Bringing the world home

Redmond is located on the eastern side of the Cascades in the geographic heart of central Oregon. Yet, thanks to technology and the passion of their teacher, fourth-grade students at Redmond’s Vern Patrick Elementary School become, in their teacher’s words, “Polar explorers, Hawaiian volcanologists, and Channel Island challengers” all while living in a rural expanse known as Oregon’s high desert.

Their teacher, Heather Rentz , earned her master of arts in teaching in 1990 from Lewis & Clark where, she says, “I learned the importance of encouraging students to question and inquire and wonder about the world around them.” Her capacity to inspire students brought her recognition when she became one of 44 teachers nationwide to receive the Disney Teaching Award honoring creativity in teaching.

Using both online tools and life experiences, Rentz engages her students in learning activities that are both meaningful and fun. “My class raises kokanee salmon and trout for release, labels storm drains in the community, and learns fishing techniques from elders in our town,” she says. “In all this, we don’t forget our basic skills mastery while working in the exciting real-world environment.”