House Education Committee questions two appointees to Professional Teaching Practices Commission

The Alaska House Education Committee on March 3 heard confirmation presentations from two governor-appointed members of the Professional Teaching Practices Commission: Heidi Barnes of Wasilla and Kimberly Bergey of Palmer.

Barnes, a kindergarten teacher in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, told the committee she has taught roughly 10 years and has spent the last six years in kindergarten at Cottonwood Creek Elementary. "I hold my students to a level of expectation within my classroom. I too hold myself to an even higher level of expectation," Barnes said, adding she wants to help "shape the future in other capacities" through service on the commission.

The commission, Barnes said, is responsible for disciplining members of the teaching profession and reviewing matters around educator certification. When asked about curricular disputes — including whether a teacher who follows a district-approved biological evolution curriculum could be penalized for rejecting alternative ideas not in the approved curriculum — Barnes said she would rely on the commission's executive-session deliberations and the nine-member panel's process to reach decisions. "I am not in the position to say if it was wrong," she told the committee.

Kimberly Bergey, in her second term on the commission and serving as a principal for a statewide homeschool program, described a long career that includes Head Start nonprofit work and experience across Alaska. Bergey said the PTPC provides an opportunity to "provide exemplary service back to my peers" and stressed the commission's role in adjudicating ethical complaints and holding educators to standards.

Both appointees identified major challenges facing educators. Barnes emphasized classroom-level concerns, particularly rising class sizes in kindergarten that make it difficult to reach all students. Bergey cited a broader set of pressures, including larger class sizes, diverse learning styles, increased administrative burdens, communication expectations with families, and teacher burnout — all factors she said can contribute to incidents that later draw ethics scrutiny.

Committee members asked about how educators learn the code of ethics. Bergey said teachers acknowledge the code as part of licensure and that the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) issues a newsletter. She also identified Melody Mann as the PTPC executive director who coordinates district outreach and presentations.

Committee members in this hearing did not record a confirmation vote on either appointee. The committee later took an at-ease to sign a confirmation report; the chair noted that "signature on this report does not an intent by any of the members to vote for or against the confirmation of the individuals during any further sessions," citing AS 39.05.080.

The committee thanked both candidates and then moved to other agenda items.

The hearing included questions from Co-chair Himshoo, Co-chair Story, and Representatives Eisheid, Underwood, Elam, Schwanke and Bynum.