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KCAW AI Disclosure

Did you use artificial intelligence (ex. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) to complete this questionnaire? 

Candidate: Yes
Please describe how you used AI here:

Candidate: Grammarly

Name: Matthew Potter

Age: 42

How many years have you lived in Sitka and in Alaska? I moved to Alaska when I was six years old and have lived here for most of my life. I first moved to Sitka in 2017. I’ve lived here for most of the time since then.

Occupation:
I have spent most of my career working in education at the building level, mostly as a teacher and an administrator. I now work for the Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB), helping oversee a grant that supports schools and communities throughout Southeast Alaska.

Describe your family:

I live with my wife and our two sons. Our oldest is in third grade at Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary, and our youngest attends preschool. We enjoy spending time together and being part of the Sitka community.

Community involvement, past and present:

Since moving to Sitka, much of my community involvement has centered on raising our children and staying connected to their schools and activities. As our family has become more established here, I’ve been looking for additional ways to serve and contribute to the community

Have you previously run for public office? When and what office?

No, this is my first time running for public office.

Previous government or other relevant experience: 

My most relevant experience comes from working in public schools as both a teacher and an administrator. That work has given me a firsthand understanding of how public decisions affect students, families, staff, and the broader community. It has also taught me the importance of listening, communicating clearly, and working together to find practical solutions.


Why are you running for a Sitka School Board seat this year?

I am running for the Sitka School Board because my background as a teacher and school administrator is a strong fit for the work of the board. I want to use that experience to help ensure that my children and, as an extension, all of Sitka’s students receive the best education possible.

What are your top priorities if elected? 

My top priority is ensuring that Sitka’s schools make decisions that support both students and staff. I want students to receive the best education possible while making sure our educators and staff have the resources, support, and working conditions they need to succeed.

 

Vision 

What’s the biggest challenge the Sitka School District faces today, and how would you address it? Biggest strength? 

The biggest challenge facing the Sitka School District, like many districts across Alaska, is uncertainty around education funding. I would address this by advocating for stable funding, making thoughtful and transparent budget decisions, and keeping the community informed and involved.

The district’s greatest strength is its people—our staff, students, families, and the broader Sitka community. Their commitment to our schools provides a strong foundation for working through challenges together.

 

Budget:

What’s your budget philosophy for Sitka’s schools? Are there areas you would cut? Spend more?

My budget philosophy is that school funding is a balancing act, especially when districts are trying to meet growing needs with a shrinking pie. After years of budget reductions, there are no easy cuts left to make, and further reductions will have real effects on students, staff, and programs. I would prioritize what most directly supports SSD’s staff as well as student learning, while making budget decisions that are based on the needs of Sitka’s schools.

 

Funding:

In your opinion, does the state fund schools adequately? As a school board member, what would you advocate for if tasked with lobbying the legislature in Juneau?

The simple answer is no; the state does not adequately fund its schools. I would advocate for forward funding education and tying the Base Student Allocation to inflation so districts can plan responsibly and funding keeps pace with rising costs. Alaska’s schools should not be used as a political bargaining chip; students, staff, and communities need stable and predictable funding.

 

Achievement: 

Monitoring student achievement and developing policies that boost student success is one of the school board’s top responsibilities. What do you see as Sitka’s most urgent area for academic growth? And how would you address it? 

Sitka’s most urgent area for academic growth is to continue to ensure that students are prepared for a rapidly changing world, whether they enter the workforce, pursue career and technical training, or attend college. That means strengthening CTE and hands-on learning while maintaining rigorous academic programs that prepare students for higher education. We must also help students learn to use emerging technologies, including AI, thoughtfully and responsibly, so every graduate leaves school with the knowledge, skills, and adaptability needed to succeed.

Enrollment:

Across Alaska, school enrollment has been shrinking. While numbers have seen a slight jump in Sitka in the past couple of years, larger trends point to a loss of several hundred students over the past two decades. What steps should the Sitka School District take in response to a shrinking population?

The district cannot address declining enrollment on its own, but it can be an active partner with the City and Borough of Sitka and other community organizations. We need a coordinated effort to address the issues that make it difficult for families to stay in or move to Sitka, particularly the lack of affordable housing and accessible childcare. Strong schools are also part of what attracts and retains families, so the district must continue offering high-quality programs and clearly communicating the opportunities available to Sitka’s students.

Technology :  

What’s one technology rule you would like to enact in the school district?  

I have not seen that screentime is a problem in any of the schools, however, I believe it is worth discussing age-appropriate limits on screen time during the school day. Technology should be used thoughtfully to support learning while maintaining a healthy balance with hands-on experiences and meaningful interaction.

Engagement:  

How would you work to increase visibility and engagement with the school board? 

I would work to make the board’s decisions and discussions clear, accessible, and easy for the community to follow, asking for input in ways that are convenient, and showing people how their participation can make a difference. Engagement grows when families, staff, students, and community members feel heard.

  

Questions from the Daily Sitka Sentinel: 

What should be the role of artificial intelligence in the classroom? Are there uses you would encourage or discourage?

AI is here to stay, so we have a responsibility to teach students how to use it appropriately. Decisions about its use may be best made at the school or classroom level based on students’ ages, learning goals, and the type of assignment. I support using AI as a learning tool, while also understanding the value of “old-school” approaches such as handwritten work or technology-free assignments when students need to demonstrate their own thinking and to build foundational skills.


What should be the School Board’s role in reviewing curriculum and guiding curriculum development?

The School Board’s role should be to allocate funding, and approve curriculum purchases through a transparent process. The detailed work of reviewing and selecting curriculum should be led by the teachers, administrators, and other education professionals who understand students’ needs and will use the materials every day. The board should provide oversight and accountability while respecting the expertise of those working directly in our schools.

What changes for public schools do you hope  Alaska’s next governor will enact?

I hope Alaska’s next governor will make stable, predictable school funding a priority. That means forward-funding education and tying the Base Student Allocation to inflation so districts can plan responsibly and funding keeps pace with actual costs. School funding should be treated as a long-term commitment to Alaska’s students and communities, rather than an annual political bargaining tool.

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