Valley Oaks Charter School resource teacher Daran Francis worked up quite a sweat on July 20 pounding white hot metal into the shape of horseshoes. School wasn't in, and Francis wasn't teaching. What he was doing will prove to be of educational value for thousands of children across the United States.

Turns out, Francis was an actor, performing a role with which he is quite familiar. Several days out of the year, you can find him at the Kern County Museum showing visitors and school tours how he makes horseshoes and shoes horses. More