Meet the Staff
Administration
Sharene Craft
Principal
I am honored to lead a school with a rich tradition of providing a quality education. I have been dedicated to the field of education for more than twenty years (11 years in Alaska) working with a variety of students' ranging in ages from Kindergarten through and including College. I am blessed to be married to my wonderful husband, Steve. Our mixed family consists of 14 children, dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren who live all over the United States from Gambell & Savoonga, Alaska to the states of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Texas, Tennessee and Oregon. We are proud of the fact that we were married in a school gym, officiated by a Principal in Alaska and are the humbled recipients of the 2019 NABI Phil Homeratha Leadership Award for our over a decade of work with indigenous youth of Alaska.
Jason Harris
Assistant Principal/Activities Director
This is my third year in Unalakleet and 20th in rural Alaskan education. My wife and I are on year 18 of marriage and have two daughters. The four of us love the outdoors and getting our hands dirty doing subsistence, gardening, and building. We enjoy running and swimming and just staying active. When time and weather allows, you may find us flying around in our little plane.
Elementary
Amber Martin
ECE Teacher
Marlene Haugen
ECE Para-pro
Treca Ivanoff
Kindergarten Teacher
My Name is Treca Ivanoff. I am currently the kindergarten teacher. This is my 8th year teaching kindergarten. I also taught ECE for three years and Special Education for 5 years. I am married to Dean Ivanoff and I have two boys in high school.
Quinn Ivanoff
Kindergarten Para-pro
Jamie Katchatag
1st Grade Teacher
Moved to Unalakleet in 2001
Mother to one beautiful daughter
Elementary Degree from Alaska Pacific University
Educational Leadership Masters from University of Alaska Southeast
Teacher for 20 years: 2 years with LKSD, 1 year ASD, 17 years BSSD
Angela Dick
1st Grade Para-pro
Mori Jack
2nd Grade Teacher
-Born and raised in rural Alaska. Nome-Beltz High School Graduate.
-Received BS in Elementary Education from Corban College in Salem, Oregon.
-3 years teaching experience from NWABSD in Shungnak, AK.
-Moved to Unalakleet in 2011 and started teaching full time in 2018.
-Mother to 5 beautiful humans.
-I spend my free time either making things (knitting, sewing, baking) or playing on the tundra and river.
Lillian Katongan
2nd Grade Para-pro
Bethany Fernstrom
3rd grade Teacher
My name is Bethany Fernstrom, or Mrs. Fern, to my students.
I have been teaching since 2012 and living in Unalakleet since 2015.
I went to college at the University of Wyoming, and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education.
I coach Battle of the Books for 3rd and 4th grade and I am the art liaison for the school.
Some things that I enjoy are sewing, gardening, reading, skiing, traveling and cooking.
I enjoy being part of the Unalakleet community and I feel privileged to teach your children.
Michelle Simon
3rd Grade Para-pro
My name is Michelle Simon and I am engaged to Kenny Ivanoff. This is my 5th year working at the Unalakleet School. Prior to working with BSSD, I taught back in White Mountain for Kawerak Headstart for 5 years. I enjoying going back home for the summer, going out boating, catching/cutting fish, berry picking, going on 4-wheeler rides and most of all raising my two children, Lucas and Erin.
Karen Coffey
4th Grade Teacher
Yvonne (Sipary) Ivanoff
4th Grade Para-pro
8th child of 13 siblings Born in St. Mary’s
Moved to Unalakleet in 1988 Married Henry Ivanoff Sr. 1998
Started working for BSSD in 1991 Mother to Ryan, Sonia, and Renae
Stepmother to Jr., Lori, and Alex Grandma to all of our kids
Went to UAF, took colleges courses through Kuskokwim College, and APU
Heather Dickens
5th Grade Teacher
My name is Heather Dickens. From Unalakleet, I am married and have 2 sons. I enjoy being out in the country: hunting, fishing, and subsisting.
I started working in the school in 2005. I was an educational aide for migrant, sped, and the classroom. In 2011, I received my Bachelors in Education, from the Alaska Pacific University. In 2012, I started teaching. I spent one year in Middle school teaching science, social studies, physical education, and health. Since then I have taught 5th grade. Since starting at the school, I have been part of the solutions team, a data coordinator, testing coordinator, ELA liaison, and a member of the PMF team. In 2017, I received my Masters in Leadership from the University of Alaska Southeast Heather Dickens
Kaitlin Turner
5th Grade Para-pro
Special Education
Samantha Razzo
Special Education Teacher
My name is Samantha Razzo. I have been married to my husband, Abel, for 10 years and together we have 5 amazing children. This will be my 7th year as an educator and my 11th year providing social/emotional support. I was born and raised just outside of Tampa, Florida. Alaska is definitely an exciting experience for us! We are so happy to be in Unalakleet! Abel and I look forward to learning about the native culture and incorporating those values into the raising of our own children.
