Glendale Elementary teacher invited back for 2018 Iditarod

VERO BEACH -- Glendale Elementary School 5th-grade teacher Kim Slade has been invited back to this year’s Iditarod Sled Dog Race to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the “Teacher on the Trail” program.

The program started with “Finney” (Andrea Aufder Heyde) who felt compelled to reach out to the Iditarod Trail Committee and discuss the creation of a Teacher on the Trail program.

“Finney” became the first Teacher on the Trail and led the way of providing a rich content of instruction for teachers to use with students. With “Finney” as her inspiration, in 2007, Slade was selected as the Iditarod Teacher on the Trail.

“It was an amazing experience that changed my life forever,” she said.

As a Teacher on the Trail, Slade had many responsibilities. She created lessons, visited schools in the Anchorage area and out on the trail, conducted online journaling and worked as a volunteer for the race. She spent 5 1-2 weeks in Alaska that winter and was able to travel the entire Iditarod Trail by bush plane, snow machine and dog sled.

Glendale Principal Adam Faust said, “Kim Slade is my inspiration. She is a teacher who does so much for so many, and for her to represent our district for this prestigious event brings me great joy. We have Skyped and connected with kids during this process through a Canvas course she created, and the excitement and learning that is happening is amazing.”

This year’s trip will include Slade traveling out on the Junior Iditarod Trail again, participating in the Iditarod Education Conference, being involved with pre-race activities and the 2018 Iditarod.

All of this will be shared with 5th-grade students here in Indian River County through Canvas and online lessons. Glendale fifth-graders will also have the opportunity to Skype with Slade, asking questions and seeing this experience first-hand.

The race will be used to address grade-level standards across multiple disciplines with the focus on weather/climate and adaptations.