RSC Welcomes New Ohio Hub

Ohio University Regional Higher Education and Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C) will co-found the Ohio Hub. This partnership will strengthen the regional work both partners do to enhance educational and career outcomes for students across Ohio’s southern and eastern counties.

August 27, 2025 |

Dr. Jacqueline Yahn (second from right) at the Ohio University Eastern's Ohio Rural Teacher Fellowship Orientation. Photo courtesy of Ohio University

In the summer of 2025, Rural Schools Collaborative announced the newest partners to the Regional Hub Network: a collaboration between Ohio University Regional Higher Education and Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C), co-founding the Ohio Hub. This partnership will strengthen the regional work both partners do to enhance educational and career outcomes for students across Ohio’s southern and eastern counties.

Ohio Hub Contacts — Dr. Jacqueline Yahn (left) and Tasha Werry (right)

Dr. Jacqueline Yahn, Ohio University Eastern Middle Childhood Program Coordinator and associate professor of Middle Childhood Education, will serve as hub co-lead alongside Tasha Werry, Executive Director of Building Bridgers to Careers.

Rural Schools Collaborative’s work in Appalachian Ohio began in 2023, when Ohio University wa s awarded one of five Catalyst Initiative Grants to plan and launch a Rural Teacher Corps. These locally-designed efforts to intentionally recruit, prepare, and support rural educators, were a natural fit to further develop the Rural Teacher Fellowship pilot program. This fellowship matches rural educators with experienced mentors and provides professional development in implementing innovative community and career-based teaching practices, all done in partnership with local non-profit Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C).

“I often say: ‘Rural places are remote but our possibilities don’t have to be!’ Our partnership with BB2C coupled with the support of RSC allows us to bridge that gap by developing a fellowship program that serves teachers—and now pre-service teachers—throughout all of Appalachian Ohio.”

- Jacqueline Yahn, Ohio University Eastern Middle Childhood Program Coordinator and associate professor of Middle Childhood Education

Based out of Marietta, OH, Building Bridges to Careers was founded in 2019 with a mission to bring together education, business, and community as a means to inspire students to explore and pursue meaningful career pathways. BB2C fosters internships, job shadowing and career exploration events, leveraging relationships with local businesses and community support organizations.

“As a non-profit we are dedicated to helping school districts empower students to become path makers and contribute to community success. To be part of this an RSC Hub is a transformative opportunity for us. It allows us to elevate the stories of successful students, prosperous businesses, and thriving Appalachian communities—and in doing so, we can finally move beyond outdated narratives about the region.”

- Tasha Werry, Executive Director

BB2C Ohio Hub Announcement — Rural Teacher Fellows reflect and celebrate with BB2C Staff at 2024 event

With support from the Catalyst Grant, the Rural Teacher Fellowship expanded to include a Rural Teacher Corps, which created new opportunities for Ohio University teacher-candidates from Regional Higher Education to engage in pre-service learning and mentorship in BB2C’s mentor network.

The Catalyst Initiative was a vote-of-confidence for the Rural Teacher Fellowship program, and the OU and BB2C partnership eventually led to confirmed regional philanthropic support from the Sugar Bush Foundation the next 3 years to continue growing the program. The partnership of both organizations strengthened the existing efforts of sustainable teacher preparation in southern Ohio, and made joint partnership as part of RSC’s new Ohio Hub a natural fit.

“The intentional partnership between Ohio University and Building Bridges to Careers is a powerful example of regional collaboration. Building the future rural teacher workforce requires cross-institution partnership, and this is a prime example of how this can be done well. We are honored to uplift and support their continued work!”

- Taylor McCabe-Juhnke, RSC Executive Director

Rural Schools Collaborative is excited to continue our work with both Ohio University Regional Higher Education and BB2C, both in the rural teacher preparation space and in the wider efforts to support rural communities through career-readiness and regional collaboration. Please join us in welcoming Building Bridges to Careers and Ohio University to the Regional Hub Network!

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