Alaska ICE Staff

Sally Rue - Director of Alaska ICE Sally Rue brings over 30 years of professional experience in the fields of community planning and public participation in both the private and public sectors. Sally also brings over 20 years of personal involvement in Alaska education: as an active parent volunteer, former Juneau School Board member (and thus member of AASB from 1992-1998), and a member of the Alaska Board of Education and Early Development from 2000-2002. Alaska ICE's community engagement work puts her professional and personal experience and skills to work in support of Alaska's kids.

Steve Nelson - Public Information Coordinator Steve Nelson's diverse career in Alaska spans three decades. His background in broadcasting, production, advertising, marketing, public relations and politics gives him a first-hand perspective of Alaska's unique media landscape. Steve has provided professional services to private industry, non-profit organizations, television and radio broadcasters, advertising agencies, the Alaska State Legislature and three Alaska governors, most recently serving eight years as Communications Specialist to the Knowles-Ulmer administration.

Suzie Gaffney - Lead Community Engagement Educator Suzie Gaffney, MA Dance and Related Arts, has taught school for over thirty years in Texas, Oregon, Alaska, Italy, and Japan. Her experience includes teaching all grade levels, interaction with students in a variety of after-school programs, participating in overseas exchanges, and designing curriculum. Suzie travels throughout Alaska working with youth and adults on community engagement and asset building for Alaskans.

Shelly Eidsness - Community Engagement Educator Shelly Eidsness has a B.A. in Education and is fully immersed in the concepts of community engagement, the assets framework, and local decision-making. Her previous professional experience includes work in the public school system and in a boarding school for “at risk” youth. Shelly has served on several community boards and commissions whose objectives were to support and enhance the quality of life for youth. Shelly continues her work in youth development by utilizing her talents to facilitate workshops on community engagement, asset building, and youth leadership, and previously served as Director of Alaska Faith Communities Concerned for Children.

André Layral - Community Engagement Educator André Layral, M. Ed, is a former teacher, middle school principal and community engagement coordinator. He assists schools, non-profits and community program leaders to identify current practices, activities, programs and policies that promote Asset Building. André is a past president of the Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP), the Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA), was selected as Fairbanks' Secondary Principal of the Year in 1996, and received the AASSP Distinguished Service Award in 2002.

Hank Overturf - Board Development Facilitator Hank Overturf, M.Ed. Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, has been an educator in both rural and urban Alaskan communities for 25 years with eleven of those years as a high school administrator. His emphasis is community engagement, and particularly working with school boards and youth engagement.

Larry West - District Coordinator Larry West provides logistical coordination for Alaska ICE’s targeted community engagement efforts in QS2 and other school districts throughout the state. He coordinates community engagement activities internally with the Directors of QS2 and Alaska ICE, and maintains frequent and proactive communications with Community Engagement Specialists, superintendents and other district staff, and board presidents in each QS2 district. He works very closely with the ICE Community Engagement Educators who work directly in and with the districts. He also collects data and materials that reflect community engagement activities wherever they occur, coordinates survey and evaluation activities, and reports results and progress both internally and to the districts.

Kathy Buss - Faith Community Coordinator/Community Engagement Educator Kathy Buss has spent over 20 years in youth serving organizations doing pioneer work for children with disabilities, program development, grant writing, volunteer recruitment and training, and camp administration. She has served as president of the board of directors, has given workshops and been a key note speaker at national conferences for the American Camping Association. Kathy’s volunteer work includes serving on Juneau Community Schools Advisory Committee and extensive work with faith based organizations. She has championed assets for many years and continues to witness the power of strength-based education. She enjoys traveling, writing, time with her rescued greyhound dog and teaching archery to people of all ages.

Bridget Smith - Community Engagement Educator Bridget Smith has more than a decade of experience working with families as an adult educator with the Southeast Regional Resource Center, and many years of Alaskan experience, from teaching in McGrath to serving as Adjunct Professor at UAS. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in education from the University of Alaska and a Master’s Degree in psychology from Catholic University of America, has taught English in China, and has written a number of books, articles, and essays.

Kate Dugan - Community Engagement Educator Kate Dugan is a recent graduate of the Harvard Divinity School, and looks forward to using her interest and experience in community engagement, diverse faith communities, and youth leadership in Alaska. She has worked at other non-profit organizations in Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and South Africa.

June Johnson - Accountant June Johnson keeps track of all of the finances for Alaska ICE, and monitors the writing and progress of the budget for our multi-year federal grant. In addition, June also handles all of the day-to-day billing and accounts payable work.

Ryan Aguilar - Communications Specialist Ryan Aguilar serves as writer/editor for the Alaska ICE team. Along with researching, writing and editing original material to support the efforts of Alaska ICE, he also collects, sorts and reviews inspiring stories and informational materials from Alaskans around the state, for inclusion and publication on the Alaska ICE website and within other outreach materials.

Jessie Miller - Administrative Assistant Jessie Miller provides logistical coordination and general support to AASB and Alaska ICE and offers a warm, enthusiastic approach to managing the daily responsibilities of the office. A welcome addition to our team in January 2007, Jessie has a natural ability to multi-task and to keep the office staff organized and effective.

Becky Judd - Statewide Partner - Resiliency/Youth Development Specialist with the Division of Behavioral Health for the State of Alaska Becky Judd, M.A.T, has established a solid reputation as a prevention and youth advocate across multiple state agencies. The focus of her work has been collaborative, cross-disciplinary prevention and youth development policies, practices, and media efforts. Becky works with state agencies and local organizations to incorporate the concepts of positive youth development and Asset Building into programs and services for children and youth, which benefits not only Alaska ICE but all Alaskans.