About
ASDN & ACSA

ASDN is a statewide partnership initiated in 1983 that includes Alaska’s 53 school districts, four colleges and universities, the Department of Education and Early Development, the Alaska Association for Secondary School Principals, the Alaska Association of Elementary School Principals, NEA-Alaska, and a number of professional education associations.

The mission of the Alaska Staff Development Network (ASDN) is to improve student achievement by providing researched-based online learning and face-to-face professional development programs for Alaska’s teachers and school administrators.

We believe that the unique professional growth needs of Alaska’s teachers and administrators can be best met by strengthening collaborative relationships among these groups.

• ASDN focuses on priorities established by school districts and professional organizations statewide.

• Key leaders from all districts and past program participants are surveyed annually to help set our professional learning priorities.

• ASDN also forms partnerships that bring significant additional resources to school districts and associations in the state.

• Our online courses and face-to-face institutes expand the staff development opportunities available to all educators, especially those in rural districts.

• Our classes and events typically have approximately 4,500 registrants annually. One third of those educators enrolled in more than one ASDN activity.

• ASDN hosts AkPLN. The Alaska Professional Learning Network (AkPLN) is a private online space to support professional growth for teachers around the state. We’ve partnered with the Coalition for Education Equity and the Teaching Channel to offer this space at no cost to Alaskan educators  through ASDN/ACSA. Members of AkPLN have access to view resources, and join or create school, district or statewide teams.  Gain ideas for lessons, view new teaching strategies to try out, or build your repertoire of techniques related to curriculum, instruction and assessment. Teams and discussions can be private among educators you invite or public for everyone in the state.

ASDN is administered by the Alaska Council of School Administrators.

Click HERE to see if your school district or organization is a Level 1 or Level 2 ASDN Member.

As a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation established in 1973, the Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA) was created to serve as an umbrella for Alaska’s premier educational leadership organizations including the:

• Alaska Staff Development Network

• Alaska Superintendents Association

• Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals

• Alaska Association of Elementary School Principals

• Alaska Association of School Business Officials

ACSA’s unifying purpose is to support educational leaders through professional forums, provide a voice that champions possibilities for all students and purposeful advocacy for public education. ACSA comprises professional educational leaders of Alaska’s schools and school systems. Members include superintendents and other central office administrators, university professors, elementary and secondary principals and school business officials. ACSA is also proud to administer the Alaska Staff Development Network (ASDN), Alaska’s premier long-standing and highly regarded staff development resource.

As an umbrella organization, ACSA takes a lead role in supporting and advocating for public education while recognizing the value and uniqueness of each member organization. Each member organization has its own board and selects representatives to serve on the ten member ACSA board. The ACSA Board is supported by an executive director.

Please visit our Membership page to learn more about our services and the benefits of being an ACSA member.