Meet Arlene Sandberg – Alaska Teacher of the Year 2006

Arlene Sandberg with NEA-Alaska President Bill Bjork at Delegate Assembly 2006.

“It’s teachers who play the most critical role in student achievement,” says Arlene Sandberg, an ESL (English as a Second Language) resource teacher for K-6 at Mountain View Elementary School in Anchorage. 

And Arlene takes that responsibility very seriously.  Early on, she promised herself that wherever her journey took her, she would try to discover each student’s story and never give up on helping her students reach their highest academic potential.

Arlene became the voice and advocate for her LEP (Limited English Proficiency) students, whose parents many not have had the skills to speak out on their behalf.  With Arlene, these parents know their children are safe and given the highest quality education, and that their culture is respected and celebrated in her classroom. 

“Teachers need to understand that learning English is a very complex process,”
she says.  “We must become learners of effective instruction of English language learners and provide a variety of instructional activities, which are more student-centered. 

“Active learning, mixed ability grouping, collaborative learning, reinforcing concepts and vocabulary with visuals, and ample opportunities to practice before assessment—all these methods must be included in our instructional practices.  Classroom environments need to be supportive.”

Arlene’s passion for her profession comes through loud and clear, and she believes it has only grown stronger over her more than 26 years of teaching.  She has taught all over the world, from Virginia to South Korea to Hawaii to Massachusetts to Alaska.  

As an involved parent, Arlene saw first-hand what can happen when children are nourished and supported through their education.  She has made it her life’s work to help every one of her students benefit from that same nurturing.

            “As teachers we need to take the responsibility to educate ourselves on the latest research and be willing to adapt to the changes under NCLB.  Teachers must be training in new research-based programs and methods, but more important we must teach these programs with integrity and fidelity. 

“Data drives instruction,” she believes.  “We need to realize and understand that one program does not fit all children.  We need to brainstorm interventions that fit the needs of students who are not progressing.”

For students to achieve, teachers must walk in the footsteps of strangers. “We need to sing with all the voices of the mountain, we need to paint with all the colors of the wind.”