MECAC Membership

Jonathan Larson
Co-Chair

Jonathan Larson is one quarter each of Yupik and Inupiat Eskimo, Filipino and one eighth each of German and Swedish. Given this diverse background, Jonathan is living in a one-of-a-kind world view. From birth through childhood, including enrollment in public schools in both rural and urban Alaska and the attainment of a Business Administration degree to a career with the federal government, Jonathan has been provided with distinct perspectives to life’s challenges. Most important in Jonathan’s life is being a single father to three active ASD students who are half Athabascan. Jonathan’s daughter (age 6), and two boys (ages 13 and 9) and their extracurricular activities provide Jonathan consummate rewards as a proactive parent. The challenges Jonathan has faced in his own life, coupled with knowledge acquired over time, allow him to advocate not only for himself and his children, but for those who are not able or willing to do so for themselves. Two guiding principles which Jonathan adheres to are “do what you gotta do” and “managers do what they’re supposed to do, but leaders do what’s right.” Both have helped him in life and in his service as a director for his Alaska Native Village Corporation.

Atisa Logo (Aumoeualogo)
Co-Chair

As the mother of eight (her oldest is 24), Ms. Logo serves as guide, counselor, teacher, cook, coach, friend, homemaker, chauffeur, disciplinarian, and companion to those eight both in times of joy and sorrow.  Atisa is an early morning Seminary teacher for the juniors in the Northern Lights Ward of the LDS church.  She is also Ward chorister in their Sunday sacrament meetings and a Ward Relief Society Visiting teacher coordinator.  She is a board member and secretary for the Polynesian Association of Alaska (PAOA) and represents PAOA wherever she is asked to go.  She is also active in the T-Bird Forum for East High School parents and a member of Bridge Builders.  In addition to being an on-and-off student at UAA, Atisa describes herself as a “single mother, sister, aunt, daughter, cousin, friend, neighbor, child of God.”

Ellsworth James

Mr. Ellsworth James has 15 years of experience in the field of Industrial Psychology and Social Research. He is the Managing Director of the Naiad Corporation, an economic development think tank, focusing on strategies for rural, urban and metropolitan Alaska. He is also the Senior Partner of James, Velox, James, and Stark, a Social Research Partnership.

Throughout his career, Mr. James has held a variety of positions.  As an overseas consultant, he engineered programs geared toward providing coaching, conflict resolution, and cultural diversity for multinational corporations throughout Europe and Asia.

Cheri Johansen

Dan Loring

Mildred “Polly” Miller

Polly is the great-grandmother of two racially mixed children who currently attend an ASD elementary school.   She is a military widow and a retired elementary school teacher with a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in human behavior from the University of Wisconsin.  She has served as a volunteer for a crisis intervention hotline, as a Hospice home caregiver, and as an aid for over 10 years.  As an active member of the LDS church, she has served in many callings.  At the present time, she is serving as an English teacher in the Hmong Branch of the LDS church in the Muldoon chapel.  Polly has helped raise three generations of children, and she believes she has much to share with the families of this area and the Anchorage School District.  She is a strong advocate for a safe and happy school environment for all children, no matter their culture, race, religion, or economic background.  Polly is very grateful to be serving on the MECAC.

Lamin Jobarteh

Esther Stauffer

Ed Graff
Assistant Superintendent of Instruction