Faces of the Ozarks Teacher Corps

Meet three inspiring educators from Missouri

August 30, 2017 |
Share

Ashlee Burger, McKenzie Moreland, and Kelly Wardle are three current and former members of the Ozarks Teacher Corps, a model program for creating rural teacher leaders.

The stories we hear from members of the Ozarks Teacher Corps are always heartening - which is why we want to share their stories with you.

In collaboration with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks and the Rural Schools Partnership, we're pleased to introduce you to alumni and current members of the Ozarks Teacher Corps through a weekly series highlighting their personal stories and what led them down the path of rural teacher leadership.

  • Meet Ashlee, a first-year educator who returned to her hometown of Strafford, MO as a kindergarten teacher
  • Get to know McKenzie, a pre-service teacher specializing in cross categorical special education and sign language
  • Learn how Kelly creates a sense of community in her Willow Springs Elementary classroom

The Rural Schools Partnership will be posting new profiles of current and former Ozarks Teacher Corps members regularly on their news site.

Thanks to Matt Lemmon's students at Drury University for creating these profiles.


We're looking forward to continuing to highlight the experiences of rural teachers, and we've got some big plans in the works to continue to support the growth and success of these educators across the country - stay tuned!

Previous ALL STORIES Next
Out of the classroom for teachers from across Alabama

Out of the Classroom, Into Cahaba

November 25, 2025

Rural Teachers in Alabama practice Place-Based Education through the University of West Alabama and Teton Science Schools

Power of Partnerships, Black Belt, Northern Rockies, Place-Based Education

Sweet Briar students

I Am A Rural Teacher: Mary McHugh - Sweet Briar, ND

November 4, 2025

Mary shares her passion for designing effective education in a small North Dakota school

North Dakota, Teacher Profile

Kelsy Sproul - Sedan, KS

October 1, 2025

Kelsy shares how she found herself on a new path through education

Kansas, Teacher Profile, Podcast