Alaska has been struggling with teacher turnover and recruitment, particularly in rural communities, and the state ranks lower than is acceptable. A proposal to help teachers pay off their student loan debt was initially considered a good idea, but it was later found to create a perverse incentive. This could lead to teachers delaying paying down their loans themselves to qualify for the government payment later. Josh Church, a Fairbanks wealth manager and Marine Corps candidate running for lieutenant governor, argues that policies that empower teachers and administrators should focus on student and teacher support, rather than bureaucracy. He also notes that too often education dollars are not directly involved in teaching, but instead in layers of administration and programs that do not directly aid students. The challenges in our education system are not simply about money but about culture, leadership and accountability.