Associate Professor for Education at University of Alaska Fairbanks, Ute Kaden, was recently in Galena to visit with former student Corrie Hruby, the science and math teacher at the SHS campus.

Dr. Kaden visited the school for a few days in late February. She came here because she is interested to learn more about the Galena Interior Learning Academy boarding school. She’s also looking forward to see how Ms. Hruby’s teaching skills improved after two years of teaching.

Dr. Kaden is also working on a research about teacher retention in rural Alaska.

She watched Mrs. Hruby teach her classes for one day and followed that up by teaching in the physics class about roller coasters, using the theme park ride as a way to measure acceleration.

Dr. Kaden said she really likes the outdoor playground, village science, journalism, aviation, and cosmetology classes.

“There are really good students who are very friendly at GILA and SHS,” said Dr. Kaden.

She is enjoying her time being in Galena. “You guys live in a very different environment,” she said.