Kate Eisses Menzel
Kate Menzel was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. She is the daughter of Ken and Betsy Eisses. After graduating from West High School in 2004, she went to college at UAA getting her B.S. in Mathematics in 2008 followed by a Masters of Arts in Teaching in 2009. Kate began her teaching career at Bartlett High School spending 2 years there before and transferiong to West High School, her Alma mater for the 2011-12 school year. Kate is passionate about teaching math, loves watching West football and spending time with her husband Kyle and puppy Amber. Kate also enjoys fishing and boating with family in the summers and traveling any time!
Kate became involved with the RURE program during the summer of 2011 when she traveled to Afognak Island for a week exchange through the RURE Educator Cross Cultural Exchange Program. There she learned of the RURE Sister School Exchange and became involved in the fall of 2011. Kate is passionate about new learning experiences and spreading the importance of cultural awareness in schools to students and staff.
An Alaskan Urban Rural Exchange
Nestled on the banks of the Nushagak River lies the village of New Stuyahok with a population of 510. The village is on a hill with three main streets of houses and a school at the top. Chief Ivan Blunka School is home of the Eagles: student population 150.
For a week, five Anchorage students and a teacher had a once in a lifetime chance to experience their amazing model for education.
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