Roxanne Abajian of Ketchikan, Jean Jackson of Klawock, Jen Lium of Juneau, and Jessie Soder of Gustavus are among more than 30 Alaska teachers honored as 2013 BP Teachers of Excellence.
Abajian teaches fourth grade at Fawn Mountain Elementary School. In addition to her regular teaching duties, she was selected to help write the Alaska State Content Standards in Science for elementary grades, and is one of the founders of Ketchikan’s Tongass School of Arts and Sciences charter school.
Jackson teaches third and fourth grade at Klawock School. She grew up in Klawock, and makes it a priority to teach the Tlingit culture, bringing in elders and other community members.
Lium teaches second grade at Riverbend Elementary School in Juneau, and Soder teaches fourth and fifth grade at Gustavus School.
The annual BP Teachers of Excellence program recognizes the efforts of teachers at elementary, junior and senior high school levels, in both the public and private sectors. Teachers chosen for the awards have been nominated by members of their communities.
