Upriver Schools, Kuspuk Sch  Dist
						March 8, 2004

To Whom It May Concerned:

I’m pleased to write a letter on behalf of Elizabeth Biska.  Elizabeth is currently the high school/upper grades teacher at the Johnnie John Sr. School in Crooked Creek, Alaska.  Her students are Yupik Eskimos ranging in grades from 7 to 12th grade.  The school is a four-teacher site in very remote “Bush” Alaska.

Elizabeth is an extremely talented teacher.  In fact, I often find myself becoming drawn in to lessons I’m suppose to be evaluating.  She’s bright, articulate, dedicated, and passionate about children.  She’ is 100% teacher - always dynamic and enthusiastic.

In her classroom she has worked hard all year to motivate her group of students to learn the basics as well as giving them a depth of knowledge through interesting, purposeful lessons.  Her students have thrived and grown with her approach.  Working in a small site such as this can sometimes be overwhelming because there are all the activities and requirements of a larger school, but only four people to do all the jobs.  Elizabeth doesn’t shy from helping with after school activities or anything else she sees that needs to be done.  She even helped the students start a pizza delivery business as a fund raiser for a trip to the Lower 48 or beyond.

Our district has required teachers to use the Standards Based model of education, as well as the Lindamood-Bell reading program.  That’s quite a chunk to tackle and learn in one year, but Elizabeth has mastered both quickly.

The Crooked Creek students will miss Elizabeth when she’s gone, but I know she will positively touch many students’ lives in her career as a teacher. We wish her well where ever she goes.  

Sincerely,

Susan Hubbard
Upriver Principal
Kuspuk School District 

Phone 907-449-4216		Fax 907-449-4218		shubbard@slq.kuspuk.org