Archive for October 17th, 2011

17 Oct

Alaskan Teacher Who Died Had Been A Bread Loaf Student

Posted by Julia Carlisle in Vermont.

Woodstock Early Bird has just heard the news of the unexpected death of an English teacher from Juneau, Alaska who has a Vermont connection.
Ali McKenna was one of hundreds of teachers who got their M.A. in English from the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College. Her husband, Tom McKenna, also a Bread Loaf School of English graduate and a teacher, still has connections to the Vermont-based program having been instrumental in setting up BREADNET an online communications vehicle for teachers.
We have several Bread Loaf School of English graduates here in Woodstock who may have spent time with Ali, including reporter and former WUHS teacher Audrey Richardson, who like Woodstock Early Bird herself, participated in their program when it was offered at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau. WUHS English Teacher Martha Perkins is another graduate of the program. McKenna’s passing is sure to be felt by those who worked with her here in Vermont. She, a woman of boundless energy and dedication, embodied what teaching — and the Bread Loaf School of English — is all about.
Here is KTOO’s report from Rosemarie Alexander (www.ktoo.org):
A popular Juneau-Douglas High School teacher passed away unexpectedly over the weekend.

Forty-two year-old Alison McKenna was found dead in her home Saturday morning.

Juneau police responded to call from a family member at 10:43 a.m. Police say her death is NOT considered suspicious. The body has been sent to the state medical examiner’s office in Anchorage for an autopsy.

McKenna leaves behind two young children, a son, age 11 and a 9-year-old daughter.

She also touched the lives of hundreds of students over the years. McKenna taught World Literature and Creative Writing at JDHS as well as Writing for Publication. She was advisor to the student publication, The Ego.

In 2006, McKenna helped KTOO launch the high school broadcast journalism program, giving her students the opportunity to report stories for KTOO’s Morning Edition.

McKenna knew the importance of teaching students how to conduct interviews, work with adults, reach out to the community and meet deadlines. She said she wanted her students to be taken seriously and the program inspired them to do quality work.

As a long time educator, friend, teacher and colleague, her loss will be particularly hard on staff and students at both JDHS and Thunder Mountain High School. School district spokeswoman Kristin Bartlett says support is available for students and families at the high schools. While there is no school for students today and tomorrow (Monday and Tuesday), the high schools are open and counselors will be available to help students during this difficult time.

« Older Entries