Sloan took part in two weeks of intensive training in Alaska in mid-2017, after being named to the post. She took over from 2017 Teacher on the Trail Annie Kelley, who passed a Redington puppy to Sloan in a symbolic passing of the torch.

Sloan works at Stafford County's Ferry Farm Elementary School. She has taught for 16 years. She is originally from Michigan so is familiar with the cold that she is experiencing in Alaska.

She was one of a handful of finalists who survived a 10-day interview process. She is regularly updating Paws along the Trail, a blog about her experiences.

The Teacher on the Trail program began in 1998, with a fund-raising effort by Andrea Aufder Heyde.