Bill Whicker Technology Coordinator

Mr. Whicker has been in Alaska Education since 1983.   His educational career includes teaching multiple subjects, coaching sports, and serving as principal of the Fast Track program. His current position is the Technology Coordinator for the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District.  Mr. Whicker is also the author and current grant administrator for the district's Digital Teaching Initiative grant, which provided the funds to create the Alaska Digital Academy.

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Kepa Wong Software Engineer

Kepa, a transplant from Hawaii, is our software developer.  After serving with the active duty military for several years, Kepa settled into the technology field getting his start with engineering and building satellite RF and microwave test equipment.  In order to increase the efficiency of the test gear, he learned how to program firmware in C/C++ language.  Since then he has written various business, medical, and now, educational software in a number of different languages (C#, Java, Javascript, etc) and frameworks (ASP.NET, Ruby, PHP, etc).  He is also well versed in relational database architecture and design.  Kepa designed and currently maintains the Alaska Digital Academy website, its database, supporting server applications, the web servers, and database servers.

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Mark Woodward Teacher - English, Social Stud

Mark Woodward has been teaching for 15 years, with the past four years in the blended online learning format. His previous work with the Alaska Learning Network translated well over to the Alaska Digital Academy and has taken on the role of the Distance Education Director. His passion for education and providing valuable options and opportunities to students, especially in remote locations, is at the heart of the mission of AKDA.

Mark is highly qualified to teach all Social Studies and English/Language Arts classes. His previous experience in developing online curriculum will help AKDA expand the classes offered even further.

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Gerald Scarzella Teacher - Math / Digital Phot

Mr. Scarzella has been an Alaskan educator for over 20 years in a wide variety of content areas that include math, science, photography (both wet darkroom and digital), and computer coding.  He and his family have been living in Ketchikan for the past 15 years.  Gerald and his wife are from the Bethel area in western Alaska and have 3 wonderful children living with them.  Educational technology is a great area of interest for him and he will complete his Master's degree through the University of Alaska, Southeast in the Summer of 2018.  Gerald loves teaching and the challenges that it affords, but more importantly, he loves to see students succeed and become productive citizens in our society.

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Leigh Woodward Teacher - Spanish

Leigh Woodward has taught for 12 years from Mexico all the way to Dillingham, Alaska and locations in between. This marks her second year of teaching distance and blended classes in the subjects of Spanish, English, and Social Studies.

Born in Boston, raised in Sitka, graduating from Ketchikan High School, and earning her Master's degrees from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), she is an Alaskan through and through. Her love of being outdoors and active made the perfect match for her to also coach cross-country running. She is also a board member of the Ketchikan Running Club and encourages her students to "get out there!" Finally, Leigh helps with the traveling and coaching of the debate teams.

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Adell Bruns Teacher - Sciences

Miss Adell Bruns joins the team in her favorite subject Science.  Currently, she teaches at Revilla Alternative School with students in individualized Science classes, teaches ukulele, and art as well.  Miss Adell was part of the original Ketchikan online program and returns eager to assist students with their online classes and goals toward graduation.

Living in various communities in Alaska since 1980, she has settled in Ketchikan with her husband.  Besides Science, she enjoys creating art in a variety of medium.

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Adrianne Roth Teacher - Math

Mrs. Roth teaches Math at Revilla High School.  This is her first year teaching at the High School level and with the Alaska Digital Academy.  Before this year, she taught at the elementary level for three years.  Mrs. Roth spends her free time gardening, watching football, hanging out on the boat, playing with her nieces and nephews and taking hikes with her husband and dog.

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Joe Mainardi Teacher - Social Studies/Elect

This chapter of my life started about eight years ago, when I moved to Yakutat, Alaska. Presently, I reside in Ketchikan, where I enjoy my time outdoors (even in the rain!), hunting, and fishing, and beach-combing. When the weather is too bad, I enjoy woodworking in my garage.
I grew up about 20 miles west of New York City, in Boonton, New Jersey, and I can't imagine moving back. I have fallen in love with Southeast Alaska, and I'm looking forward to raising my family here....where the air is still fresh, and there are still places to explore! 

I have two awesome little boys. Jackson is 3, and Teddy is almost a year old. I also have an old dog, Grosvenor, who joins us on our adventures. My wife, Mrs. Mainardi, was a 1st grade teacher at Point Higgins Elementary School. Now, she stays home to watch the boys.  

I graduated from the University of Alaska Southeast in May of 2016 with a Master's degree in Teaching.  I student taught at Ketchikan High School (go Kings!) in the History department. Now, I teach at Schoenbar Middle School in Ketchikan. 

My favorite part of teaching is connecting our learning to the world around us! After all, the connections and ideas uncovered throughout high school can last us for our whole lives.

 

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