Jodi Grewe
Special Education Teacher
Hello! My name is Jodi and this is my 15th year teaching. I have taught in 3 villages in the Bering Strait school district and 1 school in Minnesota. I have taught both general education and special education students. I look forward to my 3rd year teaching here in Unalakleet!
Kezia Blatchford
Special Education Para-Pro
Sunshine Ivanoff
Special Education Para-pro
Christy Towarak
Special Education Para-pro
Jewel Galaktianoff
Special Education Para-pro
Kirstian Haugen
Special Education Para-Pro
Paulette Kniseley
Special Education Para-pro
Middle School
Megan Ellis
Middle School ELA
This is my third year in Unalakleet, and 8th year in BSSD. Before moving to Unalakleet, I taught high school in Savoonga, and middle and high school in Elim. I am originally from a small town in upstate New York, but now my husband, Brendan and I call Alaska home! I have a Masters degree in Cross Cultural Education, and am currently finishing my reading specialist certification. When I'm not at school, I have three small kids that keep me extra busy! I love to read, write, cook, bake, and spend time outdoors with my family. We like to spend our summers visiting family, camping, taking road trips, and exploring places we haven't been before.
Brittany Wirth
Middle School Mathematics Teacher
I started teaching middle and high school math in 2015 in Brevig Mission but moved to Unalakleet to teach middle school math in 2018. I am married, to Matt, and we have two daughters, Charleigh and Hunter. We enjoy spending time together by taking boat rides, berry picking, and watching movies. I’m currently working on a double Masters degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment and Teacher Leadership.
High School
Giaana Peterson
High School Language Arts Teacher
Growing up, I enjoyed living here in Unalakleet and I also enjoyed school, especially extra-curricular activities. So, after graduating from UAA with an English degree, I decided to do something that might eventually allow me to move back to Unalakleet AND work in a school: become a teacher. Following family members’ footsteps, I attended UAF and got a Master’s in Secondary Education. I spent my first year of teaching in Stebbins teaching 7th grade, and then an English position opened up here at home. I’m thankful my former teachers encouraged me to apply for the position because I love my job and I once again get to enjoy the life I grew up living. And I get to enjoy it with my husband and daughter, too.
Sandra Manning
High School Mathematics Teacher
Hello, My name is Sandra Manning and this is my second year here at Unalakleet. I came here after spending 13 years in Chevak, Alaska but I spent three years teaching on Diomede before that. I have a B.S. in Mathematics, a MATL in the Integration of technology into the classroom and I completed my teaching credentials at the University of Texas at Dallas. I’ve lived in Alaska since 1989.
sandra.manning@bssd.org is my e-mail address.
Dean Ivanoff
High School Social Studies Teacher
Christian Persons
High School Science Teacher
Whole School
Samanthah Goossen
Music Teacher
I have worked at Unalakleet as the music teacher for a year. I graduated from Texas Woman's University with a degree in Music Education. I grew up in Texas and music has been a part of my life since I started playing piano in 3rd grade. I have played clarinet in band for 13 years.
UNK Music Website: https://sites.google.com/bssd.org/unkmusic
Kristen McDonald
School Counselor
Hello all! This is my fifth year working in Unalakleet Schools as the school counselor. I graduated from Montana State University in 2014 with a Master of Education in School Counseling and have been in the Norton Sound region ever since. As the school counselor, I focus on the development of all students in personal & social skills, academic growth, and career endeavors. I am also the HS/MS student government coordinator and our district's Youth Leader facilitator. Outside of school, my husband and I love to travel, learn new skills, and go for runs with our dogs, Siku and Nola! Currently, I am working on my Master's of Education in Educational Leadership through UAS. Spread joy and kindness in the world!
Jolene Nanouk
Bicultural Teacher
Reid Tulloch
CTE Teacher
0-17 Petersburg, AK, Commercial Fishing in summers
17-23 Montana State University - Landscaping or commercial fishing in summers
23-25 Married my wonderful Angela!, had a kid, moved to Unalakleet for teaching
25-now 7 kids, lots of stuff, commercial fish locally, still teach CTE
Special interests include Welding, Drones, Making stuff, Breaking stuff, Fixing stuff, Time with my kids, Asking Questions