Bryce Tiernan, Hines Middle School Electives Teacher

Meet Bryce Tiernan, an electives teacher at Hines Middle School with a passion for education and the great outdoors. His journey to teaching was shaped by years as a professional club ski coach and outdoor educator. "I went into education because I spent most of my 20s as a professional club ski coach and outdoor educator. I realized that I really enjoyed working with kids and helping them achieve success."

Bryce's days are filled with variety: "As an electives teacher, my days are usually quite varied during the school year. I teach six different subjects/classes every day, so no two periods are the same: I teach photography, graphic design, printmaking, 3D printing, yearbook, computers, and videography." This diverse skill set allows Bryce to engage students in a range of creative and technical pursuits.

"What inspires me about my work is seeing students overcome challenges and succeed in things they previously couldn’t do. The process of helping students overcome hurdles and witnessing the joy they feel when they accomplish something inspires me to keep teaching."

Bryce's path to Harney County happened in an unexpected way. "My move to Harney County happened quite serendipitously. I was waiting for an interview slot at the Central Oregon Job Fair and was visiting other districts that didn’t have lines while I waited. I went to give my application to the HCSD #3 booth, and they had a display board for Steens Mountain. I was blown away by how amazing it looked. When I was offered my position out here, I came to check out the mountains of Eastern Oregon and was impressed."

Actively involved in the Youth Changing the Community Collaborative, Bryce brings local professionals into the Career Exploration class, bridging the gap between education and real-world applications. "My work with the collaborative has primarily involved having local professionals come into my Career Exploration class to teach students about what a day in their life looks like. For me, a big part of education is showing students that what they are doing in school is important and applicable to jobs and careers they might be interested in the future. The more relevant school can be for students, the more likely they are to stay engaged and take their education seriously."

Outside the classroom, Bryce embraces an active lifestyle; "I am an avid bike rider and skier, and I try to do these activities as much as possible."