(9-3-2025) - rootEd Alaska hosts statewide training to strengthen rural students' college, career success

rootEd Alaska hosts statewide training to strengthen rural students' college, career success

Sept. 3, 2025
No. 25-16

ANCHORAGE - College and career advisors from across Alaska are gathering in Anchorage Sept. 3-5, 2025, for the rootEd Alaska Advisor Training Conference. The three-day convening, part of the Alaska Career Guide initiative, will offer professional development, practical tools, and statewide collaboration to help rural high school seniors graduate on a path to well-paying careers aligned to regional workforce needs.

The Alaska Career Guide initiative is a public-private partnership among the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), rootEd Alliance, the Bristol Bay Regional Career and Technical Education (BBRCTE) Consortium, and Sealaska Heritage Institute. Together, these partners align education and workforce services, grounding the work in Alaska's cultural and regional strengths.

"The Career Guide initiative aligns with our mission to prepare Alaskans for the jobs of tomorrow, and we're proud to partner to bring this important resource to Alaska's rural schools," said Catherine Muñoz, DOLWD Commissioner. "By connecting education and workforce, we're helping ensure that young people can thrive in their local communities."

Launched in 2024, rootEd Alaska ensures that students in participating rural schools have access to a dedicated college and career advisor who works one-on-one with every senior. rootEd advisors help students to explore careers, apply for college or training programs, navigate financial aid opportunities such as the FAFSA, and take concrete steps toward college enrollment, workforce credentials, apprenticeships, or military service. Advisors also partner with local businesses to connect students to in-demand career paths, including those close to home.

"Every student deserves the opportunity to graduate high school with a clear career path and concrete education or training steps to pursue it," said Noa Meyer, Board Chair of rootEd Alliance. "rootEd's model has shown that rural students thrive with dedicated college and career advising, and we're thrilled to expand rootEd Alaska to ensure even more schools benefit from this life-changing support."

This advisor training will kick off rootEd Alaska's second academic year. In its pilot year in the state, rootEd Alaska demonstrated a positive impact on rural students across the state:

• 12% higher FAFSA completion rate than the state average
• 89% of rootEd Alaska students participated in events to learn about local career paths, including business and industry tours, job shadowing and internships
• 62% of students feel that their future will be stronger thanks to their rootEd advisor
• 92% of school leaders say the advisor role has positively impacted the trajectory of the students they serve

As part of the Governor of Alaska's initiative to expand career and technical support in schools, Dr. Deena M. Bishop, Commissioner of DEED, emphasized the importance of planning for the future: "Every Alaskan student should graduate high school with a clear plan for his or her future. Through the Career Guide initiative, each participating rural student has dedicated support to explore options and pursue a chosen path.