Dear ASD Community,

As the 2024–2025 school year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on what has been another extraordinary chapter for the Anchorage School District (ASD); a year marked by continued growth, continued change, and continued resilience.

What defines us is our unwavering commitment to students.

In every school, in every classroom, I’ve seen that commitment come to life. I’ve seen students rise to meet high expectations, achieve academic growth, shine in performances, compete in athletics, and give back through service. I’ve seen teachers, staff, and leaders go above and beyond to create learning environments that are welcoming, challenging, and inspiring. And I’ve seen families and community partners stand with us—championing the success of every child.

So, as we close out the year, I want to say this clearly: we must celebrate the wins. Because they are real, they are meaningful, and they are worth every ounce of our effort.

To every student, staff member, and family—thank you. Thank you for believing in the potential of public education and for your role in making this a district that continues to grow, adapt, and succeed together.

Wishing you a restful, joyful summer filled with moments of pride and reflection. We’ll see you in August—ready to keep building.

Sincerely,

Jharrett Bryantt, Ed.D.

Superintendent

We're excited to kick off our 2025 ASD graduation season by highlighting some outstanding graduates from every school. 

On each school's graduation day, please check out ASD social media for the amazing stories from our Class of 2025.

Over the last five years, attendance challenges have grown nationwide. 

Together, we can make a difference by encouraging regular attendance—because every day matters! #ASDAttendanceMatters

Friday, May 9th, isn't just any Friday — it was West Anchorage High School's Kevin Wright’s last day of school...EVER! 

After 13 years, 0 absences, and probably too many perfectly timed alarms and parent wake ups, Kevin is officially wrapping up his time at West High and the Anchorage School District!

That’s right — Kevin never missed a single day. Not one. The real MVP of showing up. 

Kevin, your commitment is legendary. We’re proud, we’re impressed, and honestly…we hope you sleep in tomorrow. 

Check out Kevin's perfect attendance story in the ASD Shine Bright Podcast.

It’s a bittersweet moment as we say goodbye to Joshua Pak, Polaris K-12 School senior and President of the ASD Student Advisory Board, as he attends his final school board meeting before graduation and moving on to college.

Thank you, Josh, for being a thoughtful leader, a dedicated listener, and a strong advocate for your fellow students. 

Your voice made a difference, and your future is bright!

On May 6th, the Anchorage School Board approved Memo 153 and revised the FY 2025–2026 General Fund budget in partnership with administration.

Memo 153 increases the Anchorage School District’s (ASD) proposed operating budget from $594.6 million to $634.5 million and begins restoring key staff positions and student programs previously reduced in response to flat state funding.

 This decision represents a calculated but necessary risk. By incorporating revenue from a projected $560 Base Student Allocation (BSA) increase into the financial plan, the Board and administration are responding to the Legislature’s strong bipartisan passage of House Bill 57. While the bill awaits action by the Governor, ASD is acting now to reduce further disruption and bring greater stability to schools as preparations for the 2025–26 school year continue.

Importantly, approval of Memo 153 eliminates the need for May 15 layoff notifications, which would have formally separated around 80 certificated educators from the District. With this revision, ASD can begin reversing displacements, reassigning staff, and reinstating programs to better meet the needs of students in the year ahead.

The revised budget allocates $39.8 million in anticipated revenue to restore more than 200 teaching positions, prioritize instruction and student support, and preserve critical programs such as IGNITE, immersion, school libraries, elementary counseling, athletics, and summer learning. This action reflects the District’s commitment to protecting classroom experiences and educational opportunities—even amid financial uncertainty.

The decision to move forward follows months of advocacy, careful planning, and difficult tradeoffs. It reflects the belief that our students and staff deserve every opportunity to begin the next school year with the support they need to thrive.

We are profoundly grateful for the resilience our students and staff have shown throughout this process, and we remain deeply aware of the personal and professional impact these decisions carry.

To learn more about the impacts of this decision please click the video below to hear Superintendent Bryantt’s May 6th comments.

To watch the school board work session and regular meeting:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/anchoragesd

REMINDER THAT ONLINE REGISTRATION

FOR RETURNING STUDENTS HAS OPENED

Confirm your registration status in Parent Connect today: Login, select your student, and click ASD Quick Links to see if Online Registration is Complete or Incomplete. 

Log in and register your student via ParentConnect 

If you need your PIN and a new password, please visit the Login Reminder Page 

Instructions for logging in and registering are available in the Online Registration Guide 

For questions about your students’ registration, please contact your school. 

Download the Stopfinder app!

New to ASD, this secure and convenient mobile app provides real-time updates on your child’s transportation schedule.

