Teaching/Living in Anchorage (Kenai, Wasilla: rent, travel, lease)

[Alaska Bound 17]

I am a Language Arts student in Columbus, OH and I'm exploring my options as I embark upon a teaching career. Alaska appears to be the place for me. I traveled to Alaska once before and enjoyed my stay thoroughly. Also, some of the schools and districts I have researched, in and around Anchorage, seem appealing. I have several questions about the area even after all of my research.

1. What are some of the best high schools in Anchorage? South? Eagle River? Chugiak? Any others?

2. In old posts I read of a possible teacher strike. Does this worry still exist?

3. For some of you former lower 48ers, which items/products, if any, are noticeably more costly?

4. Are Palmer and Wasilla good high schools? Any other notably good schools in or around the valley?

5. Are there many gyms to join outside of Anchorage?

6. What is your favorite thing about Anchorage/Alaska?

7. What is your least favorite aspect of living in Alaska?

Thank you so much for taking the time!

[bongo]

I am a teacher in Anchorage School District.

1. What are some of the best high schools in Anchorage? South? Eagle River? Chugiak? Any others?

I personally think all of the high schools in Anchorage have their merits.

2. In old posts I read of a possible teacher strike. Does this worry still exist?

No- our contract went through and we are happy campers now.

3. For some of you former lower 48ers, which items/products, if any, are noticeably more costly?

Vegetables- but we have Costco & Sam's which helps greatly.

4. Are Palmer and Wasilla good high schools? Any other notably good schools in or around the valley?

The valley schools are growing rapidly & last I heard there is a need for teachers. However, I cannot speak to specific schools up there. The Mat-Su Valley is an area 25000 miles, the size of West Virginia!

5. Are there many gyms to join outside of Anchorage?
There are a lot of gyms IN Anchorage. I'm not sure what you mean by outside of Anchorage. You would have to be more specific.

6. What is your favorite thing about Anchorage/Alaska?
Groomed ski trails
miles & miles of walking & biking trails
wilderness within 20 minutes
moose in my backyard
skiing out my backdoor
backpacking & hiking in the summer a stone's throw from town in the Chugach

7. What is your least favorite aspect of living in Alaska?

Ice rain like this morning! Luckily, it turned into snow now.

[UpNorth]

Hi, I am also a teacher in the Anchorage School District. Please feel free to send me a personal message if you have other specific thoughts/questions.

1. What are some of the best high schools in Anchorage? South? Eagle River? Chugiak? Any others? I think many people would agree that South and Eagle River are great, simply because they are new schools (only a few years old.) South High is located in the south eastern end of town; whereas Eagle River is located in the town of Eagle River (at least a 10 minute drive from Anchorage, depending on where you are driving from.)

2. In old posts I read of a possible teacher strike. Does this worry still exist? We do have a new contract set for the next few years. You can read the details (salaries and yearly increases) at the Anchorage School District's website.

3. For some of you former lower 48ers, which items/products, if any, are noticeably more costly?I would agree withthe above reply. You do get used the grocery bill increase. Sometimes (many times) I don't even buy the fruit/veggies in the off-season because not only are they pricey, but the quality of the product doesn't look great (color, ripeness, etc.) You can find deals here and there. Off the top of my head, apples range from $1.20-$2.20/lb, zucchini $2/lb, bell peppers are usually about $2 each, bananas $1.80/lb. My suggestion would be to live a place with access to a yard so you can grow veggies in the summer months. I'm not a skilled gardener, but I have had success growing lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, strawberries, carrots...

4. Are Palmer and Wasilla good high schools? Any other notably good schools in or around the valley?Palmer has one high school, Wasilla has 2 (Wasilla High and Colony). I think Colony would be considered the newest. The Mat-Su Valley is quite large, like the previous replier stated, but the Palmer/Wasilla area are the "main towns" with the biggest populations.

5. Are there many gyms to join outside of Anchorage? There is a major local chain of gyms around Anchorage (and other bigger towns around Alaska), but I probably can't state the name of it because the city-data people might accuse me of advertising. Aside from that big (expensive!) local chain, you'll find lots of local gyms in the bigger towns. Palmer and Wasilla will have lots of options, and I'm sure the Kenai Peninsula has many gyms as well.

6. What is your favorite thing about Anchorage/Alaska? The teaching salaries are pretty good. As a fairly new teacher, I really appreciated all the professional development days that was I invited to attend. I also really like the Alaska permanent fund dividend check that I get every year... have you read about that before? It's a state program that gives money to every Alaska resident based on oil revenue percentages. I love the Alaskan summers. All the daylight and greenery is really awesome. Anchorage is a pretty cool city because of it's proximity to the outdoor/adventure activities, PLUS it's a regular "big city" with fun restaurants, plenty of movie theatres, shopping, arts & culture. I also love how diverse Anchorage is. The Anchorage School District alone has documented as having over 90 languages spoken by its students - that's amazing isn't it?! I think Anchorage is the perfect place for teaching because you work like crazy during the dark, cold months; in turn the winter months go by quickly, and then you can relax and play all summer. Another added bonus... an airline just started flying directly to Honolulu and another flight goes directly to Lihue, Kauai... that means that Hawaii is a short 5+ hour flight away! I really love Anchorage's setting. It sits under the Chugach Mountains and I just driving down the street and looking at the snow-capped mountains bordering the city. I love the fishing in the summers. It's great to be able to provide such fresh, organic food for my two small children... we have SO much salmon in our freezer that we are completely sick of it, but I still enjoy delicious halibut and other rock fish.

7. What is your least favorite aspect of living in Alaska? I really hate the winters here in Anchorage (and Anchorage is mellow when compared to other areas in the state). I've lived here for 8 years and I am still not used to them entirely. The darkness can really effect one's mood. When the sun doesn't rise until 10am ish it's SO hard to truly "wake up" and feel perky. The winters can be beautiful when there is fresh snow everywhere, but there can be weeks between fresh snow falls, and that's when the outside (ground, trees, streets...) look brown, dirty, and dead. I also hate living so far away from my family (parents, siblings...). I hope that helped a little - I'd be happy to answer more questions.

[Melissa78703]

3. For some of you former lower 48ers, which items/products, if any, are noticeably more costly? Everything's an import, so ... ALL of it. Food is absurd - milk was seven bucks a gallon, lemons a dollar a piece, couldn't even touch steak/beef ... spent two grand a month on groceries.

5. Are there many gyms to join outside of Anchorage?

Inside Anchorage, Alaska Club was very nice. None outside of Anchorage that I know of.

6. What is your favorite thing about Anchorage/Alaska?

Seeing it disappear behind me from my window seat.

7. What is your least favorite aspect of living in Alaska?

My ONE least favorite thing? (Rolling mental dice) Okay, corneal frostbite.

[mal_flisk]

The cost of living is the price you pay for living in a place other people pay good money to visit. Winters have their price too, but I kind of ignore the cold till it gets into single and negative digits. I do hate driving on a skating rink,,but take that in stride too.