Dana Berg
Greetings Anchorage! My name is Dana Berg. Thank you for allowing me to introduce myself and my candidacy for School Council.
 
My husband Jeben and our two school age children joined the Anchorage community in late 2020. What started as a pandemic break from Los Angeles to spend time with my parents and Louisville area loved ones, quickly turned into a permanent residency in Anchorage. We both saw that Anchorage was a special place in America to raise our children and participate in a wonderfully unique community.
 
It has been one the best decisions of our lives. I’m mom to Windsor (3rd grade), Julius (entering 1st grade at Anchorage this fall), and bonus mom to Sabine (24 and currently attending Galen pursuing a nursing degree). I’m from Louisville, where I attended Kentucky Country Day School (K-12), and then graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
 
I believe Anchorage school is truly the heart of Anchorage, and I love being able to participate across our community. I coach lower school field hockey, have become a dog/cat/chicken mama, and delight in every opportunity that it affords us. From our annual parades, to our commitment to our beautiful trees, to the safety + kindness shared amongst our neighbors. I believe that citizen participation is a critical force that builds exceptional communities. To put those words into action, I joined the board of Whitney/Strong - a non profit organization focused on finding common ground to reduce gun violence through data-driven, non partisan solutions.
 
Professionally I have worked at Google for nearly 17 years, with many leadership roles across Marketing, Music, Partnerships, Strategy, Sustainability, Experiences + more. I currently serve as a global marketing leader at YouTube, leading teams focused on Creator + Gaming efforts. I also serve as global co-lead of the Disability Alliance (an employee resource group), and have held leadership roles in YouTube’s strategic response to various global / national crises such as COVID. While working at YouTube certainly makes me “cool” to my kids, I am most appreciative that my work at Google/YouTube impacts people’s lives just about anywhere the Internet reaches.
 
Across my life as a student and as a parent, I have participated in a range of different school systems. From private Kentucky schools, parochial San Francisco schools, private LA schools, and now a public independent school. I know what we have is truly one of a kind, and its continued forward progress benefits every single citizen of Anchorage. I believe my perspective and commitment to APS - and our children, teachers, staff, administration, board, parents, volunteers, PTA and community - would drive meaningful and productive development for our school.  
 
I am running for School Council to have a more direct and positive impact right here in our special community. I want the school and its many important constituents to have the peak experiences I know are possible. I hope to bring my values of partnership, transparent communications, pursuing excellence, giving people the benefit of the doubt, and learning + collaboration to our School Council.
 
Thank you for your time and consideration.

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Whitney Cook
Hi, neighbors! My name is Whitney Cook and I'm asking for your consideration to serve a second term on the APS School Council.  During our 13-year tenure as Anchorage residents, our family, Addison (Assumption High School), Thatcher (7th) and Leighton (3rd), has grown to greatly appreciate this village and its heart, Anchorage School.

I was raised with a focus on service to others and active involvement within the community.  Serving as a past APTA board member, past APS School Council member and past OCCC board member,  I am intimately familiar with the importance of gathering data to make informed decisions, building consensus and presenting inclusive recommendations. 

I welcome the opportunity to utilize these skills and would continue to contribute a balanced, thoughtful, team-centric approach should I be granted the opportunity to serve a second term. 

Thank you so very much for your consideration and please don't hesitate to reach out for a one-on-one chat (802-272-5061)!

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Laura Hammer
Hello! I am Laura Hammer, proud mom to Emilee - 6th, Olivia - 2nd, and Isabella - Class of 2024.
 
My intentions for running for School Council are to support transparent communication among all stakeholders and to support our community of teachers, parents and students through the hiring process of new leaders. As we work through this time of change, I believe it is incredibly important to outline the priorities we have for our leaders, develop and share a concrete process for measuring candidates on these priorities, and obtain feedback from all stakeholders prior to decisions being made.  We need to increase frequency and depth of reporting to the community and work to bring back a feeling of trust in our leadership.
 
My goal as a member of council will be to provide clear, timely, and honest insight on that’s happening in our school so that the community is informed and can have ample time to provide feedback for any major decisions we face.
 
