Fresh out of graduate school on the East Coast, Maria Hernandez closed her eyes, pointed at a random spot on a map, and chose Alaska by pure chance.
What was supposed to be a short adventure turned into more than two decades of service in Anchorage schools. Over the years, she has worked as a counselor, administrator, and now as a principal in alternative education, discovering that the state’s communities and opportunities kept her here far longer than she imagined.
In Anchorage, alternative schools aren’t the “last-chance” models found in the Lower 48. They’re schools of choice, open to any student through a lottery, and built around different approaches to learning.
Students call staff by first names, share in school decision-making, and take on leadership roles like running their own fundraisers. To Hernandez, this student-driven, community-minded approach captures something essential about Alaska itself: people are willing to try new ideas, trust each other, and let students’ voices shape the culture.
She sees Alaska as a place where educators can make a genuine impact, both inside and outside the classroom. While challenges like teacher shortages are real, so are the opportunities: a supportive professional community, the freedom to innovate, and the chance to work in one of the most diverse school districts in the nation. As a gay Hispanic woman from New Jersey, Hernandez knows her presence makes a difference for representation and visibility. But what keeps her rooted in Alaska is the chance to keep building schools where students feel seen, heard, and empowered to lead.