Migrant Education

Staff Contact Information

Jousette McKeel is the Program Manager for the Migrant Education Program. She accepted this position in June 2011, after two years of teaching and living in rural Alaska. Raised in Alaska, Jousette returned back to Alaska after teaching 2nd grade in Wyoming to accept a teaching job in Shugnank, AK. Jousette's educational background is both in Elementary Education with a Masters Degree in Reading Instruction and Curriculum. She enjoys the opportunities she has to travel to school districts within the state and learn about all the programs and services being offered to Alaskan children. She is also the mother of two beautiful girls who keep her quite busy and remind her everyday of the responsibility to serve Alaska’s children to the best of her ability. Jousette works extensively with the migrant program as well as with districts regarding their NCLB and Title I programs and issues. She is looking forward to learning about this new facet of education and having a part in serving Alaska’s students.

Jousette McKeel
Program Manager
Telephone: (907) 465-6549
Fax: (907) 465-2989
jousette.mckeel@alaska.gov

Kristine Gaffaney is one of the two Identification and Recruitment Specialists on our team. She has been with the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development since February 2010. Kristine grew up in Santa Clara, California and attended college at San Jose State University were she received a degree in Child Development. She has worked in the field of education in various capacities, including as a Preschool Teacher and Child Development Specialist for a non-profit agency in New York. With her husband and two daughters, Kristine has lived in New York City, Singapore and Hong Kong. She moved to Juneau in 2009. Kristine is excited that she will be able to travel throughout Alaska and learn more about school districts and all the programs they offer. She is looking forward to working with district staff and very excited for the opportunity to provide services to migrant students

Kristine Gaffaney
Identification & Recruitment Specialist
Telephone: (907) 465-5531
Fax: (907) 465-2989
kristine.gaffaney@alaska.gov

Tanya Roust is one of the two Identification and Recruitment Specialists on our team. Tanya was born and raised in Juneau and is a Juneau Douglas High School graduate. She fell in love with the University of Alaska Southeast, graduating with a bachelor of libera arts degree and staying for a master of arts in teaching degree. Her inherent love of children has kept her close to education, teaching in early childhood classrooms at the University of Idaho Children’s Center and at Auke Bay Co-op Preschool in Juneau. Tanya came to the Department of Education in September of 2010 with most of her time spent in Teacher Certification. The opportunity to travel and work closely with Alaska school districts made the choice to move to Migrant Education an easy one. She joined the MEO in August 2011 and is eager to work with the team dedicated to helping Alaska’s migrant students succeed.

Tanya Roust
Identification & Recruitment Specialist
Telephone: (907) 465-2885
Fax: (907) 465-2989
tanya.roust@alaska.gov

Jannessa Luerra is one of two Eligibility Specialists on the migrant education team. Jannessa came to the Migrant Education Program in June 2005, from the Department of Transportation and Public Faciities where she was responsible for daily communication between the Southeast Alaska airport managers, as well as other duties with airport security. Jannessa has a lot of customer service experience and a willingness to learn new things.

Jannessa moved to Juneau in 1985 at the age of 4 1/2 and since then, Juneau has been her home. Jannessa has two sons, Keleolani and Alexavian, who take as much of her time as they can. She also has two little sisters who are close in age to her two sons. Family is very important to her, which is why Jannessa and her sons plan to live in Juneau for a very long time.

Jannessa Luerra
Eligibility Specialist
Telephone: (907) 465-8231
Fax: (907) 465-2989
jannessa.luerra@alaska.gov

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