LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Gerda Kosbruk was nominated by her superintendent, Ty Mase.

"At this time last year, I had a phone conversation with Gerda," said Mase. "My conversation centered on the fundamental question of Gerda’s board participation due to her beginning a battle with cancer. When I asked if she wanted some time to recover and for the Vice President to take over, her response was, 'There is too much going on that I care about to step aside right now.' I had to chuckle, as I have had this conversation with Gerda several times before, with similar responses.  This woman is an absolute rock, and in many ways, she is one of the most impressive leaders I have ever worked with."

In the spring of 2017, Ms. Kosbruk was on a flight to her home village of Port Heiden, when severe icing caused the plane to lose power and crash. At 30 degrees below zero, with a pilot who had broken his back and a compound fracture in her left arm, Ms. Kosbruk sent out communications, activated the ELT, and single-handedly saved the life of herself and her pilot. 

"When she was released from the hospital, I asked her about flying to the next board meeting in Newhalen, and if she would like some time off before jumping back into board business and, of course, flying again," said Mase. "Her response? She felt that if we were asking students, staff and the rest of the board to fly, she had to get back on a plane and be there. The board meeting centered around a district-wide student summit, and Gerda asked to address the student body to speak about air travel and safety. With several plane crashes and deaths in our district that spring, it was a powerful talk and one that many of us will never forget."

The following spring, Ms. Kosbruk was on another flight when the pilot knocked the landing gear off of their airplane in Pilot Point. The flight was approaching King Salmon and prepared for yet another crash landing.  With the landing gear and wing severely damaged and a fuel tank draining fuel, they managed a successful crash landing with no casualties or injuries, though the plane was totaled.  Although understandably shaken, Ms. Kosbruk again refused to step aside and was soon back in the air tending to district business. She knew the district was watching and air travel was starting to be feared.

"There are no roads between our villages and school sites, so air travel is a part of our daily lives," said Mase. "Gerda knew, as a leader in Lake and Pen, that she needed to get back in an airplane and show students, staff and communities that it is simply what we do."

"This is just a brief recap of the last several whirlwind years for Ms. Kosbruk. For the past 18 years, she has been a pillar of the Lake and Peninsula School Board," said Mase. "She has been the board president for the better part of a decade, and I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Gerda’s support, advice, direction, and life lessons. Her understanding of our region and how it ticks is unsurpassed, and she has calmly helped me, and the rest of the board, maneuver the ups and downs of our region and school district.  She is our voice of reason, our calm, and our strength. While soft-spoken, she is a force to be dealt with and is respected across our region."

Ms. Kosbruk runs the board efficiently with a never-ending focus on students. The board discusses and listens to each other, and when it comes to vote, they vote together. During her tenure as Board President, she hasn’t had a single “no” vote on any action item. It's rare for a leader to bring people together like Ms. Kosbruk does. She keeps everyone on the same page and focused on kids.

Ms. Kosbruk is a hands-on board president who is grinding it out in bush Alaska with very little fanfare. She’s a caring mom, an active member in her community, village administrator of Port Heiden, a regional leader and, of course, board president. 

To close, here are some words from people around Alaska who know and have worked with Gerda in the past:

“Gerda has carried the LPSD family through a lot over her time, from budget cuts, standards based system and our latest, our subsistence calendar, with the state watching. It has been an honor serving alongside her and no one deserves this award more than her.”  - Austin Shangin, LPSD Board Vice President

“I’ve known Gerda for years. Her commitment to excellence in education is virtually unparalleled. I am thrilled that she is being considered for the award.” - Bryce Edgmon, Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives

“I am pleased to support the nomination of Gerda Kosbruk for this award. I view Gerda as the ideal board member who is supportive, trusting and willing to ask the difficult questions. Her forthright approach to her board member role always helped the group see the full picture and in turn, make informed decisions. I have a deep respect for Gerda as both a board member and person and know that she is deserving of this award.” ~ Steve Atwater, Executive Dean, Alaska College of Education

“Gerda has always been the strongest boots on the ground supporter for Meshik School in Port Heiden. It has been invaluable to have Gerda as a mentor, sounding board, and strength for our entire student body as we've moved through challenges and hardships in our small communities. Gerda is an amazing, even keeled leader and woman. She is very deserving of the LifeChanger of the Year Award.”  ~ Kasie Luke, Former Port Heiden Principal / HR Director