AEA PACE School Board Candidate Questionnaire

As a candidate for the Anchorage School Board in the April 2026 election (voting is on April 7th, set a calendar reminder). I believe in open dialogue with all stakeholders, including educators who shape our children's futures every day. That's why I submitted detailed responses to the Anchorage Education Association's (AEA) questionnaire, even though my views on empowering parents and local control may differ from some union positions. This is about building bridges in our diverse community, to ensure every student starts their day with pride and purpose. By sharing these answers transparently, I invite parents, teachers, and families to see how I'll fight for safe schools, academic excellence, and smarter spending to reverse Alaska's poor education rankings. Your input matters. Let's collaborate to get real results for Anchorage kids. Read on for the full Q&A, and join the conversation at www.alexforschoolboardak.com or @AlexForSchools on all social media platforms.

Anchorage Education Association School Board Candidate Questionnaire

The Anchorage Education Association is committed to advocating for excellent public education for every student and encouraging every student to become a lifelong learner.

Thank you for taking the time to respond to our questionnaire for Anchorage School District School Board candidates.

The questions have been compiled by our Political Action Committee for Education. PACE is a non-partisan committee of AEA members elected by their peers.

Please respond to each question with no more than about 200 words.

1) What are your top priorities for public education in Anchorage? How will you accomplish them?

I prioritize safe schools with strong anti-bullying enforcement, parental rights through full curriculum transparency, and academic excellence by focusing on fundamentals like reading and math over political agendas. Anchorage ranks 46th in education despite spending 7th most per student, it's unacceptable and parents want better for their kids. I will push for budget audits to cut waste, redirect funds to classrooms, expand vocational programs for job-ready graduates, and restore merit-based standards to celebrate hard work. As a Dad and Veteran, I fight for every child to learn without fear, starting their day with pride and purpose. By collaborating with parents and teachers in our diverse community, we build on strengths to reverse our rankings and ensure no kid is left behind. Join me at www.alexforschoolboardak.com.

2) How/What do you base your policy and policy changes on? Where/how

do you get your information?

I base policies on real-world input from parents, teachers, and families, not bureaucratic mandates. I draw from Anchorage School District data, Alaska Department of Education reports, and national benchmarks showing our near last ranking and looming $2B deficit across the state. My experience as a Veteran and educator informs changes. Changes like implementing clear safety measures and transparent decision-making to fix leadership failures that have ignored parents. I get information through community town halls, social media surveys on @AlexForSchools, and direct conversations, ensuring decisions reflect Anchorage's shared moral values. This drives practical reforms: cutting administrative waste, supporting teacher retention, and prioritizing student success over outside interests.

3) State and federal school funding remains a challenge in the Anchorage School District and across Alaska. How would you advocate for funding?

State and federal funding falls short amid Alaska's challenges, with Anchorage facing a $2B deficit by 2027 despite high per-student spending in comparison to other U.S. States. I will advocate fiercely by lobbying Juneau and Washington leaders, highlighting our poor result ranking to demand accountability and redirect resources to classrooms. I'll push for audits to eliminate waste, ensure funding follows students, and invest in teachers; not salaries for outsiders. Collaborating with local stakeholders, I'll secure grants for safety enhancements, vocational programs, and smaller classes, while building grassroots support via @AlexForSchools to rally voters. When people vote, they are invested through their voice. This focuses on smarter spending for real results, empowering our families and communities to thrive.

4) What do you know about the different demands made on Elementary general education teachers and specialists, Special Education, Secondary

educators, to include nurses, counselors, speech/language therapists, and occupational therapists?

