PROFILES
Students Speak: Swimming with Survivors
As I stood at the edge of the pool, gazing out at the crystal-clear water, I felt a thrill coursing through my veins. The water was whispering secrets, luring me to dive into its depths. I was about to snorkel with some of the most beautiful creatures I had ever laid...
Banding Together: From Musician to Director
While many of the teachers we’ve talked with over the years didn’t start out expecting to be educators, Rachael Urquhart, at age 13, was certain of her life’s dream. She learned to play clarinet in fourth grade and discovered that band was her passion. And every step...
Students Speak: Combating Hatred
Walking into the Holocaust Museum felt like encountering a silence that was deeper than anything I had witnessed before. The very air around me felt heavy, and it was as though I could hear millions of voices muffled into one single call begging to be heard. It was...
Discovering New Life Paths in the Galapagos
As a science teacher at Crook County High School, Jessica Mumm runs a science club that takes students on educational trips across continents. Each trip focuses on a new aspect: marine biology, ecology, conservation and environmental. Mumm strives to introduce her in...
Students Speak: The World is Full of Stories
I can’t help but stare at the crooked cobblestones below me, worn with time and speckled with rain. A drop lands on my nose and I look up. The sky is blanketed with clouds, but the sun breaks through in patches, illuminating the rusty rooftops above. Colored...
Amy Harlan’s Capital Idea
The eighth-grade trip to Washington, D.C. is a rite of passage for many students, creating memories that endure over decades. I was lucky enough to hop on a bus with my classmates roughly forty years ago for just this experience. And, even today, when I hear a song...