"Cultivating Community": A New Project from I Am a Rural Teacher

"Cultivating Community" is a new, monthly project highlighting how school communities enhance student experiences.

Throughout the last year, the I Am A Rural Teacher national advocacy campaign has shared the perspectives of teachers from across rural America. As more teachers have shared their stories, many have pointed out the importance of their small towns and country places in the sustainability of vibrant rural schools.

Aiming to further highlight the local policies and projects that connect rural educators to their communities, IAART is pleased to announce the launch of Cultivating Community. In this monthly spotlight feature, teachers can nominate their community to showcase the local policies, projects, and programs which strengthen the bonds between school and community.

Classroom teachers are invited to submit either a one-minute video OR a short written submission on a specific local school or community policy that has strengthened a rural school district and its students. Each month Cultivating Community will select one nomination to highlight via the social media of the I Am A Rural Teacher Campaign, National Rural Education Association, and Rural Schools Collaborative.

Teachers whose nominations are selected will receive a $250 classroom grant to further support their work of cultivating community, and they will be recognized in the feature on their rural school community.

The first feature will appear in October 2020, with new stories being shared on a monthly basis thereafter.

To begin your nomination, please follow this link to the submission form: http://bit.ly/iaartc

For the latest updates on the I Am A Rural Teacher campaign and Cultivating Community, we encourage you to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.