Alysyn Thibault

Executive Director

Alaskan born and raised, Alysyn spent her early childhood walking beaches on Prince of Wales Island and her young adulthood exploring in Anchorage.  From an early age, she had a passion for stories, connection, and learning. The invaluable guidance she received from teachers influenced her becoming an educator.  Upon receiving her Master of Arts in Teaching degree, she went on to work in the Anchorage School District as a Language Arts teacher for 11 years.  Most of her career she enjoyed at Title I middle and high schools, where the joy, challenge, and deep connections with students fulfilled all her dreams of what teaching could be.  When the opportunity came to empower young people at a systemic level, she knew she had to enthusiastically say, “yes!”  She has been the Executive Director at AYC since 2022, and every day is awed at the vision, strength, and voice that youth bring.  She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the National Association of Youth Courts, as Co-President of the United Youth Courts of Alaska Board, and as the Vice Chair of the Anchorage Youth Development Coalition Leadership Team.

​When not supporting local youth, she enjoys reading, running (lots of running), and spending time with her family and two dogs.
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Jessica Hetzel

Legal Advisor & Program Director

Jessica grew up in Killeen, Texas in a military family. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 2014, and worked as a College Mentor for high school students throughout her undergraduate studies. She later attended and graduated from Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon, where she interned for many non-profit and public interest organizations, such as: Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Center for Biological Diversity, Tualatin Riverkeepers, and the Federal District Court. She also served on the board of the student-run nonprofit Public Interest Law Project (PILP) for three years, helping to raise funds for students doing unpaid public interest work each summer. After graduating from Lewis & Clark in 2021, she worked as a Law Clerk in the Native Law unit at Alaska Legal Services before joining us at AYC in June of 2023.

Jessica utilizes her lived experience of going through a similar teen court program in Texas at 14 years old to encourage a compassionate dialogue in court that both provides a space for meaningful accountability and harm repair, while encouraging growth, rehabilitation, and connection. She strives to help make our program even more culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and equitable. 

​When not planning monthly trainings or scheduling new cases, she enjoys spending her free time attending the many community events Anchorage offers, and thrifting, hiking, and trying new restaurants or foods.
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Covie Stockton

Peer Navigator

Covie Stockton was raised in a military family and moved to Anchorage in 2017. After graduating from Bartlett High School, he went on to receive his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He has been passionate about youth leadership and advocacy for as long as he can remember and has always been committed to providing a voice to those around him. Covie works hard to provide youth with the support they need, drawing on both his personal experiences and the knowledge he’s gained as a Certified Peer Support Specialist. He’s excited to continue fostering empowerment and growth among the youth he serves.
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Outside of youth advocacy, Covie loves working on project cars, going to the gym, hiking, running, and doing anything that involves his dog, Tucker.

Elsi Rodriguez

Volunteer Coordinator/ Office Assistant

Elsi has called Alaska home since she was 12 years old. Originally from Houston, Texas, she grew up as a military kid and attended Bartlett High School all four years, where Ms. Alysyn watched her grow from a goofy, carefree teenager into a goofy, confident young adult.

​Elsi is currently attending the University of Alaska Fairbanks, double majoring in Secondary Education and History. She’s passionate about becoming a safe, supportive adult and teacher for her future students, just as Ms. Alysyn was for her.
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Known for her positivity and bright energy, Elsi is always looking for ways to put more good into the world. Outside of AYC, she enjoys being a silly goose, collecting fun socks, doing crafts, and spending time with her loved ones and her two Australian Shepherds, Sergeant and Ranger.

Lillian Dirks

Peer Navigator Intern

​Lillian Dirks was born in Florida but has lived in Alaska for most of her life and proudly calls it home. As AYC’s Peer Navigator Intern, she loves being part of a team that helps support and uplift youth. In her free time, Lillian enjoys hanging out with friends, reading a good book, and drawing. She plans to attend Dartmouth College to study law and become a lawyer one day. Lillian loves working at AYC because she gets to use her foster care and past client experiences to help other kids feel seen, supported, and never alone