High School Students Become the Teachers in Cross-Campus Engineering Collaboration

Two Robotics Engineering seniors from Eagle Point High School spent the afternoon turning the tables on a White Mountain Middle School teacher, guiding him through a professional-grade engineering program to expand opportunities for his WMMS students.

Mr. Mark Ross, who teaches Robotics at WMMS, met with EPHS seniors Daniel and Kevin to learn Autodesk Inventor 2025, an advanced 3D design and engineering tool widely used in high-skilled trades. While middle schoolers typically work in a simpler, introductory program, Mr. Ross hopes to elevate what’s available to his students.

“I’m trying to advance my knowledge into the intermediate and advanced level,” he explained, “so I can make sure to serve all the students I have, including the most advanced ones.”

He said the goal is twofold: “I want them to have the fundamentals prepared to come into the high school program, and if possible, let my advanced students start using this early so they’re fully familiar when they get there.”

For Mr. Ross, expanding electives and giving students who are hungry for more a stronger pathway is a priority. “We only have a few electives right now,” he said. “This will give them better differentiation and—hopefully—an advanced class next year with more 3D printing and design.”

But on this day, it wasn’t Mr. Ross doing the teaching.

Daniel, who has been using Inventor for two years, lit up when describing what he loves about engineering. “Just having full creativity on what you can make,” he said. “It lets me explore new ways of thinking.” He hopes to go into aviation mechanics, where the program’s applications are real and practical. “You can fabricate your own parts, just design and send them to a CNC machine.”

His classmate Kevin, also a senior, took a winding path through Woodshop, Metals, and eventually Engineering. “It allows you to create anything,” he said. “If you have something in your mind, you can just make it.”

For both students, the chance to teach a teacher was both exciting and intimidating. “It’s kind of nerve-racking,” Kevin admitted. “Maybe I’m not up to their expectations… I want to make sure I’m teaching him correctly.”

Mr. Ross laughed when asked how it felt to be the student for a change. "It's pretty relaxing," he said. "Learning is much easier than teaching. With learning, I don’t worry about everything else and just focus on the lesson.”

The exchange took place in Mr. Langston’s class with a few students, a WMMS teacher, and an afternoon lesson. But it carried a larger message about what’s possible when schools connect across campuses. High school students gained the confidence to teach what they know. A middle school program gained new potential. And future learners at White Mountain will soon have access to skills that align directly with real careers.

For more great stories from around the district, visit our EPSD9 Newsroom at eaglepnt.k12.or.us