About

Join Us Today

Our members work in every public school in the Mat-Su Valley. We are driven by a common purpose of supporting our students, no matter their background, from the day they enter our classrooms until the day they graduate. We seek to honor the values our communities hold dear while preparing every child for further learning and the skills to enter the Alaska workforce. To accomplish this mission, we focus on these core principles:

Mission and Beliefs

We, the teachers of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, in order to promote the assured and continuing growth of a program for better education in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, dedicate ourselves to:

Section 1 – Work for the welfare of school children, the advancement of education and the improvement of instructional opportunities for all.

Section 2 – Develop and promote the adoption of such ethical practices, personnel policies and standards of preparation and participation as mark a profession.

Section 3 – Unify and strengthen the teaching profession and secure and maintain the salaries, retirement, professional and sick leave and other working condition necessary to support teaching as a profession.

Section 4 – Enable members to speak with a common voice on matters pertaining to the teaching profession and present their individual and common interests before the Board of Education and other legal authorities.

Advocacy

A strong union provides the working conditions and benefits necessary to attract and retain the highest quality educators. When we negotiate collectively and stand up for our members, we provide our students with the freedom to learn. MSEA works to ensure that students, parents, and educators have a voice in our public schools.

Education Excellence and Member Involvement

MSEA is a driving force working tirelessly to bring educators together to ensure high standards of curriculum which will prepare students for lifelong success. When we work together and use our collective voice, our students ultimately win.

Public Affairs

MSEA members understand that decisions made by politicians from the school board to the state legislature impact our public schools. Our Association and our members are committed to supporting pro-public education candidates at all levels of government to ensure our students have the resources they need to be successful.

Healthcare

Healthcare is a critical component of the benefits our educators and their families receive. As healthcare costs rise, MSEA members are committed to protecting high-quality care while identifying creative solutions to protect the taxpayer.

Governance

MSEA is a democratic organization whose leadership is elected by our membership. We share a commitment to lifting up the voices of our members, prioritizing student achievement, and ensuring excellent support for the educators of the Mat-Su Valley.

Board & Staff

MSEA Officers

President – Justin LaCoss
Office: 907-373-5204

Vice-President – Jamin Burton
Secretary – Adrienne Lujan
Treasurer – Kristie Harper

Executive Board

Melodie Wright – Academy Charter School
Rebecca Grinnell – Admin
Kathleen Yerbich – American Charter
Loren Abney – Butte Elementary
Kristi Shea – Career Tech
Jamin Burton – Colony High
Sacha Pettitt – Colony Middle School
Jane Henry-Johnson – Houston High
Jake Balaskovits – Knik Elementary
Danika Scott – Redington Sr./Jr. High
Mary Dooher – Special Education Office
Aubrey Smith – Talkeetna Elementary
Nikki Swager – Wasilla High

Building Reps

A-LS-Z

Administration – Rebecca Grinnell & Jamie Evans
Academy Charter – Cady Agoff, Erin Saunders
American Charter – Kathleen Yerbich

Beryozova –
Big Lake Elementary – Mary Jorgenson & Jennifer Kennedy
Birchtree Charter – Cristina Ouellette
Burchell High –
Butte Elementary – Loren Abney

Career & Tech High – Kristi Shea & Heather Olson
Colony High – Jackie Cunningham, Jamin Burton & Christy Hronkin
Colony Middle – Nicole Kelpe, Mariah Pitcher & Ben Wargo
Cottonwood Creek – Jenn Brouillard & Brooke Gerkin

Dena’ina Elementary – Erica Priscella

Finger Lake Elementary – Lisa Dorame
Fronteras Charter School – Jen Renee
Goose Bay Elementary – Suzanne Barnes & Tonia Kushin

Houston High – Jane Henry-Johnson & Josh Biccinella
Houston Middle –

Iditarod Elementary – Barrie Blackman-Green & Heather Milstead

Knik Elementary – Melinda Michener
Knik Charter School –

Machetanz Elementary – Amy Murrell
Mat-Su Central –
Mat-Su Day School – Melissa Boatman
Mat-Su Middle College – Becky Piatt
Midnight Sun Charter – Stacy Beesley

Palmer High – Traci Sanders
Palmer Junior-Middle – Elizabeth Parsons
Pioneer Peak Elementary – Jeanell Hodges

Redington Jr./Sr. High – Justine Ketchie

Shaw Elementary – Lauren Casey, Deb Currier & Becca Kelley
Sherrod Elementary – Kathy Budd, Adrienne Lujan
Snowshoe Elementary – Lisa Donnally
Su Valley High – Frannie Christensen
Sutton Elementary –
Swanson Elementary – Julie Ross & Aaron Schaff

Talkeetna Elementary – Aubrey Smith
Tanaina Elementary – Seth Blohm
Teeland Middle – Evelyn Davis & Chancy Zahrt
Trapper Creek Elementary – Aubrey Smith
Twindly Bridge Charter –

Valley Pathways – Danika Scott

Wasilla High – Caesar Marciales & Nikki Swager
Wasilla Middle – Amanda Trigg
Willow Elementary – Karen Howes

NEA-Alaska Staff

UniServ Director – Joel Antes
Tel: 907.274.0536
Associate Staff – Lori Smith
Tel: 907.373.5240
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