Multicultural Studies for Alaska's Teachers F26.4885

UAA PACE, 500-Level Upper Division Course

Graded

This course meets the DEED Multicultural Education requirement for teacher certification. 

Weekly Zoom Meetings (attendance required):  September 16, 23, 30, October 7, 14, 21, 28, November 4 & 11.

Meeting time 4:00-6:00 p.m.

COURSE OVERVIEW

Multicultural Studies for Alaska's Teachers is a blended online professional learning course that meets the Alaska Department of Education's requirements for teacher certification in Multicultural Education.  You do not have to be currently teaching in a classroom to take this course.

This course provides a framework for understanding multicultural education in the context of the classroom, community, and society: 

• Focuses on ways to build relationships within classrooms that support multicultural learning.
• Presents an overview of Alaska Native cultures, historical events, and worldviews. 
• Explores contemporary education issues, including planning and implementation of classroom activities and strategies that fosters growth in teachers to accept and appreciate all cultures and value the rich diversity of the students in their classrooms and beyond.
• Incorporates Alaska Standards for Culturally Responsive Schools and the Guidelines for Preparing Culturally Responsive teachers.
• The weekly Zoom meetings are mandatory.
• Asynchronous coursework will be submitted through UAA Blackboard.
• Approved in Anchorage School District MLP 

Required Books, registrants are responsible for purchasing separately:  

• Culturally Proficient Instruction: A Guide for People Who Teach
• Culturally Responsive Standards-Based Teaching: Classroom to Community and Back

Please contact the instructor, if you require further information about the coursework.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• The registration deadline is September 13, 2026.  Late registrations are not accepted.
• All coursework is due by November 11, 2026. 
• Extensions and re-enrollments are not permitted.
• You may cancel within one week of registration.  A $100.00 cancellation fee will be applied.
• Spring 2027 dates TBA.

TUITION

$425.00 for Subscribers

$550.00 Non-Subscribers

CHECK SUBSCRIBER STATUS

You may pay with Visa or MasterCard.

INSTRUCTOR

Contact Dr. John-Shields directly if you have questions regarding coursework:   ajohnshields@alaska.edu.

Dr. Panigkaq Agatha John-Shields has taught ED 555B Multicultural Studies for Alaska's Teachers in a variety of formats, including face-to-face, site-based in the field at fish camps, and through synchronous online sessions. 

Dr. Shields is a dynamic and authentic instructor, and all versions of her courses have been very well-received and highly-evaluated by participants. 

She has been a guest speaker and lecturer at teacher and principal in-service training in various school districts in the state including the Anchorage School District Summer Academy.  Dr. Shields has also been a featured/keynote presenter for AFN, the Lower Kuskokwim School District, the RTI/MTSS Effective Instruction Conference, the Sealaska Heritage Culturally Responsive Education Conference and national/international events.

She is the daughter of the late Dr. Chief Kangrilnguq Paul and Anguyaluk Martina John of Toksook Bay, Alaska, where she was raised in a traditional and cultural community by many elder mentors.  Agatha was a Yup’ik teacher and a principal for Lower Kuskokwim School District for 17 years at Ayaprun Elitnaurvik Yup’ik Immersion Charter School in Bethel, Alaska. 

She currently is an assistant professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage for the Educational Leadership and Language Program for the School of Education.  Her professional passion is to teach through the lens of personal stories and experiences integrating Indigenous education and culturally-responsive teaching and learning focusing on cultural proficiency.