Sketching Out A Plan for the Rural Teacher Corps

The Rural Schools Collaborative was pleased to host a webinar on April 27th that explored the Rural Teacher Corps concept. Updates on existing efforts were provided, and presenters shared future steps that are being taken or considered. More than 40 people from 25 different sites around the country participated in the online event.

View the webinar here.

The following programs and projects were discussed:

• The Rural Schools Collaborative's (RSC) commitment to the Rural Teacher Corps concept, by Dr. Jim Beddow† of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and vice-chair of the RSC board of directors.
• California State University, Chico's RiSE program, by Ann Schulte, Ph.D.
• University of West Alabama's Black Belt Teacher Corps, by Kristina Kallhoff
• Community Foundation of the Ozarks' Ozarks Teacher Corps, by Dr. Julie Leeth
• North Dakota's conversation on the Rural Teacher Corps idea, by Dr. Steven Johnson

The hour-long session concluded with questions, answers and comments.

Below we have provided a link to the archived webinar and comments and links that were provided in the Chat Box. In addition, our colleague, Emily Meier, sketched a real time graphic that provides a wonderful overview of this conversation. Thanks to Emily for this good work, which is pictured above. We also want to thank Mike Knutson and Dakota Resources for assisting with the technical aspects of the webinar.

We would love to include you in this ongoing conversation. The RSC board of directors has placed the development of the Rural Teacher Corps front and center in our action plan, and it is a primary element of our organizational mission. Please contact us at info@ruralschoolscollaborative.org or call RSC's Gary Funk at 417-848-9083. This is a big bus, and we would love to have you on board.

In addition, we invite you to engage with us through Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. You may also sign up for email updates on our home page. Finally, please check out our short video highlighting what we are all about.

Here is the link to the archived webinar.

Chat Box
From johnsons to Everyone: (09:58 AM) Good Morning from North Dakota! SLJ From Taylor McCabe-Juhnke to Everyone: (09:59 AM) Good morning from Washington! From EmilyMeier to Everyone: (10:00 AM) Hi Taylor! Hi Steve. Hi all. Morning’ from Madison, WI From Ann Schulte to Everyone: (10:00 AM) Yeah Madison! From EIU to Everyone: (10:00 AM) Good morning from EIU From johnsons to Everyone: (10:00 AM) Will this Webinar be recorded? SLJ From University of West Alabama to Everyone: (10:39 AM) What is the name of the book he used? From Taylor McCabe-Juhnke to Everyone: (10:48 AM) Here is the link on Rural Schools Collaborative's website for Place-Based Education resources: https://ruralschoolscollaborative.org/place-based-e... From Nate McClennen to Everyone: (10:51 AM) Nate McClennen's email is nate.mcclennen@tetonscience.org if anyone wants to connect. Check out www.tetonscience.org From johnsons to Everyone: (10:52 AM) Ecological Education in Action: On Weaving Education, Culture, and the Environment, Edited by Gregory A. Smith & Dilafruz R. Williams State University of New York Press From Nate McClennen to Everyone: (10:53 AM) ...and here is the beta version of the Place Schools model we are imagining https://sites.google.com/tetonscience.org/placesch... - STEM, project-based, place-based, and mastery-based. From University of West Alabama to Everyone: (10:56 AM) Gary - Can I share another initiative? From Ann Schulte to Everyone: (10:57 AM) My email is akschulte@csuchico.edu. Happy to share more info. about the programs in Chico and our partnership with North State Together. From Taylor McCabe-Juhnke to Everyone: (10:58 AM) It's so great to see the progress from last June's Summit in SD all the way to today; Congrats to everyone involved, and thanks for sharing!! From pgtheobald to Everyone: (10:59 AM) Absolutely--really amazing progres!!! From University of West Alabama to Everyone: (10:59 AM) Thank you!! This was GREAT! From johnsons to Everyone: (10:59 AM) Special thank you to Mike and Gary!!!! SLJ From Ann Schulte to Everyone: (10:59 AM) Thank you! From Craig to Everyone: (10:59 AM) Thanks

†Dr. Jim Beddow, longtime RSC advocate, board member and chair emeritus, and passed away on June 25, 2023. Read more about his legacy.