I Am A Rural Teacher: Linda Rost - Baker, MT

Linda Rost, a science teacher at Baker High School in rural southeastern Montana, never expected her career path to lead to the classroom. Originally pursuing a degree in Range Science with plans to work for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, she discovered her true calling through an unexpected elective education course. Today, she brings rigorous, hands-on science instruction to her students while weaving deep community engagement into every aspect of her work.

Linda has always appreciated and understood the land: its ecosystems, agriculture, and water systems. But halfway through college, something shifted. “I had to take an education class as an elective, and I fell in love with teaching,” she recalls. After years of tutoring friends in science and realizing she had a knack for breaking down complex concepts, she decided to finish her degree, minor in biology, add extra chemistry coursework, and apply for a teaching position in rural Montana.

After her first week in the classroom, she knew she had found her place. Since then, Linda has taught in two remote schools within 35 miles of each other, now serving students at Baker High School.

Linda teaches biology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, AP Biology, and science research; five separate preparations in a single year. In Montana’s small schools, that kind of workload is common. With only two science teachers in the building, offering advanced coursework means embracing a demanding schedule. Some days, multiple labs compete for limited space, and class sizes can reach 22 students, large for a rural school offering upper-level electives.

But for Linda, the workload reflects a commitment. “We want our students to have access to a world-class education,” she explains. “If students in top schools can take AP and dual-credit science courses, then our students should have that same opportunity.”

Her science research students regularly compete in regional and state competitions, and over the past 18 years, nearly 30 have advanced to national and international levels, some earning top awards. In Linda’s classroom, rural does not mean limited.

Beyond academics, Linda’s work is deeply rooted in community partnerships. She serves on the board of the county museum, collaborating to bring programming and district-wide projects directly to her students. She plays piano for her church and community choir, connecting with students and families outside school walls. As a 4-H leader, she mentors youth in projects ranging from poultry and entomology to robotics and aerospace.

Every summer, Linda expands access to STEM opportunities by hosting two free camps for local students. LifeStraw Camp, invites students to study their local lake and design water filtration systems. Mission to the Moon, immerses students in space exploration: rocket building, lander design, rovers, and ablative shielding. The idea for the space camp grew after Linda attended Space Camp in Alabama as part of her recognition as 2020 Montana Teacher of the Year. She returned determined to ensure that rural students – who live more than 250 miles from similar programs – could access the same transformative experiences at no cost.

That belief in access and real-world science became especially powerful during a multi-year investigation sparked by a community health concern. After residents became ill following swimming in the local lake, Linda and her students began testing water samples. They discovered dangerously high levels of E. coli and partnered with the county commission and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to continue investigating.

The following year, students identified a likely source: the local golf course was being irrigated with inadequately sanitized wastewater from a lagoon system. Armed with data, students presented their findings to county officials. As a result, significant changes were made to bring irrigation practices into compliance with environmental standards. The project continues today, with students monitoring both the lake and irrigation systems.

“My students can see how science works in real life,” Linda explains. “They’re not just learning about water quality in a textbook. They’re protecting their own community.”

Teaching in rural schools comes with challenges beyond heavy course loads. At times, Linda has managed as many as seven preps and taught multiple classes simultaneously during a single period, an experience familiar to many rural educators. Resources can be tight, and professional isolation is real. That’s why she emphasizes mentorship as essential for new teachers.

“My number one piece of advice is to connect with a mentor,” she says. “In rural schools, you might be the only teacher in your subject or grade level. Having someone to guide you can be the difference between staying in the profession or leaving.”

For several years, Linda has served as a mentor through MentorMT, supporting new rural teachers with classroom management strategies, instructional sharing, professional development connections, and even filmed lessons to demonstrate techniques. Mentorship, she believes, strengthens not just individual educators but the entire rural education ecosystem.

MentorMT is a program component of The Center for Research on Rural on Education at Montana State University, which hosts RSC’s Montana Hub. The Center is a national leader in teacher preparation, research, and support for rural education. Dr. Jayne Downey, Director, serves as the Hub lead.

MentorMT provides tailored, grade- and subject-specific mentoring to new or underprepared rural teachers by pairing them with accomplished Montana educators. These trained mentors deliver individualized, one-on-one support focused on instructional improvement, curriculum planning, reflective practice, goal setting, and collaborative problem-solving to strengthen teaching effectiveness and promote the well-being of both students and teachers. Linda is a dedicated mentor.

Linda’s journey reflects what rural education can be at its best: rigorous, innovative, and deeply connected to community. Whether she’s guiding students through AP Biology labs, leading a water-quality investigation that influences county policy, or helping a young learner launch their first model rocket, she ensures that geography does not define possibility.

Through her leadership, advocacy, and unwavering belief in her students, Linda demonstrates that rural schools are not on the margins of excellence – they are centers of it.

Would you like to nominate someone or share your story as a rural educator? Fill out our online submission form here.

I Am A Rural Teacher shares the stories, experiences, and aspirations of America’s rural teachers. By highlighting the narratives of veteran, new, and future teachers, I Am A Rural Teacher strives to support an education ecosystem where rural teacher-leaders are front and center. This project is supported by the Rural Teacher Corps: A Community of Learners.