T3 Alaska: Bringing Innovation into the Classroom

T3 Alaska continues to weave hands-on, student-driven learning into the fabric of everyday education. What began as after-school clubs is now showing up during the school day, with both Valdez and Haines offering T3 programming as part of regularly scheduled classes.

In Valdez, T3 has been integrated into the school’s shop class, giving students the opportunity to earn ES100 – the University of Alaska’s Introduction to Engineering while engaging in real-world, project-based learning. This collaboration is being led by David Cronk, Valdez’s new principal, whose leadership has helped align T3’s design thinking and engineering approach with classroom instruction.

At Haines High School, Sam McPhetre, science and math teacher, is facilitating a dedicated T3 class during 7th period. Students are already applying design thinking to projects they care about—from 3D printing items for a holiday gift exchange to designing a scale model of the city pool. These projects reflect the creativity, technical skill, and community connection at the heart of T3.

By moving from clubs into classrooms, T3 Alaska is expanding access, strengthening academic relevance, and helping students see themselves as problem-solvers and designers—right where learning happens every day.