Teacher on the Trail Program

The Teacher on the Trail Program was initiated in 1998 by Andrea Auf der Heyde “Finney”, of Rogers Elementary School, Bloomington, Indiana. I created the program because my school focused on Lifeskills, which were an integral and crucial part of the school’s educational curriculum. My elementary school was a C.L.A.S.S. school, which means Connecting Learning Assures Successful Students. I believed real life experiences incorporated in teaching make a lasting impression on the students' learning and inspire creative and self motivating learning.

I contacted Lois Harter at Iditarod Headquarters, and presented my proposal for my Teacher on the Trail Program. After a trip to AK to defend my proposal, I had to wait for a decision from the Iditarod Trail Committee. In the summer of 1998, I was informed that I could begin the Teacher on the Trail Program. I assured ITC (Iditarod Trail Committe)that I would indeed raise the money to fly to AK, pay for my housing while in AK, purchase all my gear for the Trail, purchase my cameras and computer, and be prepared for the weather and temperatures on the Trail. I received a wonderful surprise when Ronald McDonald House Charities chose to be my financial sponsor, thus making my educational dream a reality. I was passionate about being able to go out on the Iditarod Trail so I could send back reports of how I the mushers and dogs were using Lifeskills to achieve their goal of making the journey to Nome. I wanted students to understand how in life we constantly set goals, prepare for those goals, and use Lifeskills to achieve the goals. The Lifeskills that I stressed were perseverance, effort, organization, patience, initiative, sense of humor, cooperation, flexibility, problem solving, curiosity, common sense, courage, integrity and caring. There was no doubt that all of the Lifeskills would be used to be successful in the sometimes perilous and challenging journey to Nome.

I have been extremely delighted and proud that ITC embraced the educational value of the TOTT Program, and has allowed my vision to continue over the years. The Iditarod Sled Dog Race is an incredible teaching tool and through the TOTT Educational Program teachers around the world are learning the tremendous impact it has on all academic areas and grade levels. The enthusiasm, excitement, and passion that it generates from students and teachers is simply amazing. I deeply appreciated the opportunity to have my dream come true. As an educator very much involved in my own life long learning, it is fufilling to know that my dream continues to enrich the lives of students who also have been captured by the mystique of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race and the lure of the beautiful state of Alaska.