The Chatham School District hired from within for its new superintendent as Gustavus School principal Ann Hilburn plans to take over the position July 1.
Hilburn said she has been in education for 35 years, elsewhere in Mississippi and the Lower 48, and moved to Alaska four years ago to follow her husband’s sense of adventure.
“I’ve been primarily in special education and some general education,” Hilburn said. “My original certification was in deaf education.”
She’s spent the last three years as principal of Gustavus School and plans to move to Angoon as she becomes superintendent. Chatham School District oversees schools in Klukwan, Gustavus, Angoon and Tenakee Springs.
“We’re on a good path right now and I want to continue building on the work that the current superintendent has started for us,” Hilburn said. Susan Sciabbarrasi served as interim superintendent for the 2017-2018 school year.
Hilburn said Sciabbarrasi helped the school board and sites better understand the district budget and has brought on a part- time grant writer. The district is one of several in the region that will receive a new grant called STEPS Alaska, meant to provide support for Native students.
“I hope that we can better identify students who need support and get support systems into place more effectively,” Hilburn said. She added that she’d like to see student test scores rise.
As Hilburn moves from Gustavus from Angoon, she said she hopes it will help bridge the disconnect between sites.
“I want there to be cohesion,” Hilburn said. “Sciabbarrasi built a lot of rapport between the sites and I want to continue working on that with school board members.”
Hilburn said she and her husband, the pastor of a local church in Gustavus, have loved their time in Alaska. “We love Southeast, it’s been great,” Hilburn said. “I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and jump in.”