I know firsthand the demands: Elementary teachers balance core subjects and emotional needs in overcrowded classes; specialists like speech therapists adapt to dozens of languages in our diverse schools. Special education staff craft individualized plans with limited resources and are attacked daily by disgruntled parents; secondary educators tackle advanced curricula amid teen pressures; nurses handle health crises’ without proper medical support and unreasonable expectations; counselors support mental well-being but are likely causing a lot of the issues in our young and confused youth; occupational therapists aid development but lack the resources to direct kiddos to the next step. All face burnout from low retention and resource shortages in our underperforming district; there are far more reasons of those who do not stay that are not expressed. Pay and benefits do not equate to showing value and I believe our politicians are getting it wrong. I will provide tailored support through results-based triage in our struggling organization. Professional development, reduced caseloads, merit-based hiring will ease burdens, boost success, and reverse our bottom of the barrel ranking through teacher empowerment and parental collaboration.

5) How much professional judgment should educators be allowed in selecting supplemental teaching materials and determining and individualizing methods of instruction?

Educators should exercise substantial judgment in selecting materials and individualizing instruction, trusted as experts while guided by parental input and district standards for accountability. I believe this flexibility honors their role in tailoring lessons to Anchorage's students, fostering pride and purpose. But guidelines must prevent the extreme overreach that we have seen recently from rogue teachers. The blatant cover up by administrators has led to our

communities losing faith in our district. Allowing educators the professional judgement comes with accountability when they stray from what belongs in a classroom or not. Professional judgement does NOT mean free reign to groom our students into their own personal likeness. We must ensure focus on fundamentals like reading and math, not agendas. Drawing from my platform, I'll push for transparent policies that balance educator autonomy with family involvement, restoring merit and high expectations to prepare kids for success. This approach builds trust and unity in our community.

6) What do you see as the School Board’s role in developing the initial proposal for contract negotiations with educators? And what do you see as the role of the School Board as negotiations move forward?

I see the School Board's role as leading with a fair initial proposal that incorporates educator feedback, prioritizing competitive pay, safety resources, and classroom support to address our retention crisis. Teachers, along with nearly every other profession in the world, does not quit due to pay and benefits. They quit their job due to the lack of professionalism, support, and aptitude of their boss. As negotiations advance, the Board must ensure transparency, balance needs with fiscal responsibility and have those tough conversations. Teachers only make up 42% of the total employee base across the district. To ensure that teachers are receiving more than their fair share, we must audit waste to avoid the $2B deficit. This starts in the largest district in the state to lead the way. We must focus on student outcomes like academic excellence and vocational paths. I'll advocate for merit-based terms that empower teachers while holding the district accountable, drawing from parent-teacher collaboration to drive real change. The Board is beholden to ALL parents and community members. It all starts and ends with education. Real proven results-based leadership is necessary.

7) How will you communicate with educators?

I will communicate directly through regular town halls, school visits, and online surveys on @AlexForSchools across all social media platforms. Every week, I am hosting a weekly X space named Sunday School Board. We are starting a weekly Facebook live; Ask Me Anything. We have a direct survey on my website. My phone is always on and open for feedback through text, or call at all hours. My desire to serve again, comes with the understanding this is not a 9-5 job. Parents and educators deserve answers at times outside of their work schedule. Communication is key and we see several ‘leaders’ on the school board that silence voices and leave many feeling slighted. Listening to educators' insights on safety, resources, and student success is at the front of my intent to run. As a Veteran and parent, I commit to open dialogue that shapes policies; I am beholden to not one group or political leaning. I plan to address burnout, parent and student needs, and our low rankings; all to build trust and unity. Share your voice with me; together, we restore excellence in Anchorage School District. Change from the norm is wanted, I am that change.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These responses reflect my commitment to empowering parents, ensuring safe schools, and lifting Anchorage from its near-last national education rankings through local control and smarter spending. As a veteran, educator, and dad, I'm fighting for every child in our diverse community to thrive with pride and purpose. Let's collaborate, teachers, parents, and families, to build on our strengths and create the schools our kids deserve. Join me at the Eagle River VFW on November 12th at 6:30pm to have a candid conversation about improving our schools.

What are your thoughts? Share in the comments, join the conversation on @AlexForSchools, volunteer at www.alexforschoolboardak.com or donate just $9.07 towards the campaign so we can reach more voters and ensure a healthy turnout at the polls. Together, we can win this for Anchorage students. Vote Alexander Rosales for School Board on April 7th 2026!