New fifth grade and art teachers have joined the Haines Borough School District this year.
Giselle Miller landed the art position, literally, after spending the past several years sailing with her husband in their 38-foot Hans Christian sailboat. The sailed from Southeast Alaska to Mexico and later to New Zealand, where the boat is currently docked.
“It’s a big change, but it’s one we were ready for and excited to have a home that doesn’t move,” Miller said of her new position in Haines.
She said Haines was a on a short list of places she and her husband were willing to settle down for. Originally from Juneau, she spent summers in Haines attending the Rainbow Glacier Camp and attending the Southeast Alaska State Fair.
Miller received a bachelor’s degree in painting and drawing from Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. She earned a Kindergarten through 12th grade art teaching certification, along with a masters in secondary education from the University of Alaska- Fairbanks.
This is Miller’s first full-time teaching job. She spent time completing artist residencies for the State Council of the Arts in village schools at St. Mary’s, Bethel, Nome and the Chatham School District.
Miller said Tuesday she enjoyed her first day. She’s filling the shoes of Linnus Danner who taught art at the school for nearly 40 years.
“It was awesome. The kids are great,” Miller said. “They’re really eager to be in here and create and very respectful, which makes me excited.
Fifth-grade teacher LA Piper moved to Haines in June, also filling a position occupied by long-time Haines teacher Jansy Hansen.
An avid hiker, Piper has already trekked many of the local trails. When asked to tell about her background, Piper first addressed her first name. “People ask me about my name all the time,” Piper said. “My mom wanted Leslie and my dad wanted Alisha and so they compromised: LA.”
Piper also has experience teaching in the bush. She taught various grades for four years in the Lower Yukon. She taught in Anchorage for eight years.
She traveled to Alaska in 1993 from Idaho. “When I came to Alaska, I started in Ketchikan and then moved to Juneau,” Piper said. “It’s cool to be back in Southeast again.”
She said she promotes a teaching philosophy known as “growth mindset,” that enables students to be mindful of their emotions, change their attitudes and develop their talents through dedication and hard work.
“Mindset is huge for me. I saw a lot of success with it in the bush,” Piper said. “Getting them to understand where are you at and asking that question. Explaining to kids what it means to be human, I just feel like that’s part of our thing as teachers.”
