Our Stories
The I Am a Rural Teacher campaign is committed to sharing voices and perspectives of rural teachers throughout the country. Elevating teacher advocacy is a primary objective of this national initiative, and the Rural Schools Collaborative works with the National Rural Education Association to share rural teachers’ viewpoints with policymakers at the regional, state, and national levels.
Thank you to The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Community Foundation of the Ozarks for the initial support to launch this effort.
Sophia Elswick - Toulon, IL
March 28, 2024
A music teacher at Stark County High School in rural Illinois, shares her story about finding community and herself while teaching in rural communities.
Power of Partnerships, Rural Teacher Corps, Teacher Profile, Rural Resilience, Teacher Feature: Illinois
Updates from our Reciprocity Project Teachers!
March 8, 2024
Featuring updates on Will Miller’s class sugaring project in Massachusetts and introductions from Anna Martin’s Primary 5 class at St. Brigid’s Primary School in Northern Ireland.
Place-Based Education, Rural Educators Across Borders, Reciprocity Project Blog
Jayla Gellington - Moundville, AL
March 5, 2024
Bringing real-world learning into the classroom.
Regional Hubs, Power of Partnerships, Alabama & Black Belt, Teacher Profile, Rural Resilience, Teacher Feature: Alabama
Lanie Christianson and Matthew Eastman - University of Maine
February 28, 2024
Finding a passion for teaching when Maine needs them most.
Regional Hubs, New England, Teacher Profile, Teacher Feature: Maine
Reflections on I Am A Rural Teacher
January 17, 2024
Rural Schools Collaborative looks back on seven years of sharing the stories of rural teachers via the I Am A Rural Teacher project, in their own words.
Place-Based Education, Teacher Profile, Gratitude
Cole Carter - Junction, IL
January 9, 2024
Why young people return home to teach rural
Illinois, Teacher Profile, Teacher Feature: Illinois
Reciprocity Project Classes Engage in Introductory Activities
December 19, 2023
This succinct piece highlights several of the different “introductory activities” that have been produced by some of the participating Rural Educators Across Borders teachers and their students.
Place-Based Education, Rural Educators Across Borders, Reciprocity Project Blog
Kim McCully-Mobley - Aurora, MO
November 28, 2023
The Impact of Place-Based Learning in Rural Communities
Missouri Ozarks, Teacher Profile, Podcast, Teacher Feature: Missouri
The Reciprocity Project Connects Rural Educators Across Borders
November 2, 2023
The Reciprocity Project connects rural educators worldwide, promoting place-based learning and global awareness.
Place-Based Education, Rural Educators Across Borders, Reciprocity Project Blog
Skylar Primm - Cambridge, WI
October 31, 2023
Student-centered learning is a journey to empowerment at Koshkonong Trails School. Learn about Skylar Primm’s path to becoming lead teacher at KTS and how he practices place-based learning.
Driftless Region, Teacher Profile, Teacher Feature: Wisconsin
Freda Calloway - McGehee, AR
October 18, 2023
The Power of Teacher Corps Programs
Arkansas Delta, Teacher Profile, Podcast, Teacher Feature: Arkansas
Nneka Love - Marianna, AR
September 18, 2023
Inspiring teacher resilience through mentorship.