Ryan Grindel

**Ryan Grindel, Polaris School for Expeditionary Learning -- October, 2007 Teacher-of-the-Month**
Introduction by Principal of the Polaris School for Expeditionary Learning I nominate Ryan Grindel for this award. As the art teacher at Polaris and Ryan has been an exemplary model of initiative and positive student interaction. He has organized art shows in local businesses (Café Ardor, The Bean Cycle) so that students would have authentic audiences for their work. He recently spent a week during the summer leading a week long wilderness based training for the Polaris Adventure Leadership School. This training allows students to take on leadership roles during the school year and organize service projects for other students. Ryan also encourages leadership in students as the sponsor for Student Government at Polaris. Last year Ryan organized and lead Polaris' first ever trip to Europe, spending a week with students exploring art, culture and gelato in Italy. Ryan is beloved by both students and staff at Polaris. Because of his personal dedication, students have a wealth of academic and co-curricular activities from which to choose. Joe Gawronski, Principal, Polaris School for Expeditionary Learning
Report about comments Ryan made at Rotary Meeting on October 10, 2007 One of my favorite teaching moments (one of those moments that fuels you to teach on for years and years to come…) was when I first moved to Fort Collins and began teaching at PIONEER charter school. The season was spring, and we had just arrived at the Soap Canyon trailhead of the Grand Canyon with a host of tenth graders. Our plan was to hike all the way down to the Colorado River, journeying through all of the unknown pitfalls and terrain that lay ahead of us. A bit of a surprise to us, the trail was made up of large ten foot tall washes that dropped straight down, with a rope ladder being the only access to our group of backpackers as well as large and highly sloped scree fields of loose rock. Upon reaching the top of one of these very steep rock fields we instructed the students on the safe method of traversing a scree field. Once about four students had passed the field and were waiting at the bottom, one of the remaining students on the top froze. This gentleman was a bigger guy, and with a full (60 lbs.) backpack, it was understandable why he didn't want to hike down the loose rocks. We sat together as the tears came. The other students with us at the top sat with us as well. The students and I consoled him and encouraged the distressed student to believe that he could do this. Moments passed, and as one of the last tears were wiped away, he stood and began his descent slowly and safely to the bottom of the rock slope. The smile that broke out on his face upon realizing his success was priceless. Advances, growth, overcoming challenges, they are all tough things to do, for all of us. As a teacher I cherish those teachable moments, either in the art room or outside of the art room in the Grand Canyon. Moments when a person can be faced with an intimidating fear, a self imposed limitation and realize through the support of a community that they can overcome the obstacle, that is what makes me teach. Since my first year at PIONEER School and into my fourth year at the newly formed POLARIS School I find these growth moments often within the supportive and close knit community of the school. As this year marches on I am pleased to be teaching art, relating my projects and curriculum to other content area "learning expeditions" and soon, venturing out to the Grand Canyon once more, all in the midst of my community in search of the challenge zone. The Following Are The Statements That Ryan Made In The Rotary Teacher of the Month Form: Positions and years in Poudre School District: Visual Arts Teacher- PIONEER Charter School 3 years Visual Arts Teachers- POLARIS School 1 year What are your community activities? CSU Homecoming Parade coordinator for PIONEER School- 2004, 2005 Student Council Advisor 2005-2007 PIONEER and POLARIS Adventure Leadership School (PALS)- summer training trips 2005, 2007 Multiple student art shows for PIONEER/POLARIS at locations such as The Bean Cycle, Café Ardour and Starry Night. Host and creator of the semi-annual School Shave-A-Thon fundraiser Helped host and facilitate classes and activities at the Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound Site Seminar held at PIONEER School- February 2007 What do you like best about teaching? I enjoy the deep personal connections with students. I remember what life was like for me in 9th, 10th and 11th grade… well, to be clearer, I sometimes try to forget what life was like back then. To be a consistent role model and positive figure in the lives of these emerging young people is a true pleasure and honor to me. Through PIONEER and POLARIS School I have been able to challenge students as an art teacher as well as an adventure leader to accomplish and face difficulties that they never thought they could overcome. What are you most proud of in your career? I am one proud papa when I see a student turn into a confident and creative artist/creator. So many times students arrive at art class with the belief that "I'm not an artist" or "I can't draw worth anything". To see these students grow in confidence and push themselves to try a new skill out, and find that they CAN do it… well, it just makes me proud. What is the single biggest stumbling block you have in teaching? I don't mind living or dwelling in a world of organized chaos as an artist. I also love having extended time to sit and just be alone to create works. However, while in the classroom, it has become very apparent to me that not all students or people operate the same way. I find it difficult to sometimes take my own opinions of what art is and how it is made out of the equation to offer an environment where all students can achieve success while in art, not just the ones who think and create like me. Given the opportunity, what would you to do eliminate it? Everyday I have the opportunity to challenge myself to change my views and perspective as an artist. Everyday students teach me about not being a stick in the mud with my methods and ways. It is that life long learner that we encourage our kids to be, that I often get reminded to be myself. What is the greatest problem facing Poudre School District today? Just joining Poudre School District this year as a POLARIS teacher versus a PIONEER teacher is certainly making me pay more attention to the issues, struggles and triumphs of the district. However, at such an early stage in the game, I don't pretend to know what and where the district should go. As I'm still in the research phase of being a district employee I do know that by giving kids choice of schools and choice in their lives is a HUGE and empowering thing. If anything, the ability for students to have choice, responsibility and voice should be further and widely encouraged everywhere. What recommendations do you have to solve it? Voice, Choice and Responsibility within students begins in how they treat each other in the classroom. Naturally the teacher must be the model and guide for how a healthy and conducive classroom setting should look. However, beyond those classroom boundaries, when students get out into "the field" is when the ante gets raised and those characteristics that we encourage in people in our work force, as well as what we hope for in our students becomes real. Any and all opportunities to turn the world into our classroom (starting with our local communities first) is a wonderful step in the right direction.
Copyright © for the Rotary Club of Fort Collins, Poudre R-1 School District and by Alan Ashbaugh, October 18, 2007