RHS Teacher Earns Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship

Published March 30, 2017

While Ravenwood High teacher Kristi Neuroth’s students are soaking in the sun this summer, she will be on the other end of the earth documenting wildlife and exploring the arctic as she partakes in a unique learning opportunity.

Neuroth is one of 35 educators chosen from the United States and Canada to be a part of the Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellows program.

It’s a rare opportunity.

“There have only been approximately 150 teachers selected for this program over the last 10 years from thousands of applications,” Neuroth said. “Traveling to the Arctic would be completely out-of-reach for me if not for this Fellowship.”

As a fellow in the program, Neuroth will have the chance live on a ship in Arctic Svalbard with two other teachers from June 12-22 as they photograph and document wildlife, learn from the National Geographic photographers and naturalists on board and develop curriculum for their students based on their experiences.

Last week, Neuroth traveled to Washington D.C. where she was able to meet the other program fellows and learn about the expedition’s agenda, but possibly her best source for what to expect on the trip is much closer to home.

Neuroth is the second WCS teacher to be named a fellow after Brentwood High teacher Doug Anderson was chosen for the program in 2014.

For both Neuroth and Anderson to be selected for the program, they had to submit four essays on geographic literacy and how it applies to the classroom.

Neuroth applied for the program before but wasn’t chosen.

That didn’t damper her spirit though.

“I’ve applied several times for this opportunity because it is, in my mind, the most incredible professional development opportunity available,” Neuroth said. “I told my students I would apply every year until I retire if that is what it took because it meant that much to me.”

After years of applying and hoping, her resolve has finally paid off and she’s gearing up for the trip of a lifetime.

“I love the thrill of seeing new, exotic places and learning the rich stories behind the people, geology and wildlife,” Neuroth said. “I grew up in the Rocky Mountains far from the ocean so being able to be on a ship in the Arctic will be an exhilarating experience for me.”