It’s April! Which for many teachers means wrapping up instruction, reviewing for state testing, and starting end of the year projects. Keep an eye out for my lesson of the month (delayed), which is a good review lesson for time and measurement conversions.
HAVE YOU HEARD __ The 2026 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail has been announced! Congratulations, Kari Wright! Kari is a 3rd grade teacher from Iowa. She’s been using the race for many years and has a wealth of knowledge and ideas to share! I will pass the torch to Kari at the end of June. Stay tuned!
Over the last couple of months, I have received MANY emails from teachers interested in applying for the position of Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™. I highly recommend applying- just go for it! Take the time during summer break to start your application so that you don’t add extra work to your plate during the school year, and make adjustments to your application until you feel it’s perfect. Then mail it off to Alaska! If you are on the fence, consider going to the 2025 Iditarod EDU Summer Conference in McCall, Idaho this June. You will learn more about the race, dog care, volunteers, plus get a wide range of ideas to use in your classroom. During my first summer conference, I had the best time, met teachers who shared my passion, took 19 pages of notes, and brought so much back to my classroom, including the full confidence I needed to apply that year.
MARCH/APRIL TRAINING __ After the race season, most mushers can’t take a break to recuperate, mostly because there is always something to do and dogs to be cared for 24/7. Anna Berington, of Seeing Double Sled Dog Racing, said that “there is a lot of unpacking and catching up to do.” Mushers are away from their kennels while racing and everything they keep out during race season can be put away for a few months. She also said they “will continue to work with the dogs by harness breaking pups and playing with them. [They] aren’t training anymore for races this season, but [they] will be getting race ready for human powered sports.”
VIBRANT VOLUNTEERS __ The volunteer highlight this month is on those who volunteer their time in Nome at the Nome Dog Lot. This position does not require any specific certifications, but it does require that the volunteer has a love for dogs, can pay attention to detail, and be able to withstand arctic conditions. The dog lot in Nome is located right next to the Nome Mini Convention Center, which is extra convenient, because the “Mini” serves as the Iditarod Headquarters during race time. The dog lot is also right next to the Bering Sea, which can be extra windy. The volunteers provide security and an extra set of eyes/ears for the vets and techs by working 4 hour shifts at a time.
AT MY SCHOOL __ I have been back to school for three weeks and I continually enjoy sharing stories with my students about my time in Alaska. The first day I returned, my daughter and I both wore the kuspuks that I got in White Mountain. It started a great conversation with students and staff! At my school, we set aside an afternoon where I was able to share over 160 photos and short videos with the students in each grade level. I spent about 45 minutes with each grade level and the students were SILENT! They loved seeing and hearing all about my time in Alaska as the 2025 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail and I loved sharing! I had quite a few students tell me that I have inspired them to visit Alaska when they get older. Yay!
One thing that excites me, is that I was able to bring back a dog bootie for each of our 5th grade students. As a kid, my interest in dog sledding spiked when I received my first dog bootie from a veteran Iditarod musher. To have a little piece of the race to keep forever is very special for the students. We also received our Trail Mail, which was carried on the trail by Mitch Seavey! It’s the little connections to the race that can be so meaningful.
Let’s connect! I can be reached through email at emailtheteacher@iditarod.com. I look forward to hearing from you!
