Danielle Riha
2019 Alaska State Teacher of the Year
Anchorage, AK
Teaching in rural Alaska for seven years is where I learned the value of culturally responsive teaching and the incorporation of indigenous knowledge. I worked with community members to develop a successful reading program that included Yup’ik elders telling traditional oral stories in the classroom. In 2008, I was recruited to help open the Alaska Native Cultural Charter School. All stakeholders worked collaboratively to develop a culturally infused curriculum for grades K-6. I created the Morning Gathering and implemented Culture Week. As a member of the Alaska Humanities Forum Educational Advisory Board, I help new teachers and Alaskan students understand and connect to indigenous cultures and lifestyles utilizing place-based knowledge.