Q-and-A with new UA Regent Deena Paramo

We spoke recently with Dr. Deena Paramo-UAA alumna, Mat-Su Borough School District superintendent and the newest member of the University of Alaska Board of Regents-about her life, education, and the partnerships she's forged at the helm of Alaska's fastest-growing school district. Paramo will fill the remainder of the term vacated when Michael Powers was appointed chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks; her term concludes in 2019.

Q: When and how did you first become interested in pursuing a career as an educator?

A: In high school, I was in a Spanish III class, and in an effort for we, students, to practice our Spanish, our teacher had us volunteer in the bilingual classroom at the elementary school nearby. So, my time in Spanish class, working with the young students in a classroom-that time set me on the path of being an educator. It was quite fun and impactful.

Q: What events in your life motivated you to move here?

A: As many folks are ushered here to the Last Frontier, and then decide to stay, the military initially brought me up to Alaska. (My former husband was in the Air Force).

Q: Describe what it was like making the transition from being a student in Texas to becoming a teacher in the Copper River School District. What were the most valuable experiences and inspirations you remember from your time there?

A: The transition from Texas to Glennallen was not difficult at all. I am an adventurous person, and quite outgoing, so I always live by the rule of making the most of any situation. Whether it be the cold or being away from family, you just make the most of what you have, where you are.

My most valuable and memorable times were all about the people. I had come from some fairly larger towns in my past, and Glennallen was so small! But, the people in Alaska all have a story; our pasts are so diverse. Meeting new people in a small town when everyone knew everyone else, that was a great experience for me. Nevertheless, that being said, I knew I wanted to move to a larger city in Alaska at some point. And, I had always passed through Mat-Su on my way into Anchorage. The size and feel of Mat-Su was just right for me. It was my Goldilocks moment.

Q: What was it like for you to transition from the Copper River School District to the rapidly growing Mat-Su Borough School District? What experiences do you remember most from this transition in your career?

A: The transition from CRSD to MSBSD was very easy and enjoyable. I was a young teacher and involvement in your community is key to making a new place you live a home. I taught middle school, but also coached sports. This was a rewarding experience as I absolutely love to be active and spent my time in middle and high school involved in co-curriculars as a young student myself.

I also joined local sports teams for adults. I have played softball, basketball, and soccer as an adult in "grown-up" leagues. In addition to attending church and teaching church classes, I was introduced to many new people and opportunities.

Q: What motivated you to return to school and pursue a Master of Education in Administration degree? What other things can aspiring educators do to enhance their skill sets?

A: I earned my master's degree in administration after five years of teaching. UAA provided an excellent program with top-notch professors who had experience in the field as well as scholarly work in the construct. The internships provided had me well prepared to take my first administrative position. Additionally, when you become active in your school environment through volunteerism, coaching, or teacher leadership, you become prepared through experiences. I encourage young people to take advantage of the small opportunities in life, as they someday lead to big ones ... such as the honor I now have of being a Regent.

Q: What did your experiences as assistant principal and principal at middle schools in the Valley teach you?

A: Being in leadership positions in schools provided me with a wide variety of hands-on experiences in understanding what my community desired for the education of its youth. Mat-Su families seek quality choices for students in career, college and military readiness. I learned that schools cannot be considered successful without the future outcomes for students being met. A test score doesn't determine success; students leaving schools in MSBSD and being prepared for the next level of their lives is success. I don't want a glass ceiling to be on any Mat-Su student as he or she works towards his/her dreams. My word choice is deliberate. Students should be the hardest working individuals in a school system, but the adults who are in charge of the system must make the learning experiences valuable to students, and they must make sense for the 21st-century learner. We cannot always do it the same way we have always done it; we have to focus on the "now"-specifically, what is needed in the skill set of the new learner. Students need to be ready for all things that we did not actually "teach" them; they must be prepared for all the content we don't know yet; they must learn to learn for their rest of their lives, as just knowing is not good enough. Students today must demonstrate what they can do with their learning.

Q: Why did you once again return to school, to earn your Doctor of Education degree? What aspects of this phase of your education most influenced and assisted you in your career?

A: I love to learn, myself. The idea that an education opens doors is so important for students to know. Continue each day to learn and grow and the door of opportunity opens. Earning my terminal degree didn't make me smarter than the next person; it taught me how to work hard for your personal goals and always try to be your best.

Q: Describe your transition into the upper levels of leadership in the Mat-Su schools, especially obstacles you encountered and opportunities you envisioned along the way. What did you learn during your time working in the administrations of George Troxel and Kenneth Burnley?

A: Moving into upper levels was a difficult transition at first as you move further away from the place where value is made in a school-with the students. Nonetheless, I learned that districtwide leadership would allow for greater achievement to be accomplished for all students. If I could affect things in such a way to create a coherent system that worked for students in MSBSD, the return on investment would be grand.

I learned from George Troxel to read, read, read, and read some more about best practices and research and I learned from Ken Burnley to challenge the "rules" a bit to be sure they made sense for the present-day students and families of our community. Again, if a rule or a policy did not bring about the best opportunity for the students in the system, I had to take a closer look.

Q: You have served as the Mat-Su Borough School District's superintendent for more than 50 months, so far. What accomplishments are you most excited about?

A: With the school board's direction in MSBSD, we began to see our individual schools as resources for all students. In today's economic reality, the same programs could not be established at all schools. What was needed was a smarter way to provide access to students. MSBSD began operating as a system of schools for choice, innovation and customer service. Schools began to specialize in curricula, and we offered an open system for students to choose their best place to learn. We worked together as a team to specialize in what students' needs were (what the market directed) and build diverse programs that offered families the best choices. Students from across the district can choose any school's program and we work to get them transportation. Alaska Middle College School offers an on-site college experience for juniors and seniors; Career and Technical High School offers Cisco certification; Colony and Palmer high schools have production studios; Su Valley, Redington, Houston and Colony have welding shops and Wasilla and Colony have JROTC programs; Wasilla also has certification in small engines.

Q: Mat-Su schools have partnered with UAA and its Mat-Su campus to grow innovative programs that reach out to help high school students with life challenges move into careers and assist aspiring college students in earning credit while still in high school. Mat-Su middle school students have taken part in ANSEP, as well. Why did the Mat-Su Borough School District engage in these university initiatives and partnerships?

A: Mat-Su's goals in general was to learn what we can at University to bring back a better way to prepare all students. For instance, Mat-Su has evidence that our students are prepared for college English at a much higher rate than college algebra. What is it that we can do to prepare kids in high school for the type of learning they will see in college or in other skills training programs?

I understand that students must be ready for a knowledge economy, one that simply a high school diploma may not be enough to meet. I know that a four-year college experience is not a path for everyone, but the jobs of the future are "smart" ones. And, lifelong learning is key to success in working in careers for which you may be extracting Alaska's gift of its natural resources and understanding how our state's livelihood coexists with the conservation of its beauty. The industry of our state matters to me in preparing students for the future of a fulfilled life, living here at home in Alaska! That sums up the great interests in partnerships.

Q: What aspects of your experience and expertise do you think will serve you best as you engage in the economic and educational challenges the UA system faces?

A: I understand school finance, I certainly have a beat on the "up and coming" college students and their needs with my work with K-12, and I always look for the good in people to do their best to solve any problems we may face as a state. We are smart enough to solve any challenge we may face as a UA system.