The Disengaged Teen Book Club

Hi - We're so glad to have you in the book club. Most of you should have received a copy of The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and Live Better by Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop. If your copy hasn't arrived yet, you can find articles, podcasts, and even a study guide here: The Disengaged Teen

To start us off, tell us a little about yourself and what prompted you to sign up for the book club.

To model that... I live in Juneau, work for AASB, and am the mom of three teenagers. I'm endlessly fascinated by what makes kids tick and how people learn. I feel like I have my own focus group at home, and this book is helping me understand them a bit better.

------------------------------
Emily Ferry
Association of Alaska School Boards
Juneau AK
907-463-1671
------------------------------

My name is Tiffany, I also work for AASB here in Juneau.  I have 3 children, 2 who are now out of their teens, 1 who still is a teen, and it's been interesting to read the book, and think about how at different points in time, each of my kids have been resisters, passengers, achievers, and explorers.  I'm looking forward to learning more!

------------------------------
Tiffany Jackson
Association of Alaska School Boards
Juneau AK
907-463-1666
------------------------------

Hello all! An educator with over 12 years of experience, I am passionate about trying to engage the whole body in learning and not just the mind. I believe kids learn the best when their hands are moving too, with hands-on learning or through creating art while making connections to content. 

I joined the book club out of curiosity - either to learn something knew or reinforce what I have already learned through my experiences being an educator in various settings. 

------------------------------
Emily Annas
Nome Public Schools
------------------------------

I'm Paul, a board member from Sitka. I have one teen still at home, and three more that have navigated the teen years. I signed up hoping to learn more

about what makes teens tick, and how that is changing in real time.

------------------------------
Paul Rioux
Board Member
Sitka School District
Sitka AK
907-738-9063
------------------------------

I'm Dorcas, a teacher at Nome Public Schools. I have 3 children, two are in their teens. I signed up to gain insights and learn how to understand and handle them better.

------------------------------
Dorcas Anunda
Teacher/School Staff
Nome Public Schools
------------------------------

Hi all, my name is Callie!

I am a Youth Engagement Coordinator in Anchorage. I recently graduated with my bachelor's in May in psychology with a minor in children's mental health. I want to learn all I can to help support the next generation of leaders so we can all work together to make the world we live in a better place. I am excited to get started on this book and to hear from you all.

------------------------------
Callie Little
Youth Engagement Coordinator
------------------------------

My name is Velvet Ivers, and I live in Yakutat, AK.  I'm a retired school teacher and am currently working as the Full Service Community Schools co-coordinator for our school. I read this book once last year, and was quite impressed! I ordered a handful of the book and tried to get a book club going, but did not have great success in recruiting members.  I figured I would join this book club, and glean great information from all of you, and try again this winter. 

------------------------------
Velvet Ivers
Yakutat Schools
------------------------------

Hi, my name is Juleesa. Im from Anchorage. I have been a early educator for over 15 years. I have a kiddo who just turn 13. I would love to understand more about the mind and emotions of a teen in this generation or overall. 

------------------------------
Juleesa Caldwell
Parent/Caregiver
------------------------------

My name is Phil Burdick. I live in Sitka and have worked with ALL the teens over the past 30 years as a coach, teacher, administrator, and now, Board member. I navigated one teen and have one still in the house. I'm looking forward to listening and learning how we can engage all the youth in AK.

------------------------------
Phil Burdick
Sitka School District
------------------------------

My name is Alice, 

I am the Student Success Coordinator for Lower Yukon School District. I am based in Scammon Bay. I would like to see more ideas on working with youth who may be struggling. I have 2 teenagers at home as well. 

------------------------------
Alice Hunter
District Office
------------------------------

Hi, my name is Kiersha. I'm a parent of three teenagers, a preteen, and toddler. I'm learning more about this in to engage better and understand them better as a parent. I work also in parent education for a much younger audience 0-5yrs. I am interested professionally as well, developing more skills for an older group. 

------------------------------
Kiersha Corral
Parent/Caregiver
Fairbanks, AK
------------------------------

Hi, everyone - My name is Julia Phelan, and I live in Delta Junction with my husband and three beautiful (and oh so different) children, ages 13, 16, and 19. I serve on our local school board and AASB Board, currently as AASB President. I actually started to read Rebecca Winthrop's book last February because we were considering inviting her to speak at our upcoming annual conference. At the time, I was thinking about how her ideas would apply to schools across the state, how they would help teachers reach students better, and if they could assist board members and our association in crafting better education policy. It didn't take long though before I started seeing my own children (and myself!) in the pages as well. I'm glad we're here together, sharing out thoughts and insights as we digest the book as a group! 

------------------------------
Julia Phelan
Delta Greely School District
------------------------------

Hi Everyone! My name is Nathan and I currently work at Discovery Peak Charter School, a K-8 school located in North Pole and part of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. My previous work was in K-12 schools and with 6-12. I have three children, two of them teens. I just received the book today, but also got an audiobook copy and started listening to that during my commute. I am always looking for ways to improve learning and engagement - and expand our understanding of what that looks like for different kids. So far, I've found the book inspiring and helpful in detailing the four learning modes that I can recognize in students down into the intermediate grades. I'm looking forward to some external accountability and connecting with other curious learners.

------------------------------
Nathan Pitt
Discovery Peak
Fairbanks
------------------------------

I'm Stacey Proctor. I live in Gustavus and am a working parent of two teens in grades 9 and 10.  I am currently serving on the Chatham School Board. I joined this book club for some inspiration as we head into a new school year. 

------------------------------
Stacey Proctor
Board Member
Chatham School District
------------------------------

Hi, I'm Angie.  I am a retired educator/administrator from Louisiana.  I am on my second year as an administrator in a small village.  I joined the book club because i want to learn more about what truly motivates students to become active participants in their learning.  I am hopeful that what I learn here, I can use to help create a stronger culture of student engagement in my school.

------------------------------
Angie Schraven
Teacher/School Staff
Northwest Arctic Borough School District
------------------------------