor have recognized my commitment to increasing the number of Native teachers in Alaska by making this appointment," Weise said. "We will continue the work we've already begun, including our promise to assist with in-service needs for rural school districts and to improve access to university programs to help prepare educators for work in rural Alaska."

Weise was born in Anchorage and attended public school in Bethel. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in education from UAF. After receiving his bachelor's degree in 1974, he worked as an elementary school teacher in Anchorage. From there, he moved to the Annette Islands School District where for 15 years he worked as a teacher and principal.

In 1990 Weise received his Ph.D. from the University of Oregon and soon after began work with the Lower Kuskowim School District as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction where he oversaw districtwide programs such as bilingual education and Yup'ik studies. In 1996 he became superintendent of the Yupiit School District headquartered in Akiachak.

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CONTACT: REPP Director John Weise (907) 825-4427, or REPP Administrative Assistant Anna Poe (907) 474-5589.

DPD/12-17-98/99-036