Alaska school districts hiring from the Philippines are taking some of the country’s best and brightest teachers. It’s a win for Alaska kids, but what does that mean for students back in Southeast Asia? KMXT’s Brian Venua explores brain drain and brain gain in Part 5 of his series, Mabuhay sa Alaska.

Alaska school districts are hiring teachers from the Philippines, but it’s not the first time employers in the state have looked to the island nation to address a labor shortage. In part 4 of Mabuhay sa Alaska, KMXT’s Brian Venua reports that this is just the latest wave in more than a century of ebb and flow.

Moving to rural Alaska takes a lot of adjustment — especially when you’re coming from a city with a population of 13 million. In Part 3 of Mabuhay sa Alaska, KMXT’s Brian Venua reports on how teachers who have made the move from the Philippines are navigating their new lives in Alaska.

Alaska school districts are ramping up international hiring. For some, that means sending their own recruiters to the Philippines. In Part 2 of Mabuhay sa Alaska, KMXT’s Brian Venua reports that the process can be pretty complicated, and it’s only getting more stressful.

Schools across the United States are facing a challenging teacher shortage as fewer people join the profession compared to the number of folks who retire or leave. To keep schools running smoothly, many districts are looking abroad — namely to the Philippines. In Part 1 of Mabuhay sa Alaska, KMXT’s Brian Venua reports that schools in Alaska are more desperate than most.