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.
Scott Simmons - Pineland, TX
December 11, 2024
Scott Simmons shares what makes Pineland, TX so special.
Teacher Profile, Podcast, Teacher Feature: Texas, ETX
Tammie Hodnett Marlow – Cleveland, MS
November 21, 2024
Highlighting the innovative programs created and led by Mississippi Rural Teacher of the Year winner, Tammie Hodnett Marlow, the award winning science teacher at Cleveland Central Middle School in Cleveland, MS.
Regional Hubs, Power of Partnerships, Place-Based Education, Local Philanthropy, Teacher Profile, Teacher Feature: Mississippi, Mississippi
Amanda Bedell - Charlevoix County, MI
October 8, 2024
A Michigan island serves as a classroom where the school is the community.
Regional Hubs, Indiana & Great Lakes, Place-Based Education, Teacher Profile, Rural Resilience, Teacher Feature: Michigan
Connie Skrmetta - Delisle, MS
August 20, 2024
Highlighting the innovative programs created and led by Mississippi Rural Teacher of the Year winner, Connie Skrmetta, the Health and Physical Education Teacher at DeLisle Elementary School in DeLisle, MS.
Regional Hubs, Power of Partnerships, Place-Based Education, Local Philanthropy, Teacher Profile, Teacher Feature: Mississippi, Mississippi
Todd Willis - Tate County, MS
July 9, 2024
Highlighting the innovative programs created and led by Mississippi Rural Teacher of the Year winner, Todd Willis, an innovative 3rd grade Teacher at Coldwater Elementary School in Tate County, MS.
Regional Hubs, Place-Based Education, Local Philanthropy, Teacher Profile, Teacher Feature: Mississippi, Mississippi
2024 Grants in Place Celebration of Learning
June 20, 2024
The Celebration of Learning features 17 rural teachers who were awarded grants to do a Place-Based Education project that connected their classrooms and communities.
Regional Hubs, Place-Based Education, Local Philanthropy, Grants in Place
Reciprocity Project Update: Tregaron, Wales
June 17, 2024
Hannah Omerod and her students from Henry Richard School in Tregaron, Wales introduce themselves.
Place-Based Education, Rural Educators Across Borders, Reciprocity Project Blog
Reciprocity Project Update: Oroville, California
June 10, 2024
Students from Jan Mathews' class at the Hearthstone School in Northern California share their story.
Place-Based Education, Rural Educators Across Borders, Reciprocity Project Blog
Reciprocity Project Update: From Monmouth, IL to Northern Ireland
June 6, 2024
Students from Mariah Garzee, Oonagh McAlister and Anna Martin's classes share about each of their places.
Place-Based Education, Rural Educators Across Borders, Reciprocity Project Blog
Young Educators’ Advisory Council Members Creating Lasting Impacts in their Communities
May 15, 2024
Three of our Young Educators’ Advisory Council Members lead their students in meaningful Place-Based Education projects this spring.
Place-Based Education, Young Educators' Advisory Council, Emergent Educators’ Advisory Council
Dr. Brandon Renfroe - Geraldine, AL
May 6, 2024
How rural-focused Higher-Ed programs nurture K-12 education.
Alabama & Black Belt, Teacher Profile, Podcast, Teacher Feature: Alabama
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.