Steller Secondary School

Steller Secondary School is an alternative school located in Anchorage, Alaska. Steller Secondary was previously a seventh through twelfth grade school, but starting in August 2024, the Anchorage School District conjoined sixth grade with middle school,^[2] therefore having Steller Secondary adopt sixth grade into the grade range of students attending. The Anchorage School District established the school in 1974 as a response to a proposal by the Committee of Alternative Secondary Education.^{[citation needed]} Steller was named after Georg Wilhelm Steller, a naturalist from Germany who traveled with Vitus Bering on an exploratory voyage to Alaska.

History

For the first nine years of its existence, Steller was located in the old North Star Elementary School building. After much political activity by North Star parents, the Alaska Legislature approved funds to remodel the school and add a new gym as well as a drama facility/auditorium. In 1992, the auditorium was rebuilt after a structural failure caused the roof to collapse, leaving nearly everything ruined except for the stage's curtains. The voters of Anchorage approved a school bond in 2003 to provide funding for the addition of a new science lab and relocation and renovation of the staff lounge, offices surrounding the gymnasium, and the special education office. This construction was completed in October 2004.

Notable alumni

• Marty Beckerman, author, humorist, journalist, and features editor with Esquire magazine
• Mark Begich, former mayor of Anchorage, Alaska and former U.S. Senator from Alaska
• Mario Chalmers, basketball player (7-9th grades)^{[citation needed]}
• Gretchen Guess, member of Alaska House of Representatives 2000–2002 and Alaska Senate 2002–2006, Anchorage School District School Board Chair, 2011–2013 ^[3]
• Lindsey Holmes, member of Alaska House of Representatives 2006–present (9th through 11th grades)^{[citation needed]}
• Jewel, singer (9th & 10th grades)^{[4][better source needed]}
• Trajan Langdon, basketball player
• Balin Miller, climber

References

1. ^ "Steller Secondary School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
2. ^ Rockey, Tim (22 April 2024). "Anchorage middle schools prepare to include sixth grade starting this fall". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
3. ^ Gretchen Guess' LinkedIn profile Retrieved July 19, 2011
4. ^ Steller website blog post Retrieved July 19, 2011

External links

• Steller Secondary School website (Old)