Point Hope resident honored for exceptional service to education

December 16th 2:39 pm | Hannah Heimbuch

Point Hope resident Eva Kinneeveauk was among 10 Alaskans recognized by the National School Board Association for exceptional local leadership.

Kinneeveauk, an employee of the Tikigaq Corporation, represents Point Hope and Point Lay on the North Slope Borough School District Board of Education. Now in her second term, she joined the school board in 2007.

"It's been a challenge, but I really enjoy being on the school board," Kinneeveauk said.

After many years of focusing on her family - Kinneeveauk has three grown children and two grandchildren - she found herself immersed in the world of education and political decisions.

"My first year was like a trial," she said, "Trying to figure out what goes with what."

In the last several years Kinneeveauk has traveled frequently to participate in meetings, learned about teaching policies and testing requirements, and helped address some of the North Slope's most pressing education issues.

Kinneeveauk said the high rate of teacher and administrator turnover - both in her region and the whole North Slope - has been a focus for her and the board for the last two years.

"I believe teacher turnover is part of the puzzle," she said. "We're all working on lowering the rate on the slope."

Kinneeveauk said her most important role is to speak out on behalf of the children and families in her community.

"I believe each community is very unique and very different," she said.

As far as her recent award, Kinneeveauk is appreciative but says she's just one of many working hard for education. "It's nice, but I'm sure a lot of the school board members all over Alaska, they deserve just as much as myself," Kinneeveauk said. "They've sacrificed and spoke out on behalf of all the kids too."

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