By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development on Wednesday formally approved Mary “Suzzuk” Huntington as superintendent of Mt. Edgecumbe High School.
The Department of Education had announced the selection in late April but it was subject to the board’s approval at this week’s meeting in Anchorage.
“I was told the board is not in the habit of turning down the department’s selection,” Huntington said today. “But my heart was still beating a little faster as the decision came up.”
Unable to attend the meeting, she listened via teleconference, and felt “relieved and energized” by the board’s unanimous vote to confirm her.
“I made it ‘Facebook official’ before I headed into work this morning,” she said. “I’m glad I have the whole summer to get oriented and settled.”
As superintendent, Huntington succeeds Janelle Vanasse, who resigned after six years to become president of Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage.
Huntington, who started work as superintendent June 1, has already moved into her new home here, and is looking forward to getting ready for the school year.
She said she’s been lying low since recovering from COVID, but looks forward to getting out in the community and responding to invitations to renew friendships and become better acquainted.
Huntington was a student at the state boarding school in 1991, and now her youngest son, Harley, is a rising senior there. Her youngest daughter is entering fourth grade at Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary School. Huntington’s mother is a Mt. Edgecumbe graduate, and Huntington met her future husband when they were students there. Her three siblings are fellow alums, her stepson graduated in 2017, one of her children graduated in 2019.
At the same meeting at which Huntington was confirmed as superintendent, the board of education approved Miranda Bacha as Mt. Edgecumbe academic principal, replacing Bernie Gurule. She’s been student support services coordinator for the past two years.
The board also made two appointments to the MEHS advisory board: parent Travis Vaughan as the Sitka community representative, and Jerilyn Kelly, of Quinhagak, as the parent representative. Vaughan replaces former Mt. Edgecumbe librarian Lois Rhodes and Kelly is replacing Huntington on the advisory board.
“I’m excited to serve on the board,” said Vaughan today. He and his wife have two children at Mt. Edgecumbe, a sophomore and a junior.
Huntington said another position on the advisory board is opening up with the resignation of Dr. Robert Bolen, who is moving out of state. Bolen was chairman of the Alaska Superintendents Association and was representing public administrators. The ASA will name his replacement on the Mt. Edgecumbe advisory board.
Most of the appointments were announced in a March 8 news release from the state Department of Education following the board’s quarterly meeting.
One of the main pieces of news from the meeting was Dr. Michael Johnson’s announcement that he will retire as state education commissioner effective June 30.
The state board will name an acting commissioner and start a search for Johnson’s replacement, the department said.
Unlike most commission positions, the Department of Education commissioner is appointed by the state Board of Education, subject to approval of the governor without regard to political affiliation. The commissioner serves at the pleasure of the state board. Johnson has held the office served since July 2015.
In a June 8 letter to the board he said he made the decision to retire “after seeking advice from others, most importantly my family.”
Prior to her appointment as MEHS superintendent, Huntington was Coordinator of Cultural Programs for the Bering Strait School District, a position she has held since 2018. She previously taught in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms in the Bering Strait district, and was an assistant principal of Koyuk Malimiut School. She was named parent representative on the Mt. Edgecumbe High School Advisory Board in 2017 and was selected chair in 2020.
In other business at this week’s meeting, the board approved Heidi Teshner and Lacey Sanders as deputy commissioners.
It also approved the initial application for the Knik Cultural Charter School, approved an amendment for Academy Charter School to expand to high school, and renewed the charter for Ketchikan Charter School.
Regulations establishing a Seal of Biliteracy, three facilities publications, and alternate assessment scores also were approved.
James Fields, of Glennallen, was selected again as board chair. Sandy Kowalski, Fairbanks, was voted as first vice chair and Sally Stockhausen, Ketchikan, was voted second vice chair.
The board will hold special meeting on July 13.
