Wendy Trent Makes Big Impact on East Central ISD in Only Four Years' of Teaching

Wendy Trent has spent only four years in East Central ISD's Heritage Middle School classroom, but she has made a major impact on her students. They say she brings history to life every day by making it fun and fascinating.

Ms. Trent believes that her history curriculum is an excellent way to develop critical thinking skills for her eight-grade students. She expects her young scholars to consider how they would solve world political, social or historical problems. They spend several class periods reading and studying an issue. Then through classroom work they each must select the best solution and discuss it, defending their choices. Then and only then do they discuss the REAL solution that came about in history to address it.

When asked what she thought the "secret" of her success is, she says she really likes middle school students. She says she enjoys similar music to theirs and can be a mentor who truly relates to them. Her enthusiasm is infectious. "She's like an overgrown teenager," one student said. In her classroom discussion is lively. They obviously not only can relate to this young, blond, enthusiastic teacher but they also have tremendous respect for her.