I'm Ms. Unger and am an English teacher at SMHS. I have been at Spring Mills from the first year we opened, and prior to that I was at Spring Mills Middle School. I am the mother of two grown girls and two dachshunds. I have had the privilege of being on two EF tours during the last two summers. Our adventures included such sites and adventures as the Vatican, the Colosseum, throwing a coin in the Trevi Fountain, Neuschwanstein Castle (one of the inspirations for Cinderella's Castle). In Greece we were transported back to the time of the first Olympics, toured the ruins of where Greek gods were celebrated- the Acropolis, Temples of Poseidon and Zeus, cruised to several Greek Isles and swam in the Aegean Sea. These trips were amazing opportunities to see parts of the world I had only read about in books. The trip also provided an opportunity to make new friends and spend time with students outside of the classroom and watch at their amazement and joy as they spread their wings. I can not wait to explore the Capitals of the British Isles. Ireland is at the top of my bucket list. Traveling is one of my greatest joys and reminds me that there is so much more out there than our little dot on the map.

Bonjour! While participating in an international trip during my junior year at James Monroe High School in Lindside, WV, the travel bug took its first bite. Since then, I have jumped at every travel opportunity available! During my undergraduate studies at Fairmont State University in Fairmont, WV, I studied abroad in Quebec City, Quebec and in Chambery, France. In my teaching career, I have led four student tours out of the country as a Group Leader, and have served as a chaperone on several other trips in and out of the country.

Of the countries I have visited, Iceland is my favorite (and of course France is next); but I travel with the intent of expanding my horizons--both literally and figuratively--so I have no regrets for spending time and money on traveling!

I am passionate about getting students out of the classroom and into the world. We learn best through experience, and there is no better way to teach than to see and interact with the world around us!

My name is Matt Grogg. I’ve been a U.S. history teacher at Spring Mills High since 2018. Growing up in a small town in WV, I never thought it would be possible to travel worldwide. However, I’ve been so fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel with colleagues, friends and students to Greece in the summer of 2019. EF tours was a wonderful experience and I loved the experience for myself but for the students as well. I would love to travel across the world, visiting each continent. Being a history teacher, I absolutely loved my experience and want future students to enjoy these tours as much as I have.

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

(Grecian Odyssey 2019)

My name is Liz Jorgensen and I teach English, Newspaper, and Yearbook at Spring Mills High School. Some of my favorite travel memories have been providing medical and educational aid to Haitian refugees in the Dominican Republic, learning about Appalachian history and culture in Asheville, North Carolina, swimming in gorges in Ithaca, New York, wandering around cities like N.Y.C. and D.C. to visit museums and see plays, visiting family and friends all over the US, and of course experiencing ancient historical sites while helping to chaperone the SMHS trip to Greece with EF Tours during the summer of 2019. My favorite thing about travel is learning--learning about the history of a place, learning about the culture of a place, and learning about how people live their everyday lives in that place. When you travel, you learn both about others and about yourself, and there is perhaps no knowledge more important in the world than that.

(Grecian Odyssey 2019)

I am in my sixth year at Spring Mills High School. I teach social studies, specifically World History, AP World History, Sociology, and Leadership. This is my second time on an EF tour; I went on the Grecian Odyssey Tour last year with Mr. Linger, Mr. Grogg, Mr. Barner, Mrs. Jorgensen, and Ms. Unger. I am planning on going with Mr. Linger and the gang on as many trip as possible and hopefully venturing out to lead some of my own. My desire to travel derives for my love of the woods. I love to be outside and in nature. Venturing to new landscapes is only the next logical step. My husband and I travel extensively to the west and backpack through the wildness. So why not see the world too? Greece was one of my bucket list countries, I can only imagine what will be crossed off my list next.