Janelle Vanasse

P.O. Box 685 Bethel, Alaska 907-545-1335(cell) janelle_vanasse@me.com

Professional Goal:
to provide leadership in education to further the ideals of quality education for all

Education:
Endorsement - Superintendent
University of Alaska Southeast
Projected Completion: May 2016

Masters of Education-Administration
University of Alaska- Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
Graduation: May 2004

Bachelor of Science-Special Education

St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud, Minnesota
Graduation: May 1991
Summa Cum Laude

Certificates:
State of Alaska Teacher Certificate,
Type B- Administration

State of Alaska Teaching Certificate,

Type A- Special Education K-12

Professional Experience:
2014-Present Director of Secondary Education Lower Kuskokwim School District
Lower Kuskokwim School District Bethel, Alaska
Provide leadership and direction of secondary curriculum and instruction, career and technical
education, distance delivery, academic counseling, and special programs for a rural district covering
twenty-four high schools. Provide leadership and oversight of the Ready Academies, variable-length
boarding programs. Oversee district data department including student information system, testing,
and student records. Supervise site administrators including site mentorship and evaluation of site
administrators of select schools. Provide professional development for principals and teachers in a
variety of areas including educational leadership, use of data, and secondary education.

Selected Accomplishments:

Created structure for the successful development of six career pathways district-wide.
Led the expansion of the district video-teleconference instruction into a comprehensive
district-wide distance delivery plan including the incorporation of partner agencies and
extensive professional development for distance education providers.
Led systematic improvement of the secondary programs including needs assessment and
implementation; included presentations to the board for approval.
Successfully completed process of obtaining state licensing for the dormitory portion of the
variable length boarding program- Ready Academies.
Led systematic adjustments to the Ready Academies resulting in a sustainable model with
consistent staffing and budget.

Assumed a lead role in staff development for the 30+ site administrator/principal group.
Assumed a lead role in systematically addressing school improvement within district.
Assumed lead role in data analysis and data presentations within the district.
Built capacity of counselors and distance delivery teachers to use data for student
recommendations and adjustments in counseling plans and instruction.
Worked closely with other instructional directors to establish a wrap-around support
approach for improvement in identified lowest performing schools.
As a member of the teacher evaluation committee, played a key role in establishing the
parameters and piloting the student growth index (student learning objective).
Played key role adoption of a content management system for web-based communication.
Established summer math program for junior high students.
Established dual-credit math offerings in cohort groups for village schools.
Partnered with Taco Bell in piloting a leadership curriculum in village schools.

2006- 2014 Site Administrator Bethel Regional High School

Lower Kuskokwim School District Bethel, Alaska
Served as principal and site administrator of a 500 student high school grades 7-12, a Title 1 school
serving primarily Alaska Native Students. Provided focused school improvement resulting in
increased graduation rate, increased test score results, and improved college-going rate to well over
the state average during tenure. Provided extensive staff development. Position included site-based
budgeting, and management of ancillary service in addition to instructional leadership.

Selected Accomplishments:

Led the revision of instructional model through a complete change cycle including needs
assessment, plan development, implementation, continuous improvement, and
sustainability. Plan was approved by the board and many elements ultimately assumed for
district-wide implementation.
Established and executed school improvement goals annually with measurable results.
Within first three years, reduced the number of annual drop-outs by half; drop-out rates
went from a consistent 8% range to 3.8% with sub-group gaps for IEP, AK Native, and
economically disadvantaged essentially eliminated.
Over course of tenure, increased graduation rate from hovering around 50% to reaching
70% and above for 4th and 5th year graduation rates.
Increased participation in advanced classes beyond requirements, doubling participation in
Chemistry and tripling participation in Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, and Physics.
Increased participation in Advanced Placement courses 2-4 fold resulting in consistently
offered full Advanced Placement classes every year in AP Biology, AP US History, and AP
Composition and Literature, and Calculus offered either through AP or dual credit.
Established partnership with the UAF-KuC resulting in dual-credit courses offered on the
Bethel Regional High School campus including: Medical Terminology, Child
Development, Psychology 101, Calculus, and others.
Maintained high expectations of students taking courses beyond requirements typically
resulting in over 75% of students graduating with math and science beyond requirements.
Established a college-going culture, resulting in 65% college-going rate in 2013 and
students earning a Get Schooled award through their post secondary efforts.
Established a Response to Instruction high school model to provide students courses at
their instructional level while maintaining courses with diverse learners and a consistent
expectation for all students to take challenging courses.

Established a system of credit recovery to allow students in the D range to master

necessary skills and earn credit with a C during spring break or summer school.
Partnered with Orutsaramiut Native Council to provide direct referrals to the tribal
healthy families program to divert school action for truancy or address other needs.
Secured grant funds to provide teenage alcohol prevention activities and to provide regular
mental health services on campus.
Partnered with the Rasmuson Foundation on the concept and establishment of the Ready
Academies to extend advanced courses and transitional experiences to district village
schools through a semester-length boarding program.
Established successful partnerships with- Alaska Commission on Post Secondary Education
ACPE, Alaska Native Science Engineering Program ANSEP, Get Schooled, University of
Alaska UAF-KuC.
Expanded the utilization of university bridging programs including ANSEP, Upward
Bound, and Della Keats.
Established an Engineering Pathway, partnering with ANSEP and resulting in multiple
graduates with successful transition into science and technology programs.
Supported students as they won a Get Schooled award and ultimately participated in
leadership training and visiting California through a Partnership with Taco Bell.
Incorporated the use of automatic messaging for increased communication, which was later
adopted district-wide.
Led the establishment of a dynamic website, Facebook page, and twitter feed for increased
web and social media communication.

2004-2006- Assistant Site Administrator Bethel Regional High School

Lower Kuskokwim School District Bethel, Alaska
Served as assistant principal of a 500 student high school grades 7-12.

Selected Accomplishments:

Established an anti-bullying curriculum in a shared leadership process with a teacher team.

Led staff through mid-year administration transition and response to public dissatisfaction.

2001-2004- Executive Director Yuut Elitnaurviat

Yuut Elitnaurviat Inc, on loan from Lower Kuskokwim School District Bethel, Alaska
Helped develop and ultimately administer a multi-agency non-profit corporation with the purpose
of providing vocational training to youth and adults in rural Alaska. Employment was maintained
through Lower Kuskowkim School District, but the position administered the independent
corporation of nine agency partners.

Selected Accomplishments:

Secured over $8 million in funds for construction.

Established a 501(c)3 corporation.
Led the conceptual design of a vocational program that is considered one of the most
successful rural training centers in the state today.
Organized and worked for an executive board of directors that included the CEO/Lead
Administrator from major organizations.
Led the organization through initial delivery of services and the design phase of of the
current facility.

1996-2001- Educational Specialist Special Education and Grants

Lower Kuskokwim School District Bethel, Alaska
Provided direct services to schools regarding special education services, specifically related to
students with emotional disturbances from 1996-1999 and grant funding from 1999-2001.

Selected Accomplishments:

Established school-wide behavior prevention plans.

Secured millions of dollars in discretionary grant funds for a variety of programs.

1993-1996- Teacher- Special Education grades 4-6 Weller Elementary

Fairbanks Northstar Borough School District Fairbanks, Alaska
Taught a self-contained classroom for students with emotional disabilities.

1991-1993- Teacher- Special Education grades 7-12 Eleva-Strum High School

CESA #10 Chippawa Falls Wisconsin
Taught a self-contained classroom for students with emotional disabilities.

Current Board Positions

Bethel Community Services Foundation
Education Northwest American Indian/Alaska Native Education Advisory Board

References:
Dan Walker
Superintendent
Lower Kuskokwim School District
907-543-4810
dan_walker@lksd.org

Carlton Kuhns
Assistant Superintendent
Lower Kuksokwim School District
907-543-4858
carlton_kuhns@lksd.org

Gary Whitely, Ed. D

Educational Consultant
Metis Consulting
907-394-4445
gary.whiteley@gmail.com

Mike Siebersma
Director
Education Northwest
971-263-1571
Mike.Siebersma@educationnorthwest.org

Billy Strickland
Executive Director
Alaska School Activities Association, Inc.
907-563-3723
billy@asaa.org

Martin Laster, PH.D

Associate Professor of Education
University of Alaska Southeast
907-796-6087
mlaster@uas.alaska.edu

Lynn Mellor
Teacher
Bethel Regional High School
907-545-0200
lynn_mellor@lksd.org

Andrea Engbretsen
Director of Elementary Education
Lower Kuskokwim School District
907-543-4800
andrea_engbretsen@lksd.org