Anchorage parents and teachers are feeling the impact of rising class sizes in the Anchorage School District. This school year the district reports an average increase of four students per classroom compared with last year.

Budget pressures force staff reductions

District administrator Kersten Johnson‑Struempler explained that about 87% of the district’s budget is devoted to personnel costs, leaving little flexibility for other adjustments. As a result, the district has lost roughly 300 teaching positions this year through a mix of vacancies, layoffs, retirements and a hiring freeze.

Classroom crowding affects learning

Students like sophomore Mae Agnew Bemben describe packed AP World History classes with 35 teens, making it hard to focus and even to breathe. Teachers report juggling multiple questions at once and limited bathroom access.

Kindergarten teacher Kjerstin Thomas at Denali Montessori notes that her class of 25 five‑year‑olds is the largest she has taught, stretching her ability to manage personal space and provide individual attention.

Teacher workload and morale suffer

Veteran educator Gary Snyder, who has taught at Bettye Davis East Anchorage High for nearly three decades, says his classes have grown from about two dozen students to 34. He now spends extra hours grading outside of school, relies more on worksheets than essays, and sees less individualized feedback for students.

Snyder also points out that material budgets have not risen with class sizes, forcing more students to share resources such as dissected fetal pigs and creating safety concerns in chemistry labs.

Emotional toll on educators

Both Johnson‑Struempler and Snyder describe a growing sense of burnout among teachers, who feel stretched thin and worry about students slipping through the cracks. Snyder, who plans to retire next year, says the budget shortfalls make many educators question whether to stay in the profession.

Community concerns

Parents and community members are watching closely as the district navigates these challenges, hoping for solutions that will restore staffing levels and improve learning conditions for Anchorage’s children.

Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.