Dave Thompson engineers some great learning fun for RRHS students

Ken Johnston
Editor

One could say Dave Thompson has engineered a unique approach to subject matter in his new teaching job at RRHS.
Teaching grade 12 physics, chemistry and grade 9 computers this year, Thompson has the students applying what they are learning in very practical and fun ways. His grade 9 class was working on computers when he asked them to construct a bridge out of paper over their keyboards, encompassing what they were taught into a practical application. “I can be so creative with teaching and still get the point across,” enthused Thompson.
Thompson has a Masters Degree in Engineering and has worked in that field for many years. However, with his wife working full time as a school vice-principal in Fort Frances, the allure of staying in the area to work was much stronger than travelling to the work his engineering ticket dictated.
For the past several years he has been bouncing all around the district as a substitute teacher. When a full time job right up his alley came along at RRHS he jumped at it.
So far he is really enjoying teaching at RRHS, noting that his students are really eager to learn and really embrace his method of teaching.
While he may have studied engineering to get his Masters, he also returned to school at Lakehead University to attend Teachers College. However, his latest profession goes way back before he ever even attended school to become an engineer. “My first teaching job was when I was 14 years old when I taught scuba diving lessons.”
Thompson said that while he is making considerably less than he would if he were in the other field, teaching is so rewarding and definitely has great pay outs beyond the salary. In addition to enjoying seeing the students learn, he also enjoys the summer break. It allows him to dive professionally in the summer and do a bit of engineering work.
He says the school itself is great and complimented the students on how well behaved they are!
After school hours he hopes to partially fill with a technology club that may work on things like building and controlling robots.