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.
Susan Spiers - Picayune, MS
June 2, 2022
Veteran teacher forges bonds with students and community
Teacher Profile, Teacher Feature: Mississippi
Joe Hennessey - Dover-Foxcroft, ME
May 24, 2022
Joe Hennessey’s work in Piscataquis County, Maine reveals the irreplaceable role of a passionate and visionary teacher-leader
Building a Climate-aware Future: Rural Educators Across Borders Convenes to Discuss Sustainability in Rural Schools
May 23, 2022
In our second Rural Educators Across Borders event, we focused on Sustainability in Rural Schools, exploring the local-to-global impacts of and responses to climate change in rural areas
Rural Educators Across Borders
Jamie Fehring - Bedford, Iowa
May 17, 2022
Beginning her career as a scientist, Jamie transitioned into teaching as a second career; and she's deeply committed to fostering student inquiry and inclusivity in the classroom.
Teacher Profile, Teacher Feature: Iowa
Jamesha Keithley - Leland, MS
May 6, 2022
Helping students take command of their future
Alabama & Black Belt, Teacher Profile, Teacher Feature: Mississippi
Haley Salitros Lancaster - Vincennes, IN
April 20, 2022
National Signature Project Award recipient discusses place and community
Place-Based Education, Teacher Profile, Podcast
Chasity Douglas - Surry County, NC
April 15, 2022
Teaching with Empathy and Determination
Southeast, Teacher Profile, Teacher Feature: North Carolina
CSU – Chico Rural Teacher Corps Spotlight: CLASS in action at Red Bluff High School
April 15, 2022
Rural Schools Collaborative's Executive Director, Taylor McCabe-Juhnke, sits down with four CLASS program participants for a roundtable interview
Northern California, Rural Teacher Corps
Karen Yu - Chaozhou, China
April 4, 2022
Breaking stereotypes through international dialogue
Teacher Profile, Rural Educators Across Borders
Kymberli Wregglesworth - Onaway, MI
March 11, 2022
Taking Action for Community Health
Indiana & Great Lakes, Place-Based Education, Teacher Profile, Teacher Feature: Michigan
Mississippi Teachers of the Year Share Why They Teach Rural
March 8, 2022
Three Teachers Shares Stories of Determination and Passion for Their Work