Mr. Merrell is teaching social studies for his second year at RHS, while he is also still teaching classes at 2 universities. Merrell became a teacher because his mom was a teacher, he always looked up to his mom as she was described as the life changing teacher everyone loved. He has taught for 20 years now, working at an eskimo school in Alaska for his first year, moving to Southern Utah, and then a year at Sutherlin Middle School before coming to RHS last school year. Although, he claims to have too many hobbies, Mr. Merrell likes to do things like rockhounding, reading, and fishing. “I just love life,” He says. 

Students, Meadow Roberts and Sadie Bentea, help us describe Mr. Merrells teaching style as direct, discussive, and student centered. “The things that I learn in this class are actually useful to my life,” says Meadow. Something that impacts Merrell as an educator is getting to reconnect with his former students and hear their stories. He expresses his love for their unexpected stories and how it sets them apart from the classroom. Mr. Merrell also shares a story about being a former student’s best man at his wedding, 12 years after he left the eskimo school in Alaska. Sharing how much he enjoyed the experience of being able to see them all in their 30’s and how far they had come. Lastly, a message Mr. Merrell would like to convey to our school community, “Don’t put limitations on yourself, you can do way more than you think you’re able to do. You gotta dare to believe it.”