A local resident has embarked on an incredible adventure.
Ginger Witty, an educator and a former candidate for Missouri State Representative in District 156, has taken a position with a school in Barrow, Alaska. Barrow, now called Utqiagvik, is located 330 miles north of the Arctic Circle. The northernmost town in North America, Barrow is situated on the Beaufort Sea.
"I am the social emotional learning counselor for elementary and middle school," explained Witty. "I work with students and teach classes that help students learn to manage their emotions. I work with students in Pre-K through fifth grade."
For now, Witty is dividing her time between an elementary school with 500 students and a middle school that has 280 students.
Witty is no stranger to the area, having previously lived in the Barrow area.
"I lived and taught here for three years in the early 1990s and really enjoyed being here. About four weeks ago, I learned that the district was in earnest need of teachers," Witty explained. "I checked to see if they also needed a counselor, and since they had a counseling position posted, I contacted them, then I interviewed, and they invited me up. The conditions of my contract are very inviting. They paid my airfare and lodging to get here. I had to stay overnight in Fairbanks. They gave me a freight allowance. They are also giving me free housing and paying me the daily rate I would receive according to their salary schedule. They do not pay benefits, so I think that equals out to the free housing."
Witty shared that her apartment is about a 15-minute walk to her job.
"My apartment is really nice, with a vaulted ceiling in the living room and kitchen area," Witty noted. "This whole complex is teacher housing. There are hallways that connect several buildings so when I want to do recreational walking, I can do that indoors when it gets colder or when I don't want to go outside."
Witty pointed out some of the differences between Missouri and Alaska— notably the weather and the daylight to darkness ratio.
"My first day of school, the sun rose about 6:10 a.m. and set at 10:45 p.m. One week later, it rose at 6:42 a.m. and set at 10:07 p.m. The sun will set on November 18 and not rise again until January 23," explained Witty. "My first day of school, it got up to 49 degrees but was in the 30s when I was walking to school. I wore my lighter weight winter coat to school. The end of my first week, it was pretty windy and cooler. The temperatures were in the 30s but the wind chill was 18 to 21 degrees. I wore my parka on Friday when we had the lower wind chill. We had snow flurries on Sunday of Labor Day Weekend."
Another difference that Witty has discovered is the cost of food. She shared, "I bought a 24-pack of cheese sticks. It was $14.29. I saw a can of pumpkin that was $11.59, but I decided that I did not need pumpkin right now!"
Even though she is far away, Witty has plans to return home throughout the school year.
"I plan on flying back to Branson November 1. I wanted to be home for the election. As of now, I intend to return the following weekend and work until the end of the first semester," Witty explained.
After a break for Christmas and the New Year, Witty has plans to return to Barrow in January to finish out the school year.
"So far I love my job! The students and staff are all wonderful, and there is plenty to do, so I feel needed," Witty said. "I'm looking forward to a great year!"
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