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Marshall finds success at Nyssa High School



Jennifer Colton | Argus Observer Business teacher Rollie Marshall works with Nick Cuniga (left), 15, and Alma Rogel, 16, at Nyssa High School Thursday. Marshall, who worked as a banker for 20 years, is expanding business learning at the school in a variety of ways.
Jennifer Colton

Argus Observer

Nyssa

Trying to find a common link between bottled water, computer games, slushies and football could be difficult - unless you know Nyssa High School's Rollie Marshall.

Marshall, a Nyssa High School business teacher, is the common link - using each of the above subjects in his classes or when he coaches on the football field. Marshall said teaching was his first career choice, but one college presentation changed his mind.

“I was a banker for 20 years,” Marshall said. “When I graduated from Wallowa High School, I wanted to be a P.E. teacher.”

His plans were “sidetracked” during a field trip to hear about programs offered at Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton.

“I had to decide on the way down Cabbage Hill what I wanted to listen to,” he said. “I knew that I didn't want to do auto tech and I didn't want to do nursing, so I chose to listen to business. I was really impressed with their accounting program - I ended up getting a two-year degree and went immediately to work for U.S. Bank.”

Then eight years ago, Marshall said he had an opportunity to go back to school to complete his bachelor's degree.

“My wife and three daughters encouraged me to go back to school to become a teacher because they thought I'd be a good one,” he said.

So Marshall went to Eastern Oregon University, earned a bachelor's degree in business and a master's in education.

“Nyssa was my first job after graduating,” he said. “And I've been here ever since. It's a fabulous school district to work in.”

But even coming to the Nyssa School District bordered on chance.

“When they made me a job offer, I was one of three people that Blue Mountain Community College was going to interview for a computer teacher position, on Tuesday, which was three days after I had my interview at Nyssa,” he said.

After hearing the job offer, Marshall and his wife toured the community and on the way home made a list of pros and cons about the position and the location.

“The pros outweighed the cons probably 4-1, so I had told Mr. Grotting that I would get back to him by Sunday, and I called Blue Mountain Community College and withdrew my application.”

Marshall is now in his fifth year at Nyssa High School, teaching accounting, introduction to business and a series of computer classes.

“I couldn't be happier with my decision,” Marshall said. “I've been able to coach three different sports, and working with the kids, in the classroom or on the sports side, I just get more and more impressed with the students here. It's a great environment and best of all, I get to spend quality time with the students.”

In addition to coaching and teaching a full class load, Marshall spearheads business enterprises to raise funds for the Nyssa Future Business Leaders of America, including the “Nyssa Bulldog2O” bottled water.

“We had noticed that Pine Eagle, Imbler, Grant-Union and Baker all had their own water labels (on bottles of water),” he said. “Almost every one of those used a company out of North Powder, but we had an exclusive contract with Coca-Cola. Not being able to sell someone else's water, we visited with the people from Coke who were thrilled with our proposal.”

Through a school-wide contest, students in art and computer classes created a logo and slogan to go on the Coca-Cola company's Dasani water.

“Then I used my intro to business class and marketing class to help market and sell the water, and I used my accounting class to keep track of the finances,” Marshall said. “That means 100 to 125 students are involved in this project each year.”

The business classes will debut a new product - Bulldog Slushies - at sporting events this spring.

“It's been a great real-life project for the students,” he said. “Anytime I can introduce those type of projects, I think it benefits the students way more than book work.”




Comment Blog - Note: All Comments Subject To Approval

No Dhimmi wrote on Aug 14, 2009 9:38 PM:

" Islam is a woman-hating, human-enslaving ideology that should NOT be taught in our public schools. It's obvious the Saudis and the rest of the Muslim fanatics who are trying to take over the world have bought off the State of Oregon. Expect lawsuits.

And this isn't "racist," because Islam is not a race, anymore than Communism or Nazism are races, both of which killed far fewer people than Islam.

Disgusting. "

anonymous wrote on Aug 10, 2009 2:19 AM:

" The girl was Latasha Rodriguez "

Cody W. Ables wrote on May 16, 2008 11:04 PM:

" May 16, 2008

Here is something that we should all read. This is a letter from an angry woman in New Jersey regarding the War in Iraq and all of the war’s negative publicity. Pay attention.

'Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001?

Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania?

Did nearly three-thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was 'desecrated' when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet?...Well, I don't. I don't care at all.

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia .

I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.

When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college-hazing incident, rest assured: I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank: I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed 'special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don't care.

Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior!

If you don't agree, then by all means quit reading. Should you choose to do so, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country! And may I add:

'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem' -- Ronald Reagan

I have another quote that I would like to add

'If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.' Also by.. Ronald Reagan

One last thought for the day:

In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the Anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England 's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America , he said: 'A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in.. And how many want out.'

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.
Important for us all!!!!
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

MANY SEEM TO FORGET BOTH OF THEM. AMEN!’


I hope you take this woman’s viewpoint into consideration. It closely parallels my own. As I begin my journey in becoming a soldier of the greatest country in the world, hearing this woman’s words sets my heart at ease. It is warming to know that there are people in this great country who still care about those men and women who have no choice.


Cody W. Ables
U.S. Air Force Academy 2012
"


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