I have been a resident of Anchorage for over 12 years and am passionate about this unique and exceptional community. I will bring my 25 years of experience in building finance functions and organizations to support our efforts in building up our school. I believe my skills in change management and communication with large teams can add to the skills we already have to provide more clarity and transparency to all stakeholders, including the large population of individuals who live in our community but do not have children in the school. It is important for all of us to remain connected for the highest and best use of our collective skills and resources to lift up our school.  We have so much to celebrate as well, and ensuring we highlight our achievements will continue to instill a sense of pride for everyone associated with our institution. Thank you for your consideration.

Go Anchors!

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Amanda Pagano
I hope to continue to serve the Anchorage School community for a second term on the Anchorage School Council. I have two sons: Henry, in grade 7, and Van, in grade 5. My husband and I moved to Anchorage in 2013 and, like many of our neighbors, we based our decision to buy a home in Anchorage on the reputation of the school and on the high quality of life available here. That said, I could not have predicted then how much I would grow to love this special community – the center of which is Anchorage School. I am seeking a School Council seat because I have a vested interest in the success of the school and because I believe I possess qualities, skills, and experience that will continue to offer value to the School Council.
 
I have been an active member of the Anchorage School community since 2017, when my oldest child entered kindergarten. I have been a substitute teacher at Anchorage School since 2019; I have been a Committee Chair for the APTA from 2017-24 and was an APTA Board member from 2020-2022. In addition, I have been an active volunteer in my childrens’ classrooms. Because of these experiences, I feel very familiar with many facets of Anchorage School, including but not limited to: APS faculty and staff members, APS operating procedures, and APS facilities. I believe this familiarity and knowledge would allow me to offer a well-informed perspective to the Council. Additionally, I am a certified teacher with a Masters in Teaching Reading (and 9 years classroom teaching experience). I have a track record of being considered a good listener, thoughtful and objective strategist, and effective consensus-builder. Most importantly, I am a mom who cares deeply about this special and unique school community. I believe my experience in education, along with my well-established passion for Anchorage School, make me a uniquely valuable candidate for School Council.
 
Thank you for your consideration.

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Jessie Ross
My name is Jessie Ross, and I have two children at Anchorage School. Jack is in first grade, and Lucy is in Kindergarten. We also have a future Anchor, Luke. 

I grew up in Louisville and attended the University of Kentucky for my undergraduate degree. I went on to earn both an MBA and a law degree from the University of Louisville. I am an attorney and a small business owner. My husband, Sam, and I have been proud residents of Anchorage for over five years, and we’ve fallen in love with this community.

As an active member of our school community, I served on the School Organization Committee for the 2023-2024 school year, which operates under the School Council. I believe that our community is a key part of what makes Anchorage School so special, and this is why I am running for a seat on the School Council.

Why I’m Running:
If elected, I will be a strong voice for parents and their input in decision-making. During my time on the School Organization Committee, I saw firsthand how important it is to ensure that parents' opinions are heard and valued. I believe that collaboration in decision-making is crucial to creating an environment where our students can truly thrive. Our school benefits when we gather input from diverse perspectives and make decisions together.

The School Council serves in an advisory capacity to the School Board and helps make recommendations to both the Board and the school administration. I will work to ensure that the voices of all stakeholders—teachers, parents, and the community—are considered at every Council meeting.

Why You Should Vote for Me:
I am committed to representing all families and ensuring that every student’s needs are heard and addressed. With my strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork experience, and passion for positive change, I will work hard to build stronger connections between the school and the community. I will listen carefully to concerns, seek solutions, and advocate for initiatives that benefit every student.  My background as a lawyer has provided me with skills in analyzing problems, understanding different perspectives, and working toward mutually beneficial solutions. I am open-minded and will listen to all opinions and concerns from stakeholders.

I will work to ensure that decisions made by the Council are always centered around the best interests of Anchorage students. Teachers, administrators, and parents all share a common goal: providing the best opportunities for our children. If elected to the School Council, I will work toward that goal.

I would be honored to serve on the School Council and be a voice for the parents of our school. It is essential that we work together to make Anchorage School the best it can be for our children.