Easily view your child’s bus stop locations, pick-up/drop-off times, share schedules with caregivers, and customize GeoAlerts that notify you when your child’s bus enters or exits designated areas.

What you can do now:

Download the Stopfinder app, which is available in the Apple App or Google Play store.

Ensure your parent email is up to date in Q.

Invitations will be sent out at the start of the new school year to the emails listed in Q for families of students utilizing Transportation services.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

This year's theme is “Turn Awareness into Action.”  

This theme celebrates the progress we've made in recognizing the importance of mental health and challenges us to turn understanding into meaningful steps toward change.  

Every Monday in May on ASD social media, look for information on how to get you thinking and learning about mental health!

The Anchorage School District has partnered with the Cook Center for Human Connection and their Mental Health Resource Center.

ParentGuidance.org is a website developed to provide parents, guardians, and caregivers with resources from clinicians and experts who offer guidance around issues related to the most common challenges parents face today: anxiety, social media use, school avoidance, bullying, and more.

ASD parents you have access to the On-Demand Courses:

https://parentguidance.org/all-courses/

And Ask a Therapist resources:

https://parentguidance.org/ask-a-therapist/

Come discover your future at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA).

Seawolf Nation is waiting for you! Join us for a tour of campus to learn more about student life, academics, athletics and more!

Visit our website and select the right tour for you. 

Walk-ins are welcome for our standard tours on most Wednesdays at 10 a.m. and Fridays at 3 p.m.

Enhanced tours tend to fill up quickly as those are custom to each student who registers.

If you don't see a date/time that works for your schedule, email us at [email protected].

We look forward to welcoming you to campus.

Applications for the fall 2025 semester are now open.

UAA can help you achieve your future goals so apply today and start your journey with Seawolf Nation!  

Are you a student (16 years or older), want to earn cash and learn real-world skills this summer? 

Join the Anchorage School District Maintenance Team! 

Get hands-on experience, build your resume, and be part of a crew that keeps our schools running strong.

Don’t miss out — apply now and level up your summer!  

Do you know a young person, between the ages of 6-18 who is making a positive difference in the community?

Tell us about them and they could be awarded a $2,000 scholarship from Alaska Communications and earn special recognition in their local community.

Through the Summer of Heroes program, youth across Alaska are recognized for doing good for those around them.

Tell us about your favorite youth hero today by filling out this nomination form. 

Check out our podcast, ASD Shine Bright, which highlights the awesome things students and staff are doing in the Anchorage School District.

Listen to amazing stories, journeys, challenges, and successes.

Check out the latest episodes below:

#ASDShineBright: Service High School’s Dariia Bondarenko Named Congressional Art Winner

Big congratulations to Service High School’s Dariia Bondarenko! 

Her stunning oil painting “My Mother’s Beauty” has been selected as a 2025 Congressional Art Competition winner. 

Dariia’s work will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year—an incredible honor for this talented young artist.

#ASDShineBright: Scenic Park Elementary Annual Mile Run Challenge

Scenic Park students laced up and leveled up during their annual mile run — with the whole school, families, and even a few pom-poms on the sidelines, the energy was off the charts! 

Big shoutout to the East High Cross Country crew (yep, including the state champ!) for showing up, showing out, and cheering on our runners every step of the way.

A day full of heart, hustle, and high-fives!

#ASDShineBright: Tudor Elementary School Hosts Annual Recycle Museum

Creativity meets sustainability at Tudor Elementary’s Amazing Recycle Museum! 

Hosted by the awesome Zane and Everleigh, this annual Montessori event showcased student-made masterpieces crafted from recycled materials. 

Proof that imagination can create treasures!

#ASDShineBright: Annual Ocean View Elementary School Fun Run

Pies flew & feet flew faster at the annual Ocean View Elementary School’s Fun Run Fundraiser! 

Students & staff had a blast mixing sweet treats with speedy strides. 

Check out how the Seals showed up & showed out! 

#ASDShineBright: Celebrating Military Career Day at Aurora Elementary

As part of the Month of the Military Child, Aurora Elementary hosted a Military Career Day.

Units from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) provided interactive displays & hands-on experiences, giving students a unique opportunity to learn about military careers directly from service members.

Thank you to our JBER partners for their support and to 1st Grade Teacher Jessica Wright for creating a video that beautifully captured the event!

On May 6th, School Board Members Margo Bellamy and Kelly Lessens were sworn in for their new terms on the Anchorage School Board. Also during the School Board meeting, Carl Jacobs was elected President, Margo Bellamy was elected Vice President, Kelly Lessens was elected Treasurer, and Dora Wilson was elected Clerk.