After 22 years shaping minds in classrooms across the globe, Joshua Garrett is bringing his wealth of international education experience to Wrangell, where he has started work as schools superintendent.

The decision to return to the U.S. came after a poignant moment in the summer of 2024. "I'm not ashamed to admit that I bawled like a baby," Garrett said, recalling sending his oldest daughter off to college. "I immediately started looking for different positions that would bring me back to the United States."

Alaska's unique blend of statehood and isolation appealed to him. "It has the benefits and responsibilities that come with being a state, but it also feels less like a state than anywhere else," he observed.

Running a private school in Kazakhstan demanded his attention during the 2024-2025 school year, and Garrett renewed his U.S. job search in May.

"I think some people may romanticize living in Alaska, but I always thought it would be an amazing place to live and work," he noted. "The idea of returning to live in suburbia wasn't for me."

A native of Derby, Kansas, Garrett's journey has taken him through diverse educational landscapes. Since 2003, he's led schools in China, Azerbaijan, North Macedonia, Georgia and Turkey. Most recently, from 2021, he directed the QSI International School of Astana in Kazakhstan's capital, overseeing over 300 students and managing a $7.5 million budget.

He holds a doctorate in education from the University of Kentucky, where he's been a guest international lecturer since 2019, and a schools superintendent certificate from the state of Maine.

His contract with the Wrangell school district will pay him $140,000 annually once he secures his Alaska superintendent certificate, a salary comparable to his predecessor, Bill Burr.

The board voted unanimously in May to offer Garrett the job. He started work on July 1.

The district also committed up to $10,000 for his moving expenses from Kazakhstan, with a pro-rated repayment clause if he leaves before his three-year contract concludes.

Garrett acknowledges the inherent challenges of his new role, but they are not entirely new territory. "The fact of the matter is there's never enough money for education," he remarked. "That isn't to say it isn't enough, but we could always use more money to do more for the students."

Ultimately, Garrett believes the quality of educators, not just funding, is the deciding factor. "At the core, learning begins with a child's curiosity," he explained. "My philosophy is to educate based on their potential and curiosity. I'm focused on students learning - not teachers teaching."

Describing the school district's current fiscal situation as a "wait and see phase," Garrett is optimistic about the future.

"What my predecessor (Burr) did was a good job of working with the board to secure funding for this upcoming year," he said. "So we have some breathing room, and once the year starts and the dust starts to settle, we'll have to evaluate where we are and plan how we'll proceed from there."

The district dug deep into its reserves to balance its spending plan for the 2025-2026 school year, with the school board considering money-saving options for future years.

Garrett won't be alone in Wrangell; his wife and three youngest children will join him in August. His oldest child is enrolled in college; his 17-year-old daughter and 15- and 12-year-old sons will be part of the Wrangell community.

Garrett is clearly excited about the opportunities ahead. "I'm really looking forward to working with this school board, and I'm really excited to see what can be accomplished with these students," he